ἀγγαρεύω (angareuō)
angareuō
to force
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb angareuō describes the act of compelling someone to perform a service, often against their will. It originates from a Persian term for a mounted courier or public messenger, reflecting a system where officials could demand the use of local transport and labor for state business. In the New Testament, it appears only three times, always in the context of Roman authority exercising its power over subjects.
Jesus uses this word in Matthew 5:41 to illustrate a counter-cultural response to oppression. When a soldier demands a traveler carry his gear for one mile, following the local custom, Jesus instructs the listener to go two miles instead. This is not mere compliance but a deliberate subversion of the oppressor’s expectation. The term also appears in the passion narratives (Matthew 27:32; Mark 15:21) when Simon of Cyrene is forced to carry Jesus’ cross, highlighting the harsh reality of imperial coercion.
Translators typically render angareuō as "force" or "compel," capturing the physical and social pressure involved. The word underscores the tension between earthly power and spiritual freedom, showing how believers are called to respond to unjust demands with unexpected generosity rather than resentment or passive submission.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word angareuō describes a harsh reality: being forced to serve against your will. In the first century, this referred to the Roman practice of compelling locals to carry supplies for soldiers. It was an experience of powerlessness and indignity, where individual freedom was overridden by state authority.
Jesus addresses this directly in Matthew 5:41. He does not tell us to fight back or submit silently. Instead, He invites a surprising response: go the second mile. This act transforms a moment of coercion into one of voluntary generosity. It strips the oppressor of their power to humiliate you by refusing to let fear dictate your actions.
This word reminds us that true freedom is not just physical liberty, but the ability to choose love even under pressure. When life forces you into difficult situations, you retain the dignity of how you respond. You can meet injustice with unexpected grace, reflecting a kingdom values that earthly powers cannot control.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will compel to go1×
- they compelled1×
- they compel1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἠγγάρευσαν1×
- ἀγγαρεύσει1×
- ἀγγαρεύουσιν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 5:41
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
Jesus uses this term to redefine obedience as a voluntary act of generosity rather than forced compliance.
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Matthew 27:32
As they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name, and they compelled him to go with them, that he might carry his cross.
The word highlights the brutal reality of Roman authority forcing Simon to carry Jesus' cross during the passion.
-
Mark 15:21
They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them that he might bear his cross.
This occurrence emphasizes the physical burden imposed on Simon, illustrating the weight of coercion in the crucifixion narrative.