"to take up, lift, raise; bear, carry; take away, remove; destroy, kill"
Definition and meaning
to take up, lift, raise; bear, carry; take away, remove; destroy, kill
In the original Greek the word is written: αἴρω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of airo (G142) across the King James Bible.
And saith unto him, If thou be the Son of God, cast thyself down: for it is written, He shall give his angels charge concerning thee: and in their hands they shall bear thee up, lest at any time thou dash thy foot against a stone.
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins,(then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
For whosoever hath, to him shall be given, and he shall have more abundance: but whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken away even that he hath.
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full.
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the broken meat that was left seven baskets full.
Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
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Common questions
Strong's G142 (airo) is a Greek word that means: to take up, lift, raise; bear, carry; take away, remove; destroy, kill It appears 98 times in the King James Bible.
The word airo (G142) appears 98 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G142 is airo, a Greek word defined as: to take up, lift, raise; bear, carry; take away, remove; destroy, kill. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
airo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.