ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Egeírō (G1453) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
ἐγείρω (egeírō) is a Greek verb meaning to wake, rouse, or raise up — covering waking from sleep, rising from a seated or lying position, recovering from sickness, resurrection from the dead, and figurative stirring or rising up.
Significado de la palabra
ἐγείρω is a versatile Greek verb covering several related senses in the New Testament. At its core it means to wake or rouse someone from sleep, and in transitive form it means to raise someone up from a seated, lying, or sick position. The middle and passive forms often simply mean to rise or to get up.
Beyond the literal physical senses, the word is used frequently for raising the dead (νεκρούς, ἐκ νεκρῶν) and for the passive sense of rising from death. It also carries a figurative meaning of stirring up, rising against, or bringing something into existence — for example, raising up children, or raising a building.
The lexicon notes that the imperative ἔγειρε is used intransitively (as in Matthew 9:5 and Mark 2:11), and the verb can function redundantly like the Hebrew קוּם. In late Greek usage it extends to raising up a structure (such as a temple) and to causing someone or something to appear.
Uso en las Escrituras
In the Gospels, ἐγείρω appears often in narrative scenes of Jesus waking sleepers, commanding the sick to rise, and raising the dead. The example verses show Joseph arising from sleep (Matthew 1:24), receiving the angel's command to arise and flee (Matthew 2:13, 2:14, 2:21), the disciples waking Jesus in the storm (Matthew 8:25), and the paralytic being told to arise and take up his bed (Matthew 9:6–7). Matthew 9:4 contains the imperative Ἔγειρε as Jesus addresses the thoughts of those around him, while Matthew 9:19 records Jesus arising to follow the ruler, and Matthew 9:25 describes the young girl being raised.
In John's distinctive usage, the verb is applied to raising the temple (John 2:19–20) and to raising the dead (John 5:21; 12:1). Paul uses it of resurrection theology — being raised from the dead (Romans 6:9; 8:11) and of spiritual awakening (Romans 13:11; Ephesians 5:14). The word also appears in passages about nations rising against one another (Matthew 24:7; Mark 13:8) and in Revelation 11:1, where the sense of raising or erecting a structure is in view.
La palabra en detalle
- G1453 ἐγείρω (egeírō) is a multipurpose verb meaning to wake, rouse, or raise up. Its 126 occurrences in the New Testament span waking from sleep, rising from a lying or seated position, rising from sickness, resurrection from the dead, and figurative stirring or rising up. The KJV renders it as awake, raise, rise, lift up, stand, and take up. The imperative form ἔγειρε frequently functions intransitively as 'arise.'
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 1:24 Joseph arises from sleep (ἐγερθεὶς) and obeys the angel's command. A straightforward example of the verb meaning to wake up and get up.
- Matthew 2:13 The angel commands Joseph to arise (Ἐγερθεὶς) and flee to Egypt. The participle here functions as an imperative: 'Get up and go.'
- Matthew 9:6 Jesus commands the paralytic, 'Arise (Ἔγειρε), and take up thy bed.' The imperative ἔγειρε used intransitively, as the lexicon notes.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does ἐγείρω mean in English?
It means to wake, rouse, or raise up. Depending on the context it can refer to waking from sleep, rising from a seated or lying position, recovering from sickness, resurrection from the dead, or figuratively stirring up or rising against.
Is ἐγείρω used for resurrection in the New Testament?
Yes. The verb is a primary New Testament term for raising the dead (νεκρούς) and for rising from death (ἐκ νεκρῶν). It appears in accounts of Jesus raising the dead and in Paul's theology of resurrection.
What is the difference between ἐγείρω and ἵστημι?
Both can mean to stand or to rise, but they emphasize different things. ἐγείρω focuses on waking, rousing, or raising up from a lower state (sleep, sickness, death). ἵστημι focuses on causing someone or something to stand in a position, and is also used for appointing or establishing.