G2910 G2910
To hang, suspend physically (especially in execution); figuratively, to depend upon
The verb κρεμάννυμι (with its contract form κρεμάω) means to hang or suspend, and in the New Testament it appears at the intersection of two vivid images. Physically, it describes execution — Christ and the criminals hung on a cross (Luke 23:39, Acts 5:30, 10:39) — and bodily danger, as when a viper fastens onto Paul's hand at Malta (Acts 28:4). Figuratively, in one of Jesus' most memorable pronouncements, the entire Law and the Prophets 'hang' on the two great commandments (Matt 22:40), an image of dependence so arresting that it passed into everyday speech across cultures.
Senses
1. hang on a tree/cross (execution or physical suspension) — To hang or suspend someone or something physically, especially in the context of crucifixion or execution on a tree (ξύλον). The apostolic preaching in Acts repeatedly uses this verb for Christ's death: 'whom you killed by hanging on a tree' (Acts 5:30, 10:39). Luke 23:39 applies it to the criminals crucified alongside Jesus. Matt 18:6 uses it of a millstone hung around the neck, and Acts 28:4 of a snake hanging from Paul's hand. Multilingual evidence — Spanish 'colgado/colgando,' French 'pendre,' German 'haengen' — consistently renders physical suspension. 6×
AR["المُعَلَّقِ", "تُعَلَّقَ", "عَالِقِينَ", "مَصْلوبَيْنِ", "مُتَعَلِّقًا", "مُعَلِّقِينَ"]·ben["κρεμασθέντων-ঝুলন্ত", "ঝুলছে", "ঝুলিয়ে", "ঝোলানো-হয়", "ঠোঙিতেছে"]·DE["haengen", "κρεμάμενον", "κρεμάσαντες", "κρεμασθέντων", "κρεμασθῇ"]·EN["hanging", "having-been-hanged", "having-hanged", "having-hung", "should-be-hung"]·FR["pendre", "suspendre"]·heb["הַ-תָּלוּי", "יִתָּלֶה", "תְּלוּיִם", "תָּלוּ", "תָּלוּי", "תָלוּ"]·HI["लटकते-हुए", "लटकाए-गए", "लटकाकर", "लतक-हुअ", "लतकअय-जअये"]·ID["digantungkan", "menggantung", "yang-digantung"]·IT["appendere", "kremamenos", "kremasthe", "kremasthenton"]·jav["dipun-gantung", "gandol", "gumantung", "kagantung", "nyalib"]·KO["달린", "달아서", "매달리는-것이", "매달린", "매달아"]·PT["pendurada", "que-pende"]·RU["висящее", "висящий", "повесив", "повесившие", "повесили", "повешенных"]·ES["colgado", "colgados", "colgando", "habiendo-colgado", "sea-colgada"]·SW["aangikwe", "aliyening'inia", "mkimtundika", "uking'inia", "wahalifu", "wakimtundika"]·TR["asarak", "asılan", "asılsın", "yırtıcı-hayvan"]·urd["لٹکا", "لٹکا-کر", "لٹکائی-جائے", "لٹکتے-ہوئے", "لٹکے-ہوئے"]
2. hang upon, depend on (figurative) — A figurative use meaning to depend upon, rest upon, or be contingent on something. In Matt 22:40, Jesus declares that the whole Law and the Prophets κρέμαται ('hangs') on the two commandments of love. The metaphor transfers the physical image of suspension into the domain of logical or moral dependence: everything is suspended from, and therefore grounded in, love of God and neighbor. Spanish 'cuelga' preserves the literal hanging image, while the contextual shift to abstract dependence is unmistakable. 1×
AR["يَتَعَلَّقُ"]·ben["ঝুলছে"]·DE["κρέμαται"]·EN["hangs"]·FR["pendre"]·heb["תְּלוּיָה"]·HI["लटकी-है"]·ID["bergantung"]·IT["krematai"]·jav["gumantung"]·KO["달려-있다"]·PT["depende,"]·RU["держится,"]·ES["cuelga"]·SW["na"]·TR["asılıdır"]·urd["لٹکتی-ہے"]
Related Senses
G0846 1. third-person pronoun reference (5552×)H???? 1. (4670×)H6213a 1. do, perform, act (2383×)G4160 1. do, act, perform (473×)H5221 1. Hifil: to strike in battle, smite enemies (362×)H0899b 1. garment, article of clothing (216×)H6213a 2. make, construct, fabricate (148×)H3772 1. cut a covenant / make a pact (97×)H5060 1. touch physically (Qal) (96×)H3615 1. complete a task (Piel) (85×)H3772 2. cut off / destroy (Hifil causative) (81×)H3920 1. capture, seize (Qal) (76×)H???? 12. (76×)H3772 3. be cut off / be eliminated (Niphal) (74×)H6213a 3. be done, be made (Niphal) (73×)G4160 2. make, construct, create (62×)H3847 1. Qal: put on, wear (60×)H8210 1. pour out (liquid/libation) (59×)G2440 1. garment or clothing (general) (54×)H4191 4. kill / put to death (Hifil causative) (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Included with: κρεμ-άννῡμι, Refs 5th c.BC+, etc.; κρεμαννύω, Refs 4th c.BC+; κρεμάω, Refs 4th c.BC+, etc.; κρεμνάω, Refs; κρεμάζω, LXX(variant{κρεμνῶν}): present participle κρεμάντες Refs 2nd c.AD+: future κρεμάσω [ᾰ] LXX+8th c.BC+: aorist 1 Refs 6th c.BC+, Epic dialect and Lyric poetry Refs 8th c.BC+ infinitive Refs (Epid.); perfect Refs 1st c.AD+:—middle, aorist infinitive Refs 8th c.BC+,…