Oppressed (2669) (kataponeo from kata = down and so gives the force of "worn down"+ poneo = labor from ponos = pain or toil) means to wear down by labor or toil (cf only other NT use Acts 7:24) and then figuratively to oppress, mistreat, trouble, afflict or vex (vex means to upset or agitate a person's composure), describing Lot's inner reaction to the unceasing evil that surrounded him day and night. In Greek secular use kataponeo conveyed the idea of to subdue after a hard struggle or in its passive sense to be so subdued. Acts 7:24 "And when he (Moses) saw one of them (his Hebrew "brethren") being treated unjustly, he defended him and took vengeance for the oppressed (present tense) by striking down the Egyptian. In the apocryphal book 3 Macc 2:2 the supplicant prays "give attention to us who are suffering grievously (kataponeo) from an impious and profane man, puffed up in his audacity and power." (RSV) And in 3 Macc 2:13 see now, O holy King, that because of our many and great sins we are crushed with suffering (kataponeo), subjected to our enemies, and overtaken by helplessness. The picture presented here by Peter is of Lot being (present tense indicates continual action and passive voice indicates the action is exerted from outside source, in this case Sodomites, etc) continually worn down and exhausted by toil and hence deeply distressed ("sore distressed") by the lifestyle of his fellow citizens. The present passive as noted indicates that their evil lives continued to be a burdensome weight upon Lot personally. It is amazing (and to some extent encouraging) that Lot had not allowed his conscience to become so dulled that he was no longer pained by what he witnessed. As someone has well said Our great security against sin lies in being shocked at it. Does the bold faced sin which is ravaging and destroying the very fabric of the character and integrity of America still shock you or do you no longer even blush when you see and hear the sensual conduct of unprincipled men on the television and the movies, even "PG" rated movies (!)? We as the "Bride" of Christ are in a dire state when we reach this "nadir" (the lowest point) [cf unfaithful Israel, Jer 6:15, 8:12] and we need to recall the truth of our Blessed Hope (Titus 2:13-note) in Rev 19:7-note, Rev 19:8-note. Are we (you) making ourselves (yourself) ready for the return of our Bridegroom? By (5259) (hupo) is a preposition which conveys the "directional sense" of "under" or "beneath". Hupo frequently meant not simply to be beneath but even to be under the control of something or someone. In the present context it is as if Lot was continually under the "control" of the immoral and wicked influences with the result that he was "completely worn down" (Wuest) and in "acute mental distress" (Phillips). Interestingly, Lot's great pain at the evil around him was in fact evidence of his own upright character. Does the blatant shameless parade of immorality in America wear you down? May our Lord come soon and rescue us, snatching us from the wrath to come (1Th 1:10-note) Wiersbe adds a note of urgency God’s people, as weak as they are, will be delivered from judgment by the grace and mercy of God. God could not judge Sodom until Lot and his family were out of the city. Likewise, it is my belief that God will not send wrath on this world until He takes His own people out and home to heaven. “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep [live or die], we should live together with Him” (1Th 5:9,10-note) One day soon, the fire will fall. Are you ready?" (Wiersbe, W: Bible Exposition Commentary. 1989. Victor or Logos) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/2_peter_26-8.htm#o