### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ἀνίημι (aníēmi `{{G447}}`) is a compound verb derived from the preposition ἀνά (aná), meaning "up" or "back," and the verb ἵημι (híēmi), meaning "to send," "to let go," or "to cast." This etymology immediately suggests a sense of release or cessation.
At its most literal, ἀνίημι signifies "to let up," "to loosen," or "to slacken." This can refer to the loosening of physical bonds or the relaxation of tension.
Figuratively, its semantic range extends to:
* **To desist from:** To cease an action, to stop doing something.
* **To abandon/Leave off:** To relinquish something, to let go of a practice, a possession, or even a person (in the sense of neglecting).
* **To neglect/Allow to go unchecked:** To fail to maintain control or oversight, to permit something to go unaddressed.
The English translations provided in the base definition—"forbear," "leave," "loose"—accurately capture these various facets of the word's meaning.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ἀνίημι appears three times in the New Testament, each instance illuminating a distinct aspect of its semantic range:
1. **[[Acts 16:26]]**: "And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were loosed."
* Here, ἀνίημι is used in its most literal sense: the physical loosening or releasing of bonds. This is a miraculous act, demonstrating divine power breaking physical constraints. The prisoners' chains were not merely broken, but "loosed," implying a complete and effortless release.
2. **[[Acts 27:40]]**: "And casting off the anchors, they left them in the sea, at the same time loosening the ropes of the rudders; and hoisting the foresail to the wind, they made for the beach."
* In this context of a shipwreck, ἀνίημι refers to the deliberate act of "leaving" or "abandoning" the anchors. This was a strategic decision to lighten the ship and allow it to be driven towards the shore, highlighting a purposeful relinquishing of something previously held for security, in pursuit of survival.
3. **[[Ephesians 6:9]]**: "And you, masters, do the same things to them, forbearing threatening, knowing that He who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him."
* This is a figurative and ethical use of ἀνίημι. It commands Christian masters to "desist from" or "cease" threatening their slaves. It implies a conscious act of self-restraint and a deliberate relaxation of harsh authority. The imperative is to *let go* of oppressive or intimidating behavior, reflecting the impartiality and justice of God, the ultimate Master.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of ἀνίημι is enriched by its relationship to other Greek terms:
* **ἵημι (híēmi):** As the base verb, ἵημι (to send, cast, let go) underscores the fundamental idea of release inherent in ἀνίημι.
* **ἀφίημι (aphíēmi `{{G863}}`):** Another compound of ἵημι, meaning "to let go," "send away," "forgive," or "permit." While ἀφίημι often carries connotations of pardon or dismissal, it shares the core concept of releasing.
* **χαλάω (chalaō `{{G5465}}`):** To let down, lower, or slacken. This term is often used for literal slackening of ropes or lowering objects, sharing the "loosen" aspect of ἀνίημι.
* **παύω (pauō `{{G3973}}`):** To cease, stop. This verb emphasizes the cessation of an action, similar to ἀνίημι when it means "to desist from."
* **Antonyms/Contrasts:** Concepts like δεσμεύω (desmeuō `{{G1195}}`, to bind) or κρατέω (krateō `{{G2902}}`, to hold fast, seize) stand in direct opposition to the "loosen" or "let go" aspects of ἀνίημι. Similarly, ἀπειλέω (apeileō `{{G546}}`, to threaten) is the very action that masters are commanded to ἀνίημι from.
### Theological Significance
The occurrences of ἀνίημι in the New Testament, though few, carry significant theological weight:
1. **Divine Sovereignty and Liberation:** In [[Acts 16:26]], the ἀνίημι of the prison bonds is not a human act but a divine intervention. It powerfully demonstrates God's absolute sovereignty over human systems of confinement and His ability to supernaturally liberate His servants. This act of "loosing" signifies God's power to break any chain, literal or spiritual, and bring freedom.
2. **Ethical Transformation and Christ-like Conduct:** The command in [[Ephesians 6:9]] for masters to ἀνίημι threatening is a profound call to ethical transformation rooted in the gospel. It requires believers to "let go" of worldly patterns of authority and harshness, adopting instead a posture of forbearance and fairness that mirrors God's own impartiality. This use of ἀνίημι highlights the practical outworking of Christian love and justice within social structures, demanding that believers relinquish behaviors inconsistent with their heavenly Master's character. It is an act of spiritual discipline and a testament to the Spirit's work in renewing the mind.
3. **Trust and Pragmatic Faith:** In [[Acts 27:40]], the act of ἀνίημι (leaving) the anchors, while a practical decision for survival, occurs within a narrative where Paul has assured the crew of God's protective hand. It can be seen as an act of letting go of human security (anchors) in reliance on divine providence and guidance. This suggests that at times, faith requires relinquishing what we perceive as control or safety in order to move forward in God's plan.
### Summary
The Greek term ἀνίημι (aníēmi `{{G447}}`) fundamentally means "to let up," "to loosen," or "to release." Its application in the New Testament reveals a rich spectrum of meaning, from literal physical liberation, as seen in the miraculous "loosing" of prison bonds in [[Acts 16:26]], to the deliberate act of "leaving" or abandoning objects for a greater purpose, as when sailors left their anchors in [[Acts 27:40]]. Most significantly, ἀνίημι conveys a powerful ethical imperative to "desist from" or "forbear" negative behaviors, particularly evident in the command for Christian masters to forbear threatening their servants in [[Ephesians 6:9]]. Theologically, ἀνίημι underscores God's sovereign power to liberate, the believer's call to ethical self-restraint mirroring divine impartiality, and the necessity of trusting God's providence even when relinquishing perceived securities. It encapsulates both the power of God to release and the responsibility of humanity to let go.
TRV