Bible Dictionaries
Anguish

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

A — 1: θλῖψις

(Strong's #2347 — Noun Feminine — thlipsis — thlip'-sis )

see AFFLICTION (No. 4).

A — 2: στενοχωρία

(Strong's #4730 — Noun Feminine — stenochoria — sten-okh-o-ree'-ah )

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.

A — 3: συνοχή

(Strong's #4928 — Noun Feminine — sunoche — soon-okh'-ay )

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 .

B — 1: στενοχωρέω

(Strong's #4729 — Verb — stenochoreo — sten-okh-o-reh'-o )

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.

B — 2: συνέχω

(Strong's #4912 — Verb — sunecho — soon-ekh'-o )

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.

B — 3: ὀδυνάω

(Strong's #3600 — Verb — odunao — od-oo-nah'-o )

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.

Bibliography Information
Vines, W. E., M. A. Entry for 'Anguish'. Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words. https://www.studylight.org/​dictionaries/​eng/​ved/​a/anguish.html. 1940.