3295

Lexical Summary

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Part of Speech:
Transliteration: (Not Used)
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Topical Lexicon

Overview

Strong’s Greek 3295 designates a Greek verb that conveys the experience of deep melancholy or despondency. Although the form does not appear in the inspired Greek text of the New Testament, the human condition it describes is addressed repeatedly in both Testaments. Scripture speaks with clarity to the heaviness of spirit that can overcome the believer and shows God’s gracious provision for it.

Classical and Intertestamental Background

Ancient Greek literature used this verb to describe a state of “black bile” (melas, “black,” + cholē, “bile”) that physicians associated with sluggishness and sadness. By the intertestamental period the idea had merged with spiritual concepts of gloom and despair. Jewish wisdom writings in Greek (for example, Sirach 30:21-25 LXX) warn against such despondency because it “has killed many.” This backdrop highlights how thoroughly the biblical worldview engages the emotional as well as the physical dimensions of life.

Old Testament Parallels

The Hebrew Scriptures portray melancholy through words such as kāʾēḏ (“dismayed,” Psalm 119:28), rōghez (“anxious turmoil,” Isaiah 57:20), and yāʾāš (“despair,” Jonah 2:7). The psalmists repeatedly voice a cast-down soul yet direct that soul to hope in God (Psalm 42:5; Psalm 43:5). Proverbs 12:25 observes, “Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up”. These texts remind the believer that godly lament is not faithlessness; rather, it is a path toward restored confidence in the covenant-keeping LORD.

New Testament Teaching on Despondency

Even though 3295 itself never occurs, the New Testament addresses the same spiritual and emotional reality:
• Matthew 26:38 – Jesus confesses, “My soul is consumed with sorrow to the point of death.”
• 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 – “We are hard pressed on all sides, yet not crushed; perplexed, yet not in despair.”
• Philippians 4:6-7 – “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God… will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

These passages reveal that believers can feel overwhelming sorrow without being abandoned by God. The remedy is not stoic denial but prayerful confidence in the presence and promises of Christ.

Theological Insights

1. Anthropology: Scripture affirms that humanity is a unity of body and soul. Emotional heaviness can stem from physical, circumstantial, or spiritual causes; yet the whole person must be addressed (1 Kings 19:4-8; James 5:13-16).
2. Christology: Jesus, the Man of Sorrows, entered fully into human grief, demonstrating that melancholy is not sinful in itself (Hebrews 4:15).
3. Pneumatology: The Spirit indwells believers to bring comfort (John 14:16-18) and joy (Romans 14:17), countering despair with the fruit of hope (Romans 15:13).
4. Eschatology: Ultimate release from all sorrow awaits the consummation when “there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain” (Revelation 21:4).

Pastoral and Practical Applications

• Compassionate Listening: Job’s friends failed when they spoke without knowledge (Job 13:5); effective ministry begins with presence and empathy.
• Scripture Saturation: Passages such as Psalm 34, Lamentations 3, and 1 Peter 5:6-10 reorient sufferers toward God’s faithfulness.
• Corporate Worship: Singing truth-rich hymns and psalms brings light into gloom (Ephesians 5:19).
• Prayer and Fasting: Persistent seeking of the Lord aligns the heart with His peace (Psalm 40:1-3).
• Physical Stewardship: Rest, nutrition, and exercise are part of God’s common-grace means for emotional health (1 Timothy 4:8).
• Community Accountability: Burden-bearing is a church responsibility (Galatians 6:2), guarding against isolation that worsens melancholy.

Historical Reception

Early church fathers linked despondency (akēdia) with spiritual warfare. John Cassian described it as the “noonday demon,” combated by prayer and manual labor. The Reformers emphasized the sufficiency of Scripture for consoling weary consciences. Puritan pastors produced treatises on “spiritual depression,” urging meditation on Christ’s finished work. Throughout revivals and missionary movements, testimonies abound of believers delivered from oppressive gloom through renewed focus on gospel hope.

Contemporary Ministry Significance

Recognizing the concept behind Strong’s 3295 equips modern believers to integrate biblical counseling with medical insight, offering holistic care without compromising biblical authority. Churches that cultivate gospel-centered fellowship, Christ-exalting worship, and Scripture-saturated counseling provide a safe haven for the heavy-hearted, demonstrating that in Christ no darkness need remain unchallenged.

Summary

Though the verb cataloged as Strong’s Greek 3295 never appears in the canonical Greek New Testament, the sorrow it denotes is thoroughly addressed by God’s revelation. Scripture acknowledges the reality of deep melancholy, invites honest lament, supplies divine comfort, and promises ultimate restoration. The believer is thus neither surprised by seasons of heaviness nor left without resources, for “the LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit” (Psalm 34:18).

Englishman's Concordance

μελῶν — 2 Occ.
μέλος — 5 Occ.
Μελχὶ — 2 Occ.
Μελχισεδέκ — 8 Occ.
ἔμελεν — 2 Occ.
μέλει — 7 Occ.
μελέτω — 1 Occ.
μεμβράνας — 1 Occ.
μέμφεται — 1 Occ.
μεμφόμενος — 1 Occ.
μὲν — 182 Occ.
Μενοῦν — 1 Occ.
μενοῦνγε — 2 Occ.
μέντοι — 8 Occ.
ἐμείναμεν — 2 Occ.
ἔμειναν — 2 Occ.
ἔμεινεν — 10 Occ.
ἔμενεν — 3 Occ.
ἔμενον — 1 Occ.
μεῖναι — 6 Occ.