Lexical Summary odunaó: To cause pain, to be in anguish, to grieve Original Word: ὀδυνάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance sorrow, torment. From odune; to grieve -- sorrow, torment. see GREEK odune HELPS Word-studies 3600 odynáō (from 3601 /odýnē, "very painful sorrow") – properly, to experience intense emotional pain (WP, 2, 223), i.e. deep, personal anguish expressed by great mourning (LS). This root (ody-) literally means "go down" (as the sun in a sunset) and refers to consuming sorrow. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom oduné Definition to cause or suffer pain NASB Translation agony (1), am in agony (1), anxiously (1), grieving (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3600: ὀδυνάωὀδυνάω, ὀδύνω: present indicative passive ὀδυνῶμαι; present indicative middle 2 person singular ὀδυνᾶσαι (see κατακαυχάομαι), participle ὀδυνωμενος; (ὀδύνη); to cause intense pain; passive to be in anguish, be tormented: Luke 16:24f; middle to torment or distress oneself (A. V. to sorrow), Luke 2:48; ἐπί τίνι, Acts 20:38. (Aristophanes, Sophocles, Euripides, Plato, others; the Sept..) Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 3600 (ὀδυνάομαι, middle ὀδυνῶμαι) speaks of profound inner anguish—pain that grips the emotions as well as the body. Although the verb appears only four times in the Greek New Testament, each setting highlights a different dimension of affliction: parental anxiety, eternal torment, and covenantal grief among believers. Together these uses form a composite picture of suffering that is both temporal and eschatological, earthly and heavenly. Occurrences in Scripture 1. Luke 2:48 – Parental distress: Mary tells the twelve-year-old Jesus, “Your father and I have been anxiously searching for You.” Themes of Distress and Agony Parental Anxiety Luke 2:48 pictures the frantic search of Joseph and Mary. The verb underlines the intensity of covenant family bonds: even the most faithful believers may experience piercing worry when responsibility for children feels jeopardized. Yet the episode ends in reassurance as Jesus identifies His Father’s house, hinting that ultimate safety rests in divine purposes, not human vigilance. Eschatological Torment Luke 16:24-25 presents ὀδυνάομαι as unrelieved agony in Hades. The narrative teaches: The scene is not mere parable scenery; it is Christ’s sober warning of irreversible judgment, affirming the justice of God. Covenantal Grief in Ministry Acts 20:38 describes seasoned elders gripped by sorrow as Paul departs. Their distress springs from covenant love knit through shared gospel labor. This grief is healthy, revealing hearts awakened to eternal investments rather than temporal convenience. The passage models pastoral relationships shaped by affectionate commitment (compare 2 Corinthians 2:4). Historical and Cultural Background In classical Greek literature the verb could address both physical pain (wounds, childbirth) and strong mental agitation. Luke, a physician-historian, skillfully applies the term in settings where body and soul converge, aligning medical specificity with theological depth. First-century hearers would immediately sense visceral pain; Luke harnesses that association to press moral and redemptive truths. Theological Significance 1. Reality of Suffering: Scripture never downplays agony. Whether in family life, missional goodbyes, or final judgment, pain is acknowledged, not romanticized. Pastoral and Devotional Insights • Parents burdened for wandering children may take courage: God’s redemptive plan can be at work even in seasons of anxious searching. Connections with the Old Testament The concept parallels Hebrew expressions of deep travail (e.g., Isaiah 21:3; Psalms 38:8), indicating continuity between Testaments in portraying holistic suffering. Luke’s choice of ὀδυνάομαι thus bridges prophetic lament and New Testament fulfillment. Eschatological Implications Luke 16 underscores that post-mortem agony is conscious, just, and eternal, refuting annihilationism. Conversely, the believer’s sorrows will be swallowed up by comfort in Abraham’s bosom—a foretaste of New Jerusalem bliss. Concluding Reflections Though ὀδυνάομαι is rare, its strategic placement intensifies the gospel’s call: flee the agony of unrepentance, find refuge in Christ, and bear one another’s burdens until He wipes every tear from redeemed eyes. Forms and Transliterations οδυνασαι οδυνάσαι ὀδυνᾶσαι οδυνάται οδυνηθήσεται οδυνηθήσονται οδυνωμαι οδυνώμαι ὀδυνῶμαι οδυνωμένην οδυνωμενοι οδυνώμενοι ὀδυνώμενοι οδυνωμένοις odunasai odunomai odunōmai odunomenoi odunōmenoi odynasai odynâsai odynomai odynômai odynōmai odynō̂mai odynomenoi odynōmenoi odynṓmenoiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 2:48 V-PPM/P-NMPGRK: καὶ κἀγὼ ὀδυνώμενοι ἐζητοῦμέν σε NAS: Your father and I have been anxiously looking KJV: have sought thee sorrowing. INT: and I alsodistressed were seeking you Luke 16:24 V-PIM/P-1S Luke 16:25 V-PIM/P-2S Acts 20:38 V-PPM/P-NMP Strong's Greek 3600 |
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