ἐκκρέμαμαι

Pronunciation Guide: ek-krem’-am-ahee (with emphasis on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1582: The Greek verb ἐκκρέμαμαι (ekkremamai) depicts the action of hanging from something with intense focus and attachment. It conveys being suspended or hanging upon someone’s words with rapt attention and deep eagerness. In its biblical context, it portrays the picture of people who are utterly captivated, literally “hanging on every word” of a speaker, particularly when that speaker is the Messiah Himself.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (middle voice, present tense)
• Compound word from ἐκ (ek, “from, out of”) + κρέμαμαι (kremamai, “to hang, be suspended”)
• Middle voice indicates the subject’s personal involvement in the action
• Occurs primarily in narrative sections, specifically in Luke’s Gospel
• Appears only once in the New Testament

ἐκκρέμαμαι Morphology:

• ἐκκρέμαμαι (1st person singular, present middle) – I hang upon, I am eagerly attentive
• ἐκκρέμασαι (2nd person singular, present middle) – you hang upon, you are eagerly attentive
• ἐκκρέμαται (3rd person singular, present middle) – he/she/it hangs upon, is eagerly attentive
• ἐκκρεμάμενος (masculine participle) – hanging upon, being eagerly attentive

Origin & History

The verb ἐκκρέμαμαι has roots in classical Greek literature where it was used to describe physical hanging or suspension. In works like Herodotus’ “Histories,” forms of κρέμαμαι appear when describing objects suspended or hanging from a point. The compound form with the preposition ἐκ intensifies the image, suggesting complete absorption or attention directed outward toward the object of focus.

In the Septuagint (LXX), while the simple form κρέμαμαι appears in passages like Deuteronomy 28:66 describing life as “hanging in doubt,” the specific compound form ἐκκρέμαμαι is notably absent. This makes its appearance in Luke’s Gospel particularly significant as a vivid metaphorical expression. The early Church Fathers, including John Chrysostom in his homilies, occasionally employed this term when describing how believers should attentively listen to divine teaching.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To hang upon or from something with complete attention
• To be suspended in a state of eager anticipation
• To cling to someone’s words with absorbed interest
• To be utterly captivated by a speaker or teaching

ἐκκρέμαμαι Translation Options:

• “To hang upon” – Emphasizes the visual image of physical suspension, capturing the intensity of focus
• “To be utterly attentive” – Highlights the mental engagement aspect without the physical metaphor
• “To listen with rapt attention” – Focuses on the auditory element and quality of listening
• “To be captivated by” – Conveys the emotional impact and complete absorption in the speaker’s words
• “To hang on every word” – Modern English idiom that closely parallels the Greek concept

Biblical Usage

The term ἐκκρέμαμαι appears just once in the New Testament, in Luke 19:48, where it describes the people’s intense reaction to Yeshua’s (Jesus’) teaching in the Temple. This singular usage is particularly significant as it occurs during the final week of the Messiah’s ministry before His crucifixion, a time of heightened tension between Yeshua and the religious authorities.

Luke employs this powerful verb to contrast the religious leaders who were seeking to destroy Yeshua with the common people who were utterly captivated by His teaching. The metaphor paints a vivid image of people literally suspended from His words, hanging on His every utterance with complete attention and absorption. This unique usage highlights the magnetic quality of the Messiah’s teaching and the deep spiritual hunger of the crowds.

• “And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on [ἐκκρέμαμαι] to every word He said.” Luke 19:48

Cultural Insights

In the first-century Jewish context, the image of “hanging on words” would have resonated deeply with a culture that valued oral teaching and tradition. The synagogue system and rabbinic tradition placed enormous emphasis on hearing and memorizing the Torah and its interpretations. Students often stood for hours listening to rabbis, sometimes even following them throughout the day to catch every word of wisdom. The metaphor Luke employs with ἐκκρέμαμαι would have immediately conveyed to his readers the picture of dedicated disciples or eager students.

Additionally, the Temple setting where this term is used is significant. During festival times, the Temple courts would be crowded with worshippers and pilgrims eager to hear teaching. Many would have traveled great distances and would be desperate not to miss a word from a respected teacher. For Yeshua to command such attention in this most sacred space, during Passover week, speaks volumes about His exceptional ability to captivate hearts and minds with divine truth, even while religious authorities plotted against Him.

Theological Significance

The unique usage of ἐκκρέμαμαι in Luke’s Gospel reveals profound theological insights about both the nature of Yeshua’s teaching and our proper response to divine revelation. That the people were “hanging upon” every word of the Messiah testifies to the inherent authority and power of His teaching. Unlike the scribes and Pharisees, Yeshua taught “as one having authority” (Matthew 7:29), and the response described by ἐκκρέμαμαι is the natural human reaction to the living words of יהוה (Yahweh) incarnate.

This term also illuminates the stark contrast between those who recognized divine truth and those who rejected it. While the religious leaders were plotting against Yeshua, the common people were drawn to Him with an almost magnetic attraction. This pattern reflects יהוה’s consistent character throughout Scripture—revealing Himself most clearly to those with humble and receptive hearts rather than to those claiming religious superiority. The use of ἐκκρέμαμαι thus becomes a powerful testimony to both the accessibility and the compelling nature of divine revelation when it is delivered through the perfect Teacher.

Personal Application

The vivid image of ἐκκρέμαμαι challenges believers today to examine the quality of our attention to God’s Word. Are we merely casual hearers, or are we “hanging upon” every word with the eager anticipation and complete absorption that characterized those who heard the Messiah teach in the Temple? In our distraction-filled world, this ancient term calls us to a radical recalibration of our priorities and attention.

When we approach Scripture reading, prayer, or teaching with the posture of ἐκκρέμαμαι, we position ourselves to receive divine truth not just intellectually but transformatively. This term invites us to become so engrossed in the words of our Master that everything else temporarily fades from view—a spiritual practice that can revolutionize our relationship with God and His Word.

Related Words

• προσέχω (prosechō, pros-ekh’-o) – to give attention to, to take heed, to devote oneself to; indicates focused mental attention but without the imagery of physical hanging or suspension See G4337
• κρέμαμαι (kremamai, krem’-am-ahee) – the simple form meaning “to hang, be suspended”; lacks the intensifying prefix and specialized focus on attentive listening See G2910
• ἀκούω (akouō, ak-oo’-o) – to hear, to listen; the general term for auditory reception without the connotation of exceptional eagerness See G191
• προσκολλάω (proskollaō, pros-kol-lah’-o) – to glue to, join closely with; conveys strong attachment but in a broader relational sense rather than specifically to words See G4347
• ἐξαρτάω (exartaō, ex-ar-tah’-o) – to hang from, suspend from; physically similar imagery but without the specialized application to attentive listening See G1822

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the Greek concept behind ἐκκρέμαμαι has entered many modern languages, including English with the idiom “to hang on every word”? This demonstrates how powerful and universally understood this metaphor is for describing rapt attention. While we use this phrase casually today, its biblical usage reminds us of the profound spiritual hunger that should characterize our approach to divine teaching.
• Did you know that in ancient rabbinic tradition, the relationship between a student and teacher was considered so sacred that there was a saying: “Let the dust of your rabbi’s feet cover you”? This meant students should follow their rabbi so closely that they would be covered by the dust kicked up by his sandals. This cultural context adds even deeper meaning to the image of people “hanging upon” Yeshua’s words—they weren’t just casual listeners but devoted followers absorbing His every teaching.
• Did you know that the physical setting where Luke uses ἐκκρέμαμαι—the Jerusalem Temple during Passover week—would have been extremely crowded and noisy? For people to be hanging on Yeshua’s every word in such a chaotic environment speaks volumes about His commanding presence and the compelling nature of His teaching. Archaeological evidence suggests the Temple courts could hold thousands of people, making this scene of captivated attention all the more remarkable.

Remember This

Ἐκκρέμαμαι captures not merely hearing but being utterly captivated by divine wisdom—a posture that transforms listeners from passive recipients into devoted disciples who hang upon the Messiah’s every word as though their very lives depend on it.