ἀνετάζω G0426
to examine, interrogate, question closely (often judicially, sometimes under torture)
This verb means to examine closely or interrogate, often in legal contexts. Both occurrences in Acts 22 describe the Roman commander's plan to examine Paul. Verse 24 shows the commander ordering Paul examined by scourging, while verse 29 reflects his alarm upon discovering Paul's Roman citizenship would make such examination illegal. Classical usage includes examining documents and torturing for information. The New Testament restricts it to judicial interrogation. Translations (Spanish interrogar, French interroger, German ἀνετάζειν) consistently emphasize investigative questioning, often with coercive overtones.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Both Acts uses involve the Roman tribune's attempt to discover why the Jewish crowd rioted against Paul. The examination in view involves scourging—torture designed to extract truth from non-citizens. When Paul reveals his citizenship, the legal situation reverses: what was permissible examination becomes potential assault. The infinitives ἀνετάζειν (to examine) and ἀνετάζεσθαι (to be examined) show both the active intent and passive experience of this judicial procedure. 2×
AR["أَنْ-يَفْحَصُوهُ", "أَنْ-يُفْحَصَ"]·ben["জিজ্ঞাসাবাদ-করতে"]·DE["ἀνετάζειν", "ἀνετάζεσθαι"]·EN["to-be-examined", "to-examine"]·FR["interroger"]·heb["לְחָקְרוֹ"]·HI["जाँचनेवाले", "जाँचे-जाने-को"]·ID["diperiksa", "memeriksa,"]·IT["esaminare"]·jav["dipun-tiliki", "nitiliki,"]·KO["심문하라고", "심문하려-하는-자들이"]·RU["допрашивать"]·ES["de-interrogar", "ser-interrogado"]·SW["achunguzwe", "kumchunguza"]·TR["sorgulamak", "sorgulanmasını"]·urd["جانچنا", "پوچھ-گچھ-کرنا"]
Related Senses
H4941 1. justice, righteousness (134×)H4941 2. judgment, judicial decision (119×)H4941 3. ordinances, statutes (plural) (110×)H8199 1. to judge, adjudicate (98×)G2919 1. judge, pass judgment (76×)H8199 2. judge (person, office-holder) (61×)G2920 1. judgment / condemnation (48×)H7378 1. Qal: quarrel, contend, strive (42×)H4941 4. prescribed ordinance, regulation (34×)G1832 1. it is lawful, it is permitted (32×)G2917 1. judgment, condemnation (27×)G2919 2. be judged, stand trial (27×)H5360 1. vengeance, retribution (27×)H7378 2. Qal: plead, defend, litigate (22×)G2723 1. accuse, bring charges against (20×)G2923 1. judge (one who judges/decides) (19×)G2632 1. condemn, pass judgment against (18×)H1777 1. judge, adjudicate (18×)H1576 1. recompense, retribution (17×)H5359 1. vengeance, retribution (17×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀνετάζω, inquire of, ἀλλήλους τὴν αἰτίανLXX+2nd c.AD+ __II examine documents, Refs; examine by torture, τινάNT