Word Study for G447 (ἀνίημι)

aníēmi /an-ee'-ay-mee/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀνά and (to send)

Meaningto let up, i.e. (literally) slacken or (figuratively) desert, desist from

KJV usageforbear, leave, loose.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of aníēmi — 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 aníēmi, represented by G447, means to let up, slacken, desert, or desist from an action. Its usage is translated as forbear, leave, or loose. Based on the base definition, from ἀνά and (to send), it conveys a sense of letting something go or sending it away. It appears 4 times across 4 unique verses in the Bible.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The use of G447 is split between literal and figurative applications. Literally, it describes the physical act of unfastening. During a storm at sea, sailors loosed the rudder bands to steer the ship Acts 27:40. In a miraculous event, an earthquake shook a prison, and as a result, every prisoner's bands were loosed Acts 16:26. Figuratively, it is used to convey a promise or a command. It is used in God's promise that "I will never leave thee" Hebrews 13:5. It is also used in the instruction to masters to be forbearing of threatening their servants Ephesians 6:9.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide additional context to the meanings of G447:

G1459 enkataleípō (to desert): This word, meaning to forsake or leave behind, is used in direct parallel with G447 in the promise, "I will never leave G447 thee, nor forsake G1459 thee" Hebrews 13:5, reinforcing the idea of not being deserted.
G45 ánkyra (anchor): This term appears in the same nautical context as G447. After taking up the anchors G45, the shipmen loosed G447 the rudder bands, showing G447 as part of a sequence of actions to control a vessel Acts 27:40.
G455 anoígō (to open up): This word is used alongside G447 to describe an event of liberation. When the prison foundations were shaken, the doors were opened G455 and the prisoners' bands were loosed G447 Acts 16:26.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G447 is evident in its figurative applications, highlighting key aspects of God's character and his expectations for humanity.

Divine Faithfulness: The word is central to one of the most powerful promises of God's presence. His declaration not to leave His people provides a foundation for security and trust in Him Hebrews 13:5.
Ethical Conduct: The command for earthly masters to forbear threatening is rooted in the fact that they have a Master in heaven. This links human behavior to a divine standard, implying that authority should be exercised with restraint and mercy Ephesians 6:9.
Supernatural Deliverance: In a literal context, the loosing of prison bands is presented as an act of divine power, demonstrating God's ability to intervene and set people free from physical restraints Acts 16:26.

Summary

In summary, G447 carries a dual meaning that spans from the practical to the profound. It can denote a simple, physical action, such as untying the bands of a rudder or the chains of a prisoner. However, it also expresses a significant theological concept: the promise of God's unwavering presence and the call for humans in authority to desist from harshness, reflecting a higher, heavenly principle.

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 4 occurrences, inflected in 4 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

2nd Aorist Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×
2nd Aorist Active Subjunctive 1st Singular 1×
Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

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 4 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Acts (2 verses); never once in the other 24.

Acts

Ephesians

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, 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.