ἀνά
aná
G303 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A preposition and adverb denoting upward direction or movement, both literally (up, upwards) and figuratively (higher position, increase, elevation). As a preposition it can indicate distribution ('each', 'apiece'), succession, or relation to a point of origin (e.g., 'upon', 'throughout'). In some contexts, it intensifies or conveys repetition when used as a prefix in compounds.
Semantic Range
up, upwards, on, upon, along, throughout, among, per (in distributions), each, apiece, in succession, again (in repetition), intensely (in compounds)
Root / Etymology
From the Greek root ἀν- / ἀνά-, related to an early Indo-European preposition meaning 'up' or 'on', closely paralleled by Sanskrit 'âná', Latin 'an', and Old English 'on/ana'. The form is archaic and has persisted in Greek both as a preposition and as a prefix.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἀνά was used primarily with the accusative case to indicate direction (motion 'up' or 'upon'), position ('on top of'), or distribution ('each', 'apiece'). In literary texts it could mean 'upwards', 'along', or 'throughout'. In the Septuagint and New Testament, its distributive sense becomes more prominent (e.g., 'ἀνὰ μέσον' – 'in the midst', 'ἀνὰ δύο' – 'two by two'). As a prefix in compounds (e.g., ἀναβαίνω, 'to go up'; ἀναγιγνώσκω, 'to read aloud'), it expresses movement upwards, repetition, or intensity. English translations often reduce its nuance, sometimes rendering it unmarked ('each', 'every'), whereas the Greek retains a spatial, distributive, or intensifying sense. The prepositional use is always with the accusative in later Greek; with older dialects, association with other cases is attested but rare by the Koine period.
Translation Consistency
ἀνά most fundamentally indicates upward direction or elevation (literal and figurative) and commonly appears as 'up' or 'upon' in English. 'Up' is the simplest, most natural single-word rendering that covers the primary senses (up, upwards, on/upon, again as an intensifier) while remaining usable in idiomatic English contexts; less frequent distributional senses (e.g. 'each') are secondary and can be handled by context-specific constructions built from 'up'.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a primary preposition and adverb; properly, up; but (by extension) used (distributively) severally, or (locally) at (etc.):--and, apiece, by, each, every (man), in, through. In compounds (as a prefix) it often means (by implication) repetition, intensity, reversal, etc.
Root Family
ἀν- (aná) — up, upon, each (distribution), again (repetition/renewal)
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G507 | ἄνω | above |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G303-01 |
ἀνὰ | ana | PREP ACC |
each | up | each | 12 |
Occurrences in Scripture
12 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G303-01 |
Matthew 13:25 | ἀνὰ | ana | PREP ACC |
among | up | among |
G303-01 |
Matthew 20:9 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
each | up | each |
G303-01 |
Matthew 20:10 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
each | up | each |
G303-01 |
Mark 7:31 | ἀνὰ | ana | PREP ACC |
through | up | through |
G303-01 |
Luke 9:14 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
by | up | each |
G303-01 |
Luke 10:1 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
by | up | by |
G303-01 |
John 2:6 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
each | up | each |
G303-01 |
1 Corinthians 6:5 | ἀνὰ | ana | PREP ACC |
between | up | between |
G303-01 |
1 Corinthians 14:27 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
in turn | up | each |
G303-01 |
Revelation 4:8 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
each | up | each |
G303-01 |
Revelation 7:17 | ἀνὰ | ana | PREP ACC |
in the | up | in |
G303-01 |
Revelation 21:21 | ἀνὰ | ana | ADV |
each | up | each |