In biblical literature, the term "choke" is often used metaphorically to describe the hindrance or suppression of spiritual growth and fruitfulness. The concept is primarily found in the context of Jesus' parables, where it illustrates the challenges and obstacles that can impede a believer's faith and spiritual development.

Parable of the Sower

The most notable reference to "choke" is found in the Parable of the Sower, as recorded in the Synoptic Gospels. In this parable, Jesus describes a sower who scatters seed, which falls on different types of soil, each representing a different response to the Word of God. The seed that falls among thorns is particularly relevant to the concept of choking:

· Matthew 13:7 : "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings."
· Mark 4:7 : "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the seedlings, and they yielded no crop."
· Luke 8:7 : "Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the seedlings."

In these passages, the thorns symbolize the cares, riches, and pleasures of life that can overwhelm and stifle the growth of the Word in a person's heart. Jesus explains this aspect of the parable to His disciples:

· Matthew 13:22 : "The seed sown among the thorns is the one who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
· Mark 4:18-19 : "Still others are like the seed sown among the thorns. They hear the word, but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth, and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful."
· Luke 8:14 : "The seeds that fell among the thorns are those who hear, but as they go on their way, they are choked by the worries, riches, and pleasures of this life, and their fruit does not mature."

Spiritual Implications

The metaphor of choking in these passages serves as a warning to believers about the potential dangers of allowing worldly concerns to dominate their lives. The "worries of this life" can include anxiety, stress, and preoccupation with daily responsibilities. The "deceitfulness of wealth" refers to the false security and distraction that material riches can provide, leading individuals away from reliance on God. The "desires for other things" encompass any pursuit or passion that takes precedence over one's relationship with God.

The imagery of choking highlights the gradual and often unnoticed process by which these distractions can suffocate spiritual vitality. Just as thorns can slowly overtake and strangle a plant, so too can worldly concerns subtly erode a believer's focus and commitment to God's Word.

Practical Application

For Christians, the call to vigilance is clear. Believers are encouraged to examine their lives for any "thorns" that may be hindering their spiritual growth. This involves a conscious effort to prioritize spiritual disciplines, such as prayer, Bible study, and fellowship, over the competing demands of the world. By doing so, they can ensure that the Word of God takes root deeply in their hearts, allowing it to flourish and bear fruit.

In summary, the biblical concept of "choke" serves as a powerful reminder of the need to guard against the encroachment of worldly distractions that can stifle spiritual growth and fruitfulness. Through intentional focus on God's Word and reliance on His strength, believers can overcome these challenges and live lives that are fruitful and pleasing to the Lord.1. (v. t.) To render unable to breathe by filling, pressing upon, or squeezing the windpipe; to stifle; to suffocate; to strangle.

2. (v. t.) To obstruct by filling up or clogging any passage; to block up.

3. (v. t.) To hinder or check, as growth, expansion, progress, etc.; to stifle.

4. (v. t.) To affect with a sense of strangulation by passion or strong feeling.

5. (v. t.) To make a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel of a shotgun.

6. (v. i.) To have the windpipe stopped; to have a spasm of the throat, caused by stoppage or irritation of the windpipe; to be strangled.

7. (v. i.) To be checked, as if by choking; to stick.

8. (n.) A stoppage or irritation of the windpipe, producing the feeling of strangulation.

9. (n.) The tied end of a cartridge.

10. (n.) A constriction in the bore of a shotgun, case of a rocket, etc.

CHOKE

chok (pnigo, and its compounds): Is used in its primary sense of "to strangle," or "to suffocate," in describing the fate of the swine (Luke 8:33 the King James Version). The Revised Version (British and American) has "drowned," but "choked" is the correct rendering of the Greek word.

Figurative: It is used in the sense of "to strangle" "smother," "suffocate," as if by depriving of breath, in describing the fate of the young grain growing in the midst of thorns (Matthew 13:7). The figurative is carried a little farther still in describing the way the word, planted in the heart, is overcome by the care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches (Matthew 13:22).

A. W. Fortune

4846. sumpnigo -- to choke
... to choke. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sumpnigo Phonetic Spelling:
(soom-pnee'-go) Short Definition: I choke utterly, crowd upon Definition: I choke ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4846.htm - 7k

638. apopnigo -- to choke
... to choke. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apopnigo Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-op-nee'-go) Short Definition: I suffocate, choke, drown, stop the growth of ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/638.htm - 7k

4155. pnigo -- to choke
... to choke. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: pnigo Phonetic Spelling:
(pnee'-go) Short Definition: I choke, strangle Definition: I choke, throttle, strangle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4155.htm - 6k

1970 -- choke.
choke. Phonetic Spelling: (ep-ee-pnee'-go) Short Definition: choke. choke. From
epi and pnigo; to throttle upon, ie (figuratively) overgrow -- choke. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1970.htm - 5k

519. apagcho -- to strangle, hang oneself
... to strangle, hang oneself. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apagcho Phonetic
Spelling: (ap-ang'-khom-ahee) Short Definition: I choke, strangle Definition ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/519.htm - 6k

6059. anaq -- to serve as a necklace
... A primitive root; properly, to choke; used only as denominative from anaq, to collar,
ie Adorn with a necklace; figuratively, to fit out with supplies ...
/hebrew/6059.htm - 6k

2614. chanaq -- to strangle
... A primitive root (compare chanak); to be narrow; by implication, to throttle, or
(reflex.) To choke oneself to death (by a rope) -- hang self, strangle. ...
/hebrew/2614.htm - 6k

The Crowded Life
... It is overgrown and preoccupied. Other things choke the seed. There is not room
for the harvest. The influences of God are simply crowded out. ...
/.../peabody/mornings in the college chapel/xlviii the crowded life.htm

The Sluggard's Garden
... And Jesus has taught the sadder truth that 'thorns spring up and choke the word
and it becometh unfruitful.' In the slothful man's soul evil will drive out ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture g/the sluggards garden.htm

Sown among Thorns
... "He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the
care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 34 1888/sown among thorns.htm

Felix Before Paul
... And if some stray seed here and there remains and begins to sprout, the ill weeds
which grow apace spring up with ranker stems and choke it. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture the acts/felix before paul.htm

Praying Charlie.
... God be merciful to us! this bit of bread might choke us.". 13. His sentences were
wise and weighty, and might well become some ancient Christian. 14. ...
/.../wesley/stories of boys and girls who loved the saviour/praying charlie.htm

The Parables of the Kingdom.
... weeds and thorns; they cannot stand against the scorching heat of temptations or
petty persecutions, or else the cares and riches of this world choke the word ...
/.../burbidge/the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter iii the parables of.htm

The Study of Words
... are far from being striking and well received, because they obscure the sense by
spreading a sort of shadow about it, or by being too crowded they choke it up ...
/.../kleiser/the training of a public speaker/the study of words.htm

The Parables Exemplified in the Early History of the Church.
... and hardened hearers; opposition and persecution and temptation still scorch up
the seed in others; and worldliness and love of money still choke that which ...
/.../the kingdom of heaven what is it/chapter vii the parables exemplified.htm

Private Property and the Common Good
... And he that was sown among the thorns, this is he that heareth the word; and the
care of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he ...
/.../the social principles of jesus/chapter viii private property and.htm

The Wisdom of the Ages
... among thorns; such as hear the word, and the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness
of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word ...
/.../mark/jesus of nazareth a biography/chapter iv the wisdom of.htm

Choke (6 Occurrences)
... 5. (vt) To make a choke, as in a cartridge, or in the bore of the barrel
of a shotgun. 6 ... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. CHOKE. chok ...
/c/choke.htm - 9k

Unfruitful (8 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/u/unfruitful.htm - 9k

Worries (6 Occurrences)
... 13:22 And that sown toward the thorns, this is he who is hearing the word, and the
anxiety of this age, and the deceitfulness of the riches, do choke the word ...
/w/worries.htm - 8k

Ferret (1 Occurrence)
... It seems to be from the root, 'anaq, "to choke," "to be in anguish" (compare `anaq,
"a collar"; chanaq, "to choke"; Arabic `unq, "neck"; Arabic khanaq, "to ...
/f/ferret.htm - 11k

Riches (118 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/r/riches.htm - 41k

Deceitfulness (7 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/d/deceitfulness.htm - 8k

Making (644 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/m/making.htm - 34k

Proves (11 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/p/proves.htm - 9k

Becometh (82 Occurrences)
... 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and
the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and ...
/b/becometh.htm - 30k

Becomes (138 Occurrences)
... Matthew 13:22 What was sown among the thorns, this is he who hears the word, but
the cares of this age and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and he ...
/b/becomes.htm - 34k

How can I overcome exam/test anxiety? | GotQuestions.org

How should a Christian view wealth? | GotQuestions.org

What is the meaning of the Parable of the Sower? | GotQuestions.org

Choke: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus