"to nurse, as an infant, Acts 7:20; to bring up, educate, Acts 7:21; 22:3*"
Definition and meaning
to nurse, as an infant, Acts 7:20; to bring up, educate, Acts 7:21; 22:3*
In the original Greek the word is written: ἀνατρέφω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 anatrepho (G397) across the King James Bible.
In which time Moses was born, and was exceeding fair, and nourished up in his father's house three months:
And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter took him up, and nourished him for her own son.
I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.
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Common questions
Strong's G397 (anatrepho) is a Greek word that means: to nurse, as an infant, Acts 7:20; to bring up, educate, Acts 7:21; 22:3* It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word anatrepho (G397) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G397 is anatrepho, a Greek word defined as: to nurse, as an infant, Acts 7:20; to bring up, educate, Acts 7:21; 22:3*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
anatrepho is a Greek word found in the New Testament.