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G430

ἀνέχομαι

anéchomai /an-ekh'-om-ahee/ Ask about this word
middle voice from ἀνά and ἔχω
to hold oneself up against, i.e. (figuratively) put up with
bear with, endure, forbear, suffer.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of anéchomai — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word anéchomai, represented by G430, means to hold oneself up against, or figuratively to put up with. It is often translated as bear with, endure, forbear, or suffer. Appearing 17 times across 14 unique verses, this word describes an active and often difficult patience in the face of provocation, weakness, or hardship.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G430 is used in several distinct contexts. Jesus uses it to express his frustration with a "faithless and perverse generation," asking, "how long shall I suffer you?" Matthew 17:17. Conversely, it is presented as a key Christian virtue, with believers commanded to be "forbearing G430 one another G240 in G1722 love G26" Ephesians 4:2 and to connect this forbearance with forgiveness Colossians 3:13. The word can also describe a negative tolerance, such as when the time comes when people will not endure sound doctrine 2 Timothy 4:3 or when the Corinthian church is chided for how easily they bear with those who preach a false gospel 2 Corinthians 11:4.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the concept of enduring and suffering:

  • G5281 hypomonḗ (cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy): This noun often describes the character quality that G430 puts into action. Believers are praised for their patience G5281 and faith G4102 in the tribulations they endure G430 2 Thessalonians 1:4.
  • G3115 makrothymía (longanimity, i.e. (objectively) forbearance or (subjectively) fortitude): Frequently translated as longsuffering, this word is explicitly paired with forbearing G430 as a foundational element of a life lived in humility and meekness Ephesians 4:2.
  • G1375 diōgmós (persecution): This term often defines the specific hardship that requires endurance. The church in Thessalonica is commended for their faith and patience G5281 in all their persecutions G1375 that they endure G430 2 Thessalonians 1:4.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G430 is significant for understanding Christian life and character.

  • Mutual Forbearance: The word establishes a core principle for community life. Believers are called to actively forbear one another as a practical expression of love and as a necessary precursor to forgiveness Colossians 3:13.
  • Perseverance in Hardship: The act of enduring is directly tied to a believer's response to suffering for their faith. Paul states that when "being persecuted G1377, we suffer it G430" 1 Corinthians 4:12, framing endurance as a conscious response to opposition.
  • Discerning Patience: The use of G430 demonstrates that not all endurance is virtuous. While believers are to bear with each other's faults, Paul warns against using that same patience to suffer those who bring them into bondage, devour them, or preach another Jesus 2 Corinthians 11:20.

Summary

In summary, G430 is a dynamic term that goes beyond passive tolerance. It signifies an active choice to "hold up against" a difficult person or situation. From Christ's suffering of human faithlessness to a vital command for believers to practice mutual forbearance, anéchomai is crucial for understanding Christian perseverance, the nature of love within the church, and the wisdom required to know what to endure.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 15 occurrences, inflected in 9 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form. Select any form to read what each part of its name means, and to filter the occurrence list to it. These are this word’s own inflections, not words built from it — for those, see Related Words.

  • ἀνέχεσθε
  • ἀνέξομαι
  • ἀνεχόμενοι
  • ἀνεσχόμην
  • ἀνέξονται
  • ἀνείχεσθέ
  • ἀνέχεσθέ
  • ἀνέχεσθε
  • ἀνεχόμεθα

Related Words

Related

2 entries in Strong’s name this word as their origin. These are its derivatives — a different relationship from the inflected forms above, which are this same word bent by grammar.

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 14 verses across 11 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 2 Corinthians (4 verses); never once in the other 16.

1
Matthew
1
Mark
1
Luke
1
Acts
1
1 Corinthians
4
2 Corinthians
1
Ephesians
1
Colossians
1
2 Thessalonians
1
2 Timothy
1
Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, by grammatical form, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.