ταλαιπωρία (talaipōria)
talaipōria
misery
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun talaipōria describes a state of severe hardship, misery, or distress. It is not a fleeting inconvenience but a heavy burden of suffering that weighs heavily on the person experiencing it. The word appears only twice in the New Testament, yet each occurrence carries significant theological weight by highlighting the depth of human brokenness.
In Romans 3:16, Paul uses the plural form to describe the violent and cruel nature of those who do not know God, quoting from the Septuagint. Here, it characterizes a lifestyle marked by relentless trouble and affliction. Similarly, in James 5:1, the word is applied to the rich who have hoarded wealth while causing suffering. James warns that their accumulated riches will be a witness against them, rooted in the misery they have inflicted on others.
The term derives from roots meaning "enduring" and "toil," suggesting that this misery is often the result of prolonged struggle or labor under difficult conditions. Translators typically render it as "misery" or "hardship," capturing the sense of a life worn down by external pressures or internal conflict. Its rarity in Scripture underscores the seriousness of the condition it describes, pointing to a profound state of wretchedness that stands in stark contrast to the peace offered through faith.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word talaipōria points to a heavy, lingering state of misery rather than a temporary inconvenience. It describes life worn down by relentless trouble and affliction. When we see this word in Scripture, it reminds us that the path away from God is not just morally wrong but deeply destructive to human well-being.
In Romans 3:16, Paul uses this term to describe the violent and cruel nature of those who do not know God. It characterizes a lifestyle marked by hardship that weighs heavily on the soul. This picture stands in stark contrast to the peace offered through faith, showing us what true brokenness looks like when left without divine help.
James 5:1 applies this same word to the rich who hoarded wealth while causing suffering. Their miseries are not just future punishments but the result of a life built on indifference to others. This serves as a sobering reminder that our actions toward the vulnerable have eternal consequences, urging us to live with compassion and justice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- misery1×
- miseries1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ταλαιπωρίαις1×
- ταλαιπωρία1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 3:16
Destruction and misery are in their ways.
Paul uses this term to characterize the violent and cruel nature of those who do not know God, highlighting the destructive lifestyle that results from living apart from Him.
-
James 5:1
Come now, you rich, weep and howl for your miseries that are coming on you.
James warns the rich that their hoarded wealth will be a witness against them because it is rooted in the misery they have inflicted on others.