Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:Vexation refers to a state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried. In biblical terms, it often denotes a deep sense of distress or trouble, both in the emotional and spiritual realms. The concept of vexation is frequently associated with the trials and tribulations that test the faith and patience of believers.
Biblical References:The term "vexation" appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often highlighting the struggles and challenges faced by individuals and nations. In the Old Testament, vexation is frequently linked to the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments and the resulting divine judgment.
1.
Ecclesiastes 1:14 : "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and indeed, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." This verse underscores the futility and frustration inherent in earthly pursuits when they are devoid of eternal purpose. The Preacher, traditionally understood to be Solomon, reflects on the emptiness of worldly endeavors without God.
2.
Isaiah 65:14 : "Behold, My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart, and you will wail with a broken spirit." Here, vexation is contrasted with the joy of the faithful. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the sorrow and distress that will befall those who reject God, while His servants will experience joy.
3.
Deuteronomy 28:20 : "The LORD will send curses upon you, confusion and rebuke in everything you do, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness of your deeds in forsaking Me." This passage illustrates how vexation can be a form of divine retribution for disobedience, leading to confusion and distress.
Theological Implications:Vexation in the Bible often serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of aligning one's life with God's will. It highlights the inner turmoil that results from living apart from God's guidance and the peace that comes from obedience and faithfulness.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to seek God's wisdom and guidance to overcome vexation. The Bible teaches that true peace and contentment are found in a relationship with God, who provides comfort and strength in times of trouble. Prayer, meditation on Scripture, and fellowship with other believers are practical ways to address and alleviate vexation.
Related Concepts:·
Vanity: Often paired with vexation, vanity refers to the emptiness and meaninglessness of life without God.
·
Tribulation: Similar to vexation, tribulation involves suffering and distress, but it is often seen as a means of spiritual growth and refinement.
·
Peace: The opposite of vexation, peace is a state of tranquility and contentment that comes from trusting in God.
Conclusion:While vexation is a common human experience, the Bible offers hope and guidance for overcoming it through faith and reliance on God. By understanding the causes and consequences of vexation, believers can seek to live in accordance with God's will and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The act of vexing, or the state of being vexed; agitation; disquiet; trouble; irritation.
2. (n.) The cause of trouble or disquiet; affliction.
3. (n.) A harassing by process of law; a vexing or troubling, as by a malicious suit.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
VEX, VEXATIONveks, vek-sa'-shun: "Vex," meaning originally to shake or toss in carrying, has a much more intensive meaning in Scripture than in common modern usage. It represents over a score of Hebrew and Greek words, most of them translated by this word only once, and many of them changed in the Revised Version (British and American) into other forms. Thus bahel inPsalm 6:2, 3, 10. is in the American Standard Revised Version "troubled" (inPsalm 2:5, the Revised Version margin. "trouble"); tsarar inNehemiah 9:27 is in the Revised Version (British and American) "distressed";. pascho inMatthew 17:15 is "suffereth grievously"; kakoo inActs 12:1 is "afflict," etc. So "vexation only" inIsaiah 28:19 is in the Revised Version (British and American) "nought but terror," and there are other changes of this word (compareDeuteronomy 28:20, "discomfiture";Isaiah 9:1, "in anguish"). On the other hand, the Revised Version (British and American) has "vex" for "distress" (Deuteronomy 2:9, 19); "they that vex" for "the adversaries of" (Isaiah 11:13); "vexeth himself" for "meddleth" (Proverbs 26:17), etc.
W. L. Walker
Greek
2559. kakoo -- to ill-treat... afflict, embitter, make angry. Cognate: 2559 -- to inflict (ill-treatment,
vexation); to harm, injure. See 2556 (). Word Origin from
...24. aganaktesis -- indignation
... Feminine Transliteration: aganaktesis Phonetic Spelling: (ag-an-ak'-tay-sis) Short
Definition: indignation Definition: feeling of anger, indignation,vexation....
929. basanismos -- torture
... Cognate: 929 torment (vexation) -- ; subjective agony that corresponds to an basis --
ie as the "torment-rack" proves (reveals) the real "state of affairs" (cf...
3077. lupe -- pain of body or mind, grief, sorrow
... affliction. 3077 -- properly, distress,vexation; (figuratively) physical
or emotional pain; (grief) that . Word Origin a prim....
3636. okneros -- shrinking, timid, hence idle, lazy, troublesome
... The idea of 'delay' underlies the secondary sense, 'burdensome, troublesome.' It
is thevexation arising from weary waiting, and which appears in the middle...
Strong's Hebrew
3708. ka'ac --vexation, anger...vexation, anger. Transliteration: ka'ac Phonetic Spelling: (kah'-as) Short Definition:
vexation.
vexation Or (in Job) kaoas {kah'-as}; from ka'ac;
vexation:
...3708a. kaas --vexation, anger
... 3708, 3708a. kaas. 3708b .vexation, anger. Transliteration: kaas Short
Definition: provocation. Word Origin from kaas Definition...
3708b. kaas --vexation, anger
...vexation, anger. Transliteration: kaas Short Definition: grief. Word Origin from
kaas Definitionvexation, anger NASB Word Usage anger (1), grief (2)....
4103. mehumah -- tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture
... destruction, discomfiture, trouble, tumult,vexation, vexed. From huwm; confusion
or uproar -- destruction, discomfiture, trouble, tumult,vexation, vexed....
7469. reuth -- longing, striving
...vexation. Probably from ra'ah; a feeding upon, ie Grasping after --vexation. see
HEBREW ra'ah. 7468, 7469. reuth. 7470 . Strong's Numbers.
7475. rayon -- longing, striving
...vexation. From ra'ah in the sense of r'uwth; desire --vexation. see HEBREW ra'ah.
see HEBREW r'uwth. 7474, 7475. rayon. 7476 . Strong's Numbers.
2113. zevaah -- a trembling, an object of trembling or terror
... be removed, trouble,vexation. From zuwa'; agitation, fear -- be removed, trouble,
vexation. Compare za'avah. see HEBREW zuwa'. see HEBREW za'avah. 2112, 2113...
8586. taalulim -- wantonness, caprice
... babe, delusion. From alal; caprice (as a fit coming on), ieVexation; concretely
a tyrant -- babe, delusion. see HEBREW alal. 8585b, 8586. taalulim. 8587 ....
7667. sheber -- a breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
... specifically, a solution (of a dream) -- affliction, breach, breaking, broken(-footed,
-handed), bruise, crashing, destruction, hurt, interpretation,vexation....
3707. kaas -- to be vexed or angry
... to anger (1), provoking (7), provoking him to anger (2), provoking me to anger
(4), provoking the to anger (1), spite (2), trouble (1),vexation (1), vexed (1...
Library
"I am Enraged in Heart, Believe Me, And, throughVexation...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter VI. "I am enraged in heart, believe
me, and, throughvexation? "I am enraged in heart, believe...
By what Means Union Can be Preserved Unbroken.
... any wrath which a brother may have conceived against him however unreasonably, in
the same way that he would cure his own, knowing that thevexation of another...
How it is That, if Our Brother Has any Grudge against Us, the...
... So far therefore is our Lord anxious that we should not disregard thevexation of
another that He does not accept our offerings if our brother has anything...
Progress (Preached Before the Queen at Clifden, June 3, 1866. )
... and air, would scarcely have been represented as a disappointed and broken-hearted
sage, who pronounced all human labour to be vanity andvexation of spirit...
The Image of the Earthly and the Heavenly
... against the temptation which Solomon felt when he said: "I have seen all the works
which are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity andvexation of spirit...
Letter xvii. --Remorse and Rebellion.
... Only try not to give rise to them yourself; but should this, unfortunately, happen,
then humble yourself peacefully and withoutvexation, which would be a...
Epistle xvii. To Felix, Bishop of Messana.
... to consult the Apostolic See, in which thou hast been brought up and educated, on
three points; that is on marriages of consanguinity, onvexation of bishops...
Solomon
... I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity
andvexation of spirit. All have heard of Solomon the Wise....
Ep. Lix. To Basil.
... you did not acknowledge that you were hurt, neither did you conceal it, or if you
did it was with great skill, as with a mask, hiding yourvexation under an...
Letter xvi. --Hatred of Sin.
... Provided that this discontent does not turn tovexation, trouble, or discouragement,
it will inspire you with a sincere interior humility, a profound self...
Thesaurus
Vexation (36 Occurrences)... suit. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VEX,
VEXATION. veks
... etc. WL Walker.
Multi-Version Concordance
Vexation (36 Occurrences). Deuteronomy
...Vex (20 Occurrences)
... to tease. 3. (vt) To twist; to weave. 4. (vi) To be irritated; to fret.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VEX,VEXATION. veks, vek...
Grief (252 Occurrences)
... the same word is rendered "wrath" in 12:16, the King James Version "a fool's wrath,"
the Revised Version (British and American) "vexation"; so also Proverbs 27...
Grieve (29 Occurrences)
... the same word is rendered "wrath" in 12:16, the King James Version "a fool's wrath,"
the Revised Version (British and American) "vexation"; so also Proverbs 27...
Laboured (34 Occurrences)
... 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour
that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity andvexation of spirit...
Trouble (477 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Troubled; dark; gloomy. 5. (n.) The state of being troubled;
disturbance; agitation; uneasiness;vexation; calamity. 6. (vt...
Mischief (64 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble orvexation caused
by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity...
Chafe (1 Occurrence)
... 6. (vi) To have a feeling ofvexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated. 7.
(n.) Heat excited by friction.... 9. (n.)Vexation; irritation of mind; rage....
Travail (54 Occurrences)
... This is also vanity andvexation of spirit.... Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better is an handful
with quietness, than both the hands full with travail andvexation of spirit....
Preacher (27 Occurrences)
... This is equally the meaning of the text, whether we translate "vanity andvexation
of spirit" or "vanity and a striving after wind," ("emptiness, and...
Resources
What is the biblical understanding of the wrath of God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean to vex / be vexed? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.orgVexation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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