Topical Encyclopedia
The term "afflict" in the Bible is often associated with suffering, distress, or hardship, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual. It is used to describe the experience of individuals or groups who undergo trials or are subjected to oppression. The concept of affliction is multifaceted, encompassing both the consequences of sin and the trials permitted by God for the purpose of growth and refinement.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "afflict" is "עָנָה" (anah), which can mean to humble, oppress, or cause to suffer. Affliction is frequently depicted as a tool used by God to discipline His people or to bring them to repentance. For example, in
Leviticus 23:27, the Israelites are commanded to "afflict" themselves on the Day of Atonement, which involves fasting and humbling oneself before God: "On the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement. You shall hold a sacred assembly and humble yourselves, and present an offering made by fire to the LORD."
The afflictions of the Israelites in Egypt are a prominent example of collective suffering.
Exodus 3:7 records God's awareness of their plight: "The LORD said, 'I have indeed seen the affliction of My people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their oppressors, and I am aware of their sufferings.'"
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "θλίβω" (thlibo) is often used to describe affliction. The New Testament emphasizes the role of affliction in the life of a believer as a means of spiritual growth and perseverance.
Romans 5:3-4 states, "Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."
The Apostle Paul frequently speaks of his own afflictions as part of his ministry. In
2 Corinthians 4:17, he writes, "For our light and momentary affliction is producing for us an eternal glory that is far beyond comparison." This perspective highlights the temporary nature of earthly suffering in contrast to the eternal rewards promised to believers.
Affliction as Discipline and RefinementAffliction is sometimes portrayed as a form of divine discipline intended to refine and purify God's people.
Hebrews 12:6-7 explains, "For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives. Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?"
The Book of Job provides a profound exploration of the theme of affliction. Job's suffering, though not a direct result of personal sin, serves as a test of his faith and integrity.
Job 23:10 reflects his understanding of the refining purpose of his trials: "But He knows the way that I take; when He has tested me, I will come forth as gold."
Affliction and CompassionScripture also calls believers to respond to the afflictions of others with compassion and support.
Galatians 6:2 encourages, "Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ." The call to bear one another's burdens reflects the communal aspect of the Christian faith, where believers are to support and uplift each other in times of distress.
ConclusionThe biblical concept of affliction encompasses a range of experiences and purposes, from divine discipline to the testing of faith. It serves as a reminder of the fallen nature of the world and the hope of redemption and restoration through Christ. Believers are encouraged to endure afflictions with faith, trusting in God's ultimate plan and purpose.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To strike or cast down; to overthrow.
2. (v. t.) To inflict some great injury or hurt upon, causing continued pain or mental distress; to trouble grievously; to torment.
3. (v. t.) To make low or humble.
4. (p. p. & a.) Afflicted.
Greek
2346. thlibo -- to press,afflict... to press,
afflict. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: thlibo Phonetic Spelling:
(thlee'-bo) Short Definition: I make narrow, persecute, press hard Definition
...1669. helkoo -- to wound, to ulcerate, pass. to suffer from sores
... to suffer from sores. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: helkoo Phonetic Spelling:
(hel-ko'-o) Short Definition: Iafflict with sores Definition: Iafflict...
2559. kakoo -- to ill-treat
... Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: kakoo Phonetic Spelling: (kak-o'-o) Short
Definition: I treat badly Definition: I treat badly,afflict, embitter, make...
4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be...
... to hold together, ie To compress (the ears, with a crowd or siege) or arrest (a
prisoner); figuratively, to compel, perplex,afflict, preoccupy -- constrain...
3960. patasso -- to beat (of the heart), to strike
... Verb Transliteration: patasso Phonetic Spelling: (pat-as'-so) Short Definition:
I strike Definition: I smite, strike (as with a sword), smite to death,afflict...
4818. sullupeo -- to be moved to grief with (pass.)
... be grieved. From sun and lupeo; toafflict jointly, ie (passive) sorrow at (on account
of) someone -- be grieved. see GREEK sun. see GREEK lupeo....
5003. talaiporeo -- to suffer hardship or distress
... Cognate: 5003 -- intenselyafflict, leaving someone in a (miserable) condition --
literally, showing due to (used only at Js 4:9). See 5005 ()....
3791. ochleo -- to disturb, trouble
... to trouble,afflict. From ochlos; to mob, ie (by implication) to harass -- vex.
see GREEK ochlos. (ochloumenous) -- 1 Occurrence. 3790, 3791. ochleo. 3792...
4781. sugkampto -- to bend together
... bow down. From sun and kampto; to bend together, ie (figuratively) toafflict --
bow down. see GREEK sun. see GREEK kampto. (sunkampson) -- 1 Occurrence....
Strong's Hebrew
7489. ra'a' -- to be evil, badra'a'. 7488, 7489. ra'a'. 7489a . to be evil, bad. Transliteration: ra'a'
Phonetic Spelling: (raw-ah') Short Definition:
afflict.
afflict...3905. lachats -- to squeeze, press, oppress
... root Definition to squeeze, press, oppress NASB Word Usageafflict (1), forced
(1), hold the shut (1), oppress (2), oppressed (6), oppresses (1), oppressing (2...
6031a. anah -- to be bowed down or afflicted
... root Definition to be bowed down or afflicted NASB Word Usageafflict (16),afflict
him at all (1), afflicted (22), affliction (1), disturbed (1), do violence...
3513. kabad -- to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome
... abounding with, more grievouslyafflict, boast, be chargeable, be dim.
Or kabed {kaw-bade'}; a primitive root; to be heavy, ie In...
3013. yagah -- to suffer
...afflict, cause grief, grieve, sorrowful, vex. A primitive root; to grieve --afflict,
cause grief, grieve, sorrowful, vex. 3012, 3013. yagah. 3014 ....
8197c. sippach -- to cause a scab upon
... 8197b, 8197c. sippach. 8198 . to cause a scab upon. Transliteration:
sippach Short Definition:afflict. Word Origin denominative...
6887. tsarar -- to bind, tie up, be restricted, narrow, scant, or...
... A primitive root; to cramp, literally or figuratively, transitive or intransitive
(as follows) -- adversary, (be in)afflict(-ion), beseige, bind (up), (be in...
7043. qalal -- to be slight, swift or trifling
... bring into contempt, (ac-)curse, despise, (be) ease(-y, -ier), (be a, make, make
somewhat, move, seem a, set) light(-en, -er, -ly, -lyafflict, -ly esteem...
6030. anah -- to answer, respond
... To begin to speak; specifically to sing, shout, testify, announce -- give account,
afflict (by mistake for anah), (cause to, give) answer, bring low (by...
6088. atsab -- to pain, grieve
... lamentable. (Aramaic) corresponding to atsab; toafflict -- lamentable. see HEBREW
atsab. 6087b, 6088. atsab. 6089 . Strong's Numbers.
Library
The Soul is not toAfflict it Self, nor Intermit Prayer, Because...
... Recollection. CHAP. IV. The Soul is not toafflict it self, nor intermit Prayer,
because it sees it self encompassed with dryness. 25. Thou...
Having Thus Attained to the Highest Power, He Bent his Mind to...
... Chap. XXI. Having thus attained to the highest power, he bent his mind to
afflict that empire? Having thus attained to the highest...
How Important and Necessary it Is, to the Interiour Soul, to...
... griefs, and besieged with sorrows Internal, from the darkness of thy powers, from
the weakness of discourses: strong Temptations willafflict thee, painful...
Of the Meaning of the Sacrifice Abraham was Commanded to Offer...
... said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land not
theirs, and they shall reduce them to servitude and shallafflict them four...
Alexander.
... THE CHOSEN PEOPLE. LESSON XV. ALEXANDER. "Ships shall come from Chittim, and
shallafflict Eber, and shallafflict Assur.""Num. xxiv.24....
Of Holy Spiritual Prudence
... well, mortify thyself; if thou wouldst gain much and become rich, lose and become
poor; if thou wouldst enjoy thyself and take thine ease,afflict thyself, and...
How God Has Shown his Omnipotence in his Birth in Time as Well as...
... And yet the same God who was crucified Himself predicted: "Shall a manafflict God,
for youafflict Me?" [2603] If then we cannot think that the Lord was born...
"And we all do Fade as a Leaf, and Our Iniquities, Like the Wind...
... The Lord "doth notafflict willingly, nor grieve the children of men." That is,
as we conceive, the Lord hath not such pleasure in trampling on men, as he...
That the Widow and Orphans Ought to be Protected.
... father, and as a husband to their mother; and thou shalt be the son of the Highest
if thou shalt obey." [4618] Also in Exodus: "Ye shall notafflict any widow...
They who have Committed a "Sin unto Death" are not to be Abandoned...
... Explanation of the phrase "Deliver unto Satan." Satan canafflict the body, but
these afflictions bring spiritual profit, showing the power of God, Who thus...
Thesaurus
Afflict (55 Occurrences)... 4. (pp & a.) Afflicted. Multi-Version Concordance
Afflict (55 Occurrences).
... didst
thou come hither, before the time, to
afflict us?' (YLT).
...Chittim (5 Occurrences)
... Balaam foretold (Numbers 24:24) "that ships shall come from the coast of Chittim,
andafflict Eber." Daniel prophesied (11:30) that the ships of Chittim would...
Subdue (26 Occurrences)
... Numbers 24:24 But ships shall come from the coast of Kittim. They shallafflict
Asshur, and shallafflict Eber. He also shall come to destruction." (See NIV)....
Deny (48 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 16:29 "It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on
the tenth day of the month, you shallafflict your souls, and shall do no...
Souls (114 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 16:29 "It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on
the tenth day of the month, you shallafflict your souls, and shall do no...
Vex (20 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To make angry or annoyed by little provocations; to irritate; to plague;
to torment; to harass; toafflict; to trouble; to tease....
Grievously (17 Occurrences)
... as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun
and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievouslyafflict her by...
Eber (16 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Numbers 24:24 But ships shall come
from the coast of Kittim. They shallafflict Asshur, and shallafflict Eber....
Permanent (19 Occurrences)
... Leviticus 16:29 "It shall be a statute to you forever: in the seventh month, on
the tenth day of the month, you shallafflict your souls, and shall do no...
Persecute (48 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To pursue in a manner to injure, grieve, orafflict; to beset with cruelty
or malignity; to harass; especially, toafflict, harass, punish, or put to...
Resources
Why did Satan think he could defeat God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat were the emerods God afflicted the Philistines with in 1 Samuel 5? | GotQuestions.orgWho was Job in the Bible? | GotQuestions.orgAfflict: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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