WG: Carry / Bear / Remove¶
Overview¶
The carry/remove concept in the Greek NT centers on αἴρω (aírō) and its compounds, alongside the semantically adjacent βαστάζω and φέρω. Together they cover the full range from physical lifting to sustained burden-bearing to decisive removal. All three primary members share the Hebrew source H5375 nāśāʾ through LXX translation, creating a direct bridge between OT sin-bearing/removal language and NT usage.
Word Group Members¶
| Strong's | Word | Transliteration | POS | Occurrences | Role in Concept | Library Entry |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G142 | αἴρω | aírō | verb | 98 | Core: lift up, take up, take away | G142-airo.md |
| G941 | βαστάζω | bastázō | verb | 27 | Sustained bearing, carrying a weight | TODO(need G941 study) |
| G5342 | φέρω | phérō | verb | 58 | Bring, convey, bear toward | TODO(need G5342 study) |
| G399 | ἀναφέρω | anaphérō | verb | 9 | Carry upward, offer up (sacrificial) | G399-anaphero.md |
| G2507 | καθαιρέω | kathairéō | verb | 9 | Take down, pull down, demolish | G2507-kathaireo.md |
| G4014 | περιαιρέω | periairéō | verb | 4 | Remove all around, strip away | TODO(need G4014 study) |
| G522 | ἀπαίρω | apaírō | verb | 3 | Lift off, remove (bridegroom "taken away") | TODO(need G522 study) |
Relationships¶
Word Family (aírō compounds)¶
aírō (G142) is the root; compounds add directional prefixes: - ἀπ- (away from) → ἀπαίρω (G522): lift off, remove - ἐπ- (upon) → ἐπαίρω (G1869): raise up, lift up (eyes, hands, voice) - ὑπερ- (above) → ὑπεραίρω (G5229): exalt beyond measure - μετ- (change) → μεταίρω (G3332): depart - συν- (together) → συναίρω (G4868): reckon together (settle accounts) - ἐξ- (out) → ἐξαίρω (G1808): remove out, put away
Co-occurrence (appear in same verses)¶
| Word A | Word B | Shared Verses | Typical Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| G142 aírō | G5342 phérō | 3 (3%) | Mark 2:3 — "bringing one sick... which was borne of four" — both words in one verse |
| G142 aírō | G941 bastázō | 1 (1%) | John 20:15 — "if thou have borne him hence... I will take him away" |
Shared Hebrew Sources (LXX bridge)¶
| Hebrew Word | Strong's | Greek Members Mapped | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| נָשָׂא (nāśāʾ) | H5375 | G142 (164×), G5342 (30×) | Primary Hebrew equivalent for both; same semantic breadth |
| חֶלֶב (cheleb) | H2459 | G4014 (10×), G399 (13×) | Fat-removal context: periairéō for stripping fat, anaphérō for offering up |
Roles in the Concept¶
- Decisive lifting/removal: aírō (G142) — the punctiliar act of lifting or removing; broadest term
- Sustained bearing: bastázō (G941) — carrying a burden over time; weight, endurance
- Directional conveyance: phérō (G5342) — bringing or carrying toward a destination
- Upward offering: anaphérō (G399) — carrying upward, specifically sacrificial offering (Heb 7:27, 9:28, 1 Pet 2:24)
- Downward removal: kathairéō (G2507) — taking down, pulling down from a position
- Complete stripping: periairéō (G4014) — removing all around, total removal (Acts 27:20 hope, 2 Cor 3:16 veil, Heb 10:11 sins)
- Separation/departure: apaírō (G522) — lifting away, specifically the bridegroom "taken away" (Matt 9:15, Mark 2:20, Luke 5:35)
Key Passages Where Multiple Group Words Appear Together¶
- Mark 2:3 — aírō (borne) + phérō (bringing): carrying the paralytic
- John 20:15 — bastázō (borne him) + aírō (take him away): Mary at the tomb
- Heb 9:28 — anaphérō (to bear the sins of many): sacrificial bearing — compare John 1:29 aírō (taketh away the sin)
Generated from: gather_word_group_data.py, louw_nida.db, search_relationships.py Last updated: 2026-05-05