Lexical Summary prosochthizó: To be indignant, to be grieved, to be displeased Original Word: προσοχθίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be grieved at. From pros and a form of ochtheo (to be vexed with something irksome); to feel indignant at -- be grieved at. see GREEK pros NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pros and ochtheó (to be sorely angered) Definition to be angry with NASB Translation angry (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4360: προσοχθίζωπροσοχθίζω: 1 aorist προσώχθισα; to be wroth or displeased with: τίνι, Hebrews 3:10, 17,(from Psalm 94:10 Topical Lexicon Etymology and Semantic Range Formed by the preposition meaning “toward” joined to a verb that expresses irritation or deep vexation, the term depicts an active, personal displeasure that moves toward the object that provokes it. It is stronger than a passing annoyance and speaks of an abiding resentment that has reached the point of moral revulsion. Old Testament Background The Septuagint repeatedly uses the cognate verb in texts that recount Israel’s unbelief in the wilderness (for example, Psalm 95:10 LXX 94:10; Deuteronomy 9:7-8). There the Lord’s settled anger grows out of covenant love spurned by stubborn hearts. The word therefore carries a covenantal flavor: it is the righteous reaction of the faithful God when His people disdain His gracious purposes. New Testament Usage Hebrews alone employs the verb, twice quoting Psalm 95. The author of Hebrews builds an urgent exhortation from these occurrences. The wilderness generation serves as a negative paradigm, and the verb highlights God’s personal refusal to overlook chronic unbelief. The context contrasts the enduring anger provoked by hardened hearts with the enduring rest offered through faith in Jesus Christ, the greater Moses. Theological Significance 1. Divine Holiness and Patience: The word affirms that God’s patience has limits set by His holiness. Forty years of longsuffering ended in judicial anger, showing that grace never cancels righteousness. Historical Implications for Ministry Early Christian preachers read Hebrews aloud to congregations under pressure to drift back to Judaism. The use of this rare verb sharpened their call to persevere. Patristic writers such as Chrysostom echoed the warning, urging hearers to fear provoking God by unbelief. Practical Ministry Applications • Preaching: The verb supports messages that balance God’s patience with His intolerance of sustained rebellion. Pastoral Reflections The rarity of the verb in the New Testament does not lessen its relevance. It stands as a bright warning light on the road of faith: God’s covenant love cannot be treated lightly. Yet its setting in Hebrews also magnifies grace; the very context that speaks of anger simultaneously offers “confidence” and “assurance” (Hebrews 3:6, 14). The preacher therefore wields the word both to alarm the complacent and to comfort the humble, directing all to the perfect obedience of Jesus Christ, in whom alone believers find freedom from the anger described by Strong’s Greek 4360. Forms and Transliterations προσοχθιεί προσοχθιείς προσοχθιείτε προσοχθίση προσόχθισμα προσοχθίσμασί προσοχθίσματα προσοχθίσματι πρόσοψις προσπαίζουσιν προσώχθικα προσωχθισα προσωχθίσα προσώχθισα προσώχθισαν προσώχθισε προσωχθισεν προσώχθισεν προσωχθίσθη prosochthisa prosōchthisa prosṓchthisa prosochthisen prosōchthisen prosṓchthisenLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Hebrews 3:10 V-AIA-1SGRK: διὸ προσώχθισα τῇ γενεᾷ NAS: THEREFORE I WAS ANGRY WITH THIS KJV: Wherefore I was grieved with that INT: Therefore I was indignant with the generation Hebrews 3:17 V-AIA-3S Strong's Greek 4360 |