στενοχωρέω (stenochōreō)
stenochōreō
to press upon
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb stenochoreō describes a state of being pressed into a narrow space, derived from words meaning "tight" and "space." In the New Testament, it is used metaphorically to describe spiritual or emotional distress rather than physical confinement. It conveys the feeling of being squeezed by circumstances until there seems to be no room to breathe or act freely.
This word appears only twice in the New Testament, both in Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians. In 2 Corinthians 4:8, Paul notes that while believers are hard pressed on every side, they are not crushed. Later, in 6:12, he uses it to describe how the Corinthian church had restricted their affection for him, effectively shutting him out. The term captures a sense of constraint that limits freedom and causes anxiety.
Translators often render this word as "afflicted" or "troubled," though these English terms can feel abstract. The Greek image is more concrete: it is the sensation of being crammed into a tight corner. This usage highlights the tension between external pressure and internal resilience, showing how faith operates even when one feels completely boxed in by life’s difficulties.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Life often feels like a tight corner where the walls close in and there is no easy way out. This Greek word paints that exact picture of being squeezed by circumstances until breathing seems difficult. It reminds us that feeling trapped is a real human experience, not a sign of weak faith.
Yet, the text offers a vital distinction: being pressed does not mean being crushed. You can feel the weight of pressure without being destroyed by it. This word invites you to acknowledge your strain honestly while trusting that God’s strength holds you steady when you feel boxed in.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you are restrained2×
- being crushed,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- στενοχωρεῖσθε2×
- στενοχωρούμενοι,1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 4:8
We are pressed on every side, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not to despair;
This verse uses the word to describe external pressures that, while intense, do not lead to total defeat or despair.
-
II Corinthians 6:12
You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections.
Here Paul shifts the meaning to show how restricted affection can feel like a tight space, limiting freedom in relationships.