Bible Dictionaries
Anguish

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

see AFFLICTION (No. 4).

lit., "narrowness of place" (stenos, "narrow," chora, "a place"), metaphorically came to mean the "distress arising from that condition, anguish." It is used in the plural, of various forms of distress, 2 Corinthians 6:4; 12:10 , and of "anguish" or distress in general, Romans 2:9; 8:35 , RV, "anguish" for AV, "distress." The opposite state, of being in a large place, and so metaphorically in a state of joy, is represented by the word platusmos in certian Psalms as, e.g., Psalm 118:5; see also 2 Samuel 22:20 . See DISTRESS.

lit., "a holding together, or compressing" (sun, "together," echo, "to hold"), was used of the narrowing of a way. It is found only in its metaphorical sense, of "straits, distress, anguish," Luke 21:25 , "distress of nations," and 2 Corinthians 2:4 , "anguish of heart." See DISTRESS.

Note: Ananke is associated with thlipsis, and signifies a condition of necessity arising from some form of compulsion. It is therefore used not only of necessity but of distress, Luke 21:23; 1 Thessalonians 3:7 , and in the plural in 2 Corinthians 6:4; 12:10 .

akin to A, No. 2, lit., "to crowd into a narrow space," or, in the Passive Voice "to be pressed for room," hence, metaphorically, "to be straitened," 2 Corinthians 4:8; 6:12 (twice), is found in its literal sense in two places in the Sept., in Joshua 17:15; Isaiah 49:19 , and in two places in its metaphorical sense, in Judges 16:16 , where Delilah is said to have pressed Samson sore with her words continually, and to have "straitened him," and in Isaiah 28:20 . See DISTRESS , STRAITENED.

akin to A, No. 3, lit., "to hold together," is used physically of being held, or thronged, Luke 8:45; 19:43; 22:63; of being taken with a malady, Matthew 4:24; Luke 4:38; Acts 28:8; with fear, Luke 8:37; of being straitened or pressed in spirit, with desire, Luke 12:50; Acts 18:5; Philippians 1:23; with the love of Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:14 . In one place it is used of the stopping of their ears by those who killed Stephen. See CONSTRAIN , HOLD , KEEP , PRESS , SICK (lie), STOP , STRAIT (be in a), STRAITENED , TAKE , THRONG.

in the Middle and Passive Voices, signifies "to suffer pain, be in anguish, be greatly distressed" (akin to odune, "pain, distress"); it is rendered "sorrowing" in Luke 2:48; in Luke 16:24,25 , RV, "in anguish," for AV, "tormented;" in Acts 20:38 , "sorrowing." See SORROW , TORMENT.