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ἀνάκρισις

anákrisis

G351 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A formal process of examination, inquiry, or investigation, frequently in a judicial or public context; in Hellenistic and Koine Greek often referring to the act of scrutinizing or critically questioning witnesses, claims, or facts, especially within a legal trial or preliminary hearing. Broader senses may include critical investigation or careful analysis in non-legal contexts.

Semantic Range

judicial examination, legal inquiry, investigation, formal questioning, critical analysis, preliminary hearing

Root / Etymology

From the verb ἀνακρίνω (to examine, question, investigate), itself formed from ἀνά (up, back, again) + κρίνω (to judge, to discern). Thus, ἀνάκρισις denotes the action or result of ἀνακρίνω — the act of investigation or examination.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀνάκρισις referred generally to the process of examining or interrogating, especially in legal proceedings such as questioning witnesses, gathering evidence, or holding a preliminary inquiry before a trial (cf. Plato, Demosthenes). By the Hellenistic and Roman periods, it retains a strong juridical association, designating an official investigation conducted by authorities. In the context of the Septuagint and New Testament Greek, the term is rare and primarily occurs in legal or forensic contexts. The standard English translation 'examination' accurately captures the procedural sense, but can obscure the formality and judicial nuance often implicit in ancient usage. The word may sometimes carry a broader sense of any careful or critical inquiry (not strictly legal), but the legal/judicial investigation is the dominant register.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀνακρίνω; a (judicial) investigation:--examination.

Root Family

ἀνάκρισις (anakrisis) — examination, scrutiny, investigation, judicial inquiry

Root ἀνακρίν- to examine, to scrutinize, to investigate

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G351-01 ἀνακρίσεως anakriseos N GEN F SG examination of formal examination examination 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G351-01 Acts 25:26 ἀνακρίσεως anakriseos N GEN F SG examination of formal examination examination
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