ταλαιπωρέω (talaipōreō)
talaipōreō
to grieve
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb talaipōreō describes a state of being worn down by severe hardship or distress. It conveys more than simple sadness; it suggests the physical and emotional exhaustion that comes from enduring heavy burdens or affliction. In classical usage, it could even mean to weary someone else, but in Scripture, the focus remains on the sufferer’s condition.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in James 4:9. Here, the author calls believers to "be wretched and miserable," using this term to describe a deep, honest reckoning with one’s spiritual state before God. The image is not of fleeting regret, but of a profound recognition of brokenness that precedes restoration.
Its root relates to enduring toil or suffering, linking it to the idea of carrying a heavy load. By using this specific word, James emphasizes that true repentance involves acknowledging the full weight of our condition, rather than masking it with superficial comfort.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
James uses a rare word here that paints a vivid picture of spiritual exhaustion. It describes the heavy, wearing-down feeling that comes when we finally stop pretending everything is fine. This is not about wallowing in self-pity, but rather the honest recognition of how far we have drifted from God. It is the deep sigh of a heart that knows it needs help.
This kind of grief is actually a doorway to grace. When we acknowledge our brokenness without hiding it, we make room for God’s mercy to enter. The weight we carry feels lighter when we stop trying to lift it alone. This honest sorrow prepares the ground for genuine repentance and the healing that follows.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do be grieved1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ταλαιπωρήσατε1×
Key Verses
-
James 4:9
Lament, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
This verse uniquely employs a rare term for deep spiritual exhaustion, emphasizing that true repentance begins with an honest acknowledgment of our broken state rather than superficial comfort.