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G4729 στενοχωρέω (stenochōréō)

Greek 📖 Greek Word Study
Verb
‹ G4728 Greek Dictionary G4730 ›

Quick Definition

στενοχωρέω v. I press upon, cramp, restrain

Strong's Definition

to hem in closely, i.e. (figuratively) cramp

Derivation: from the same as G4730 (στενοχωρία);

KJV Usage: distress, straiten

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

verb | στενάζω + χωρέω

37.18 · (στενοχωρέομαι[a]) · Control, Rule · Control, Restrain

to live under restrictions, to be restricted, to be confined to be under severe limitations or restrictions In a number of languages it may be more meaningful to render 2CO 6:12 as ‘it is not that we impose restrictions on you; it is you yourselves who are doing it.’ For another interpretation of στενοχωρέομαι in 2CO 6:12 as part of an idiom, see 25.54.

2CO 6:12

22.19 · (στενοχωρέομαι[b]) · Trouble, Hardship, Relief, Favorable Circumstances · Experience Trouble, Hardship

to be in great trouble, to be hemmed in with difficulty to be in serious circumstances, with the implication of no escape or way out

2CO 4:8

25.54 · (στενοχωρέομαι[c]) · Attitudes and Emotions · Love, Affection, Compassion

Collocation: στενοχωρέομαι ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις

to not respond with affection to someone, to close one’s heart to (an idiom, literally: to be restricted in the bowels) to restrict one’s affection for someone In 2CO 6:12 it is also possible to understand στενοχωρέομαι as meaning ‘to live with severe restrictions’ (see 37.18), and σπλάγχνα may be interpreted as a psychological faculty of intent and feeling (see 26.11).

2CO 6:12 · 2CO 6:12

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

στενο-χωρέω, -@: (στενόχωρος ; and this fr. στενός, and χῶρος a space) ; 1. intrans. to be in a strait place (Machon in Athen. 13 p. 582 b.); to be narrow (Is. xlix. 19). 2. trans. to straiten, compress, cramp, reduce to straits, (Vulg. angustio), (Diod., Leian., Hdian., al. ; [Sept. Josh. xvii. 15; Judg. xvi. 16; Is. xxviii. 20; 4 Mace. xi. 11]): pass. trop. of one sorely ‘straitened’ in spirit, 2 Co. iv. 8; οὐ στενοχωρεῖσθε ἐν ἡμῖν, ye are not straitened in us, ample space is granted you in our souls, i. e. we enfold you with large affection, 2 Co. vi. 12; oreνοχωρεῖσθε ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις ὑμῶν, ye are straitened in your own affections, so that there is no room there for us, i. e. you do not grant a place in your heart for love toward me, ibid.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

στενοχωρέω stenochōreō 3x

to crowd together into a narrow place, straiten; pass. met. to be in straits, to be cooped up, to be cramped from action, 2 Cor. 4:8; to be cramped in feeling, 2 Cor. 6:12*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

στενο-χωρέω, -ῶ

(< στενός + χῶρος, space) [in LXX: Jos 17:15 (אוּץ), Jg 16:16 (אלץ pi.), Is 28:19 (20) (קצר) Is 49:19 (צרר), IV Mac 11:11 * ;]

to be straitened (cf. Is 49:19); metaph., to be anxious (Hipp., al.).

In late writers, trans., to straiten, compress (LXX, Diod., al.; π. ap. MM, xxiii): pass., trop., II Co 4:8 6:12.†

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

στενοχωρέω [page 588] For this late word, lit. keep in a tight place, cf. P Petr II. 12 (1) .13 (B.C. 241) ἐπεὶ στενοχωροῦμεν σταθμοῖς , since we are short of billets (Ed.). See also the Hawara papyrus in Archiv v. p. 381, No. 56 .3 (late i/A.D.) στενοχωρεῖν ἐν τῷ κ̣α̣ . . [.]ῳ οὐκ ἠδυνάσθη .

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

στενοχωρέω (stenochōreō) — to press upon. στενοχωρ-έω, to be straitened, confined, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: metaphorically, to be anxious, in difficulty, ἐπί τινι [Refs 5th c.BC+]

II. transitive, crowd, straiten, τοὺς ἀπαντῶντας [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὰς πύλας, τὰς ὁδούς, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, with future middle [Refs 4th c.AD+], to be crowded together, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἐν ταὐτῷ σ. [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of stricture, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be cramped or confined, ὁ Εὐφράτης -ούμενος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of a picture, [Refs 4th c.AD+]

II.2. metaphorically, press closely, tina [LXX]:—passive, to be straitened, cramped,[LXX+5th c.AD+]; ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις [NT]; ὑπὸ τῶν κακῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]

STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon

στενο-χωρέω, -ῶ (στενός + χῶρος, space) [in LXX: Jos.17:15 (אוּץ), Jdg.16:16 (אָלַץ pi.), Isa.28:19 (20) (קָצַר) Isa.49:19 (צָרַר), 4Ma.11:11 * ;] __1. to be straitened (cf. Isa.49:19); metaphorically, to be anxious (Hipp., al.). __2. In late writers, trans., to straiten, compress (LXX, Diod., al.; π. ap. MM, xxiii): pass., trop., 2Co.4:8 6:12.† (AS)

Bible Occurrences (2)

📖 Greek Word Study — In-Depth Study from Precept Austin

Crushed (4729) stenochoreo

Crushed (4729) (stenochoreo from stenos = narrow + chora = space, territory [choros = a space]) means literally to restrict or to confine to a narrow or tight space, to be pressed for room (Josh 17:15 = "too narrow", Is 49:19 = "too cramped"). To be cooped up. To be cramped. Figuratively stenochoreo means to experience circumstances that seem to offer no way of escape (we've all had this feeling from time to time!) To feel "crushed" with difficulties. To oppress. To be in straits (strait is an archaic word which pictures one who is placed in difficulty or distress). In 2Co 6:12 the idea is to be "cramped" in one's feelings toward another, to be cool or formal toward another or to be reserved = restrained in words and actions) toward another The only other NT use is also in 2 Corinthians... 2 Corinthians 6:12 You are not restrained by us, but you are restrained in your own affections. Comment: Paul says he had nothing to hinder his relationship with the Corinthians, whereas they were restrained toward him, in essence (playing on the literal meaning of stenochoreo) having "squeezed" him out of their lives, even closing their hearts to him! Why? Apparently they had bought into the lies perpetrated by the false teachers who sought to paint Paul's character and ministry in a negative light. This is a sad testimony that they believed liars instead of the truth spoken by Paul and that this would have been especially painful to Paul is a feeling we can all identify with for we have all be falsely accused. Paul may have been hurt but he was still a Spirit filled man and practiced the truth he penned that love "bears all things...endures all things." (1Co 13:7) Have you ever taught (or prepared to teach) a Biblical truth, only to have God bring you into a situation that gives you a chance to "live it out"? Stenochoreo - 4x in the non-apocryphal Septuagint - Josh 17:15; Jdg 16:16; Isa 28:20; 49:19 Jdg 16:16 It came about when she (Delilah) pressed (Lxx = stenochoria - NLT "nagging") him (Samson) daily with her words and urged him, that his soul was annoyed to death. BEWILDERED BUT NOT BEFUDDLED!

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