### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **anemízō**, represented by `{{G416}}`, is derived from the word for wind and means **to toss with the wind** or to be driven with the wind. This specific term appears only **1 times** across **1 unique verses** in the Bible, making its single usage particularly significant. It conveys a sense of being moved or agitated by an external, unsteady force.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The sole biblical use of `{{G416}}` is in the book of James. The author employs the term to create a powerful metaphor for spiritual instability. In the context of asking God for wisdom, a person who wavers in their faith is compared to "a wave of the sea **driven with the wind** and tossed" [[James 1:6]]. This imagery illustrates a person who lacks a firm foundation, being pushed back and forth by doubt and circumstance.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related Greek words in [[James 1:6]] help to complete this picture of instability:
* `{{G1252}}` **diakrínō** (waver): This word, defined as "to separate thoroughly...hesitate," describes the internal state of the person who doubts. It is this wavering that causes them to be like a wave driven by the wind [[James 1:6]].
* `{{G2830}}` **klýdōn** (wave): This term for a "surge of the sea" is the object being acted upon. It is the unstable wave itself that is "driven with the wind" [[James 1:6]]. The word is also used in [[Luke 8:24]] to describe the "raging" of the water.
* `{{G4494}}` **rhipízō** (toss): Meaning "to breeze up...to agitate (into waves)," this word is paired directly with `{{G416}}` to describe the full motion of the wave. The person who wavers is like a wave that is both "driven with the wind and **tossed**" [[James 1:6]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G416}}` is tied directly to its metaphorical use in illustrating the consequences of doubt.
* **The Nature of Doubt:** The word provides a vivid picture of a doubter. It is not a static condition but a dynamic one, where a person is passively controlled by external pressures, much like a wave is controlled by the wind.
* **Contrast to Faith:** This image of being "driven with the wind" stands in stark opposition to the biblical ideal of steadfast faith. The same passage contrasts this with asking "in faith, nothing wavering" [[James 1:6]]. The related word for wavering or doubting `{{G1252}}` is also contrasted with faith in other passages ([[Matthew 21:21]], [[Romans 4:20]]).
* **Spiritual Instability:** The core concept is instability. A person who is "driven with the wind" cannot expect to receive anything from the Lord because they lack the firm conviction and trust that are foundational to a relationship with God.
### Summary
In summary, `{{G416}}` is a highly specific verb used once to create a lasting and powerful image of spiritual instability. Though rare, its role in [[James 1:6]] is pivotal. It defines the character of a person who "wavereth," showing them to be as rootless and aimless as a wave on the sea. It serves as a stark warning about the spiritually detrimental nature of doubt and the importance of a faith that is firmly anchored.
TRV