Vexation
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Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:
Vexation refers to a state of being annoyed, frustrated, or worried. In biblical terms, it often denotes a deep sense of distress or trouble, both in the emotional and spiritual realms. The concept of vexation is frequently associated with the trials and tribulations that test the faith and patience of believers.

Biblical References:
The term "vexation" appears in various contexts throughout the Bible, often highlighting the struggles and challenges faced by individuals and nations. In the Old Testament, vexation is frequently linked to the consequences of disobedience to God's commandments and the resulting divine judgment.

1. Ecclesiastes 1:14 : "I have seen all the works that are done under the sun, and indeed, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." This verse underscores the futility and frustration inherent in earthly pursuits when they are devoid of eternal purpose. The Preacher, traditionally understood to be Solomon, reflects on the emptiness of worldly endeavors without God.

2. Isaiah 65:14 : "Behold, My servants will shout for joy with a glad heart, but you will cry out with a heavy heart, and you will wail with a broken spirit." Here, vexation is contrasted with the joy of the faithful. The prophet Isaiah speaks of the sorrow and distress that will befall those who reject God, while His servants will experience joy.

3. Deuteronomy 28:20 : "The LORD will send curses upon you, confusion and rebuke in everything you do, until you are destroyed and quickly perish because of the wickedness of your deeds in forsaking Me." This passage illustrates how vexation can be a form of divine retribution for disobedience, leading to confusion and distress.

Theological Implications:
Vexation in the Bible often serves as a reminder of the consequences of sin and the importance of aligning one's life with God's will. It highlights the inner turmoil that results from living apart from God's guidance and the peace that comes from obedience and faithfulness.

Practical Application:
Believers are encouraged to seek God's wisdom and guidance to overcome vexation. The Bible teaches that true peace and contentment are found in a relationship with God, who provides comfort and strength in times of trouble. Prayer, meditation on Scripture, and fellowship with other believers are practical ways to address and alleviate vexation.

Related Concepts:
· Vanity: Often paired with vexation, vanity refers to the emptiness and meaninglessness of life without God.
· Tribulation: Similar to vexation, tribulation involves suffering and distress, but it is often seen as a means of spiritual growth and refinement.
· Peace: The opposite of vexation, peace is a state of tranquility and contentment that comes from trusting in God.

Conclusion:
While vexation is a common human experience, the Bible offers hope and guidance for overcoming it through faith and reliance on God. By understanding the causes and consequences of vexation, believers can seek to live in accordance with God's will and experience the peace that surpasses all understanding.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (n.) The act of vexing, or the state of being vexed; agitation; disquiet; trouble; irritation.

2. (n.) The cause of trouble or disquiet; affliction.

3. (n.) A harassing by process of law; a vexing or troubling, as by a malicious suit.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
VEX, VEXATION

veks, vek-sa'-shun: "Vex," meaning originally to shake or toss in carrying, has a much more intensive meaning in Scripture than in common modern usage. It represents over a score of Hebrew and Greek words, most of them translated by this word only once, and many of them changed in the Revised Version (British and American) into other forms. Thus bahel in Psalm 6:2, 3, 10. is in the American Standard Revised Version "troubled" (in Psalm 2:5, the Revised Version margin. "trouble"); tsarar in Nehemiah 9:27 is in the Revised Version (British and American) "distressed";. pascho in Matthew 17:15 is "suffereth grievously"; kakoo in Acts 12:1 is "afflict," etc. So "vexation only" in Isaiah 28:19 is in the Revised Version (British and American) "nought but terror," and there are other changes of this word (compare Deuteronomy 28:20, "discomfiture"; Isaiah 9:1, "in anguish"). On the other hand, the Revised Version (British and American) has "vex" for "distress" (Deuteronomy 2:9, 19); "they that vex" for "the adversaries of" (Isaiah 11:13); "vexeth himself" for "meddleth" (Proverbs 26:17), etc.

W. L. Walker

Greek
2559. kakoo -- to ill-treat
... afflict, embitter, make angry. Cognate: 2559 -- to inflict (ill-treatment,
vexation); to harm, injure. See 2556 (). Word Origin from ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2559.htm - 7k

24. aganaktesis -- indignation
... Feminine Transliteration: aganaktesis Phonetic Spelling: (ag-an-ak'-tay-sis) Short
Definition: indignation Definition: feeling of anger, indignation, vexation. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/24.htm - 6k

929. basanismos -- torture
... Cognate: 929 torment (vexation) -- ; subjective agony that corresponds to an basis --
ie as the "torment-rack" proves (reveals) the real "state of affairs" (cf ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/929.htm - 7k

3077. lupe -- pain of body or mind, grief, sorrow
... affliction. 3077 -- properly, distress, vexation; (figuratively) physical
or emotional pain; (grief) that . Word Origin a prim. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3077.htm - 6k

3636. okneros -- shrinking, timid, hence idle, lazy, troublesome
... The idea of 'delay' underlies the secondary sense, 'burdensome, troublesome.' It
is the vexation arising from weary waiting, and which appears in the middle ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3636.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew
3708. ka'ac -- vexation, anger
... vexation, anger. Transliteration: ka'ac Phonetic Spelling: (kah'-as) Short Definition:
vexation. vexation Or (in Job) kaoas {kah'-as}; from ka'ac; vexation: ...
/hebrew/3708.htm - 5k

3708a. kaas -- vexation, anger
... 3708, 3708a. kaas. 3708b . vexation, anger. Transliteration: kaas Short
Definition: provocation. Word Origin from kaas Definition ...
/hebrew/3708a.htm - 5k

3708b. kaas -- vexation, anger
... vexation, anger. Transliteration: kaas Short Definition: grief. Word Origin from
kaas Definition vexation, anger NASB Word Usage anger (1), grief (2). ...
/hebrew/3708b.htm - 5k

4103. mehumah -- tumult, confusion, disquietude, discomfiture
... destruction, discomfiture, trouble, tumult, vexation, vexed. From huwm; confusion
or uproar -- destruction, discomfiture, trouble, tumult, vexation, vexed. ...
/hebrew/4103.htm - 6k

7469. reuth -- longing, striving
... vexation. Probably from ra'ah; a feeding upon, ie Grasping after -- vexation. see
HEBREW ra'ah. 7468, 7469. reuth. 7470 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7469.htm - 6k

7475. rayon -- longing, striving
... vexation. From ra'ah in the sense of r'uwth; desire -- vexation. see HEBREW ra'ah.
see HEBREW r'uwth. 7474, 7475. rayon. 7476 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/7475.htm - 6k

2113. zevaah -- a trembling, an object of trembling or terror
... be removed, trouble, vexation. From zuwa'; agitation, fear -- be removed, trouble,
vexation. Compare za'avah. see HEBREW zuwa'. see HEBREW za'avah. 2112, 2113 ...
/hebrew/2113.htm - 6k

8586. taalulim -- wantonness, caprice
... babe, delusion. From alal; caprice (as a fit coming on), ie Vexation; concretely
a tyrant -- babe, delusion. see HEBREW alal. 8585b, 8586. taalulim. 8587 . ...
/hebrew/8586.htm - 6k

7667. sheber -- a breaking, fracture, crushing, breach, crash
... specifically, a solution (of a dream) -- affliction, breach, breaking, broken(-footed,
-handed), bruise, crashing, destruction, hurt, interpretation, vexation. ...
/hebrew/7667.htm - 6k

3707. kaas -- to be vexed or angry
... to anger (1), provoking (7), provoking him to anger (2), provoking me to anger
(4), provoking the to anger (1), spite (2), trouble (1), vexation (1), vexed (1 ...
/hebrew/3707.htm - 6k

Library

"I am Enraged in Heart, Believe Me, And, through Vexation...
... Dialogues of Sulpitius Severus. Chapter VI. "I am enraged in heart, believe
me, and, through vexation? "I am enraged in heart, believe ...
/.../severus/life and writings of sulpitius severus /chapter vi i am enraged.htm

By what Means Union Can be Preserved Unbroken.
... any wrath which a brother may have conceived against him however unreasonably, in
the same way that he would cure his own, knowing that the vexation of another ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter vi by what means.htm

How it is That, if Our Brother Has any Grudge against Us, the ...
... So far therefore is our Lord anxious that we should not disregard the vexation of
another that He does not accept our offerings if our brother has anything ...
/.../cassian/the conferences of john cassian/chapter xvi how it is.htm

Progress (Preached Before the Queen at Clifden, June 3, 1866. )
... and air, would scarcely have been represented as a disappointed and broken-hearted
sage, who pronounced all human labour to be vanity and vexation of spirit ...
/.../the water of life and other sermons/sermon xii progress preached before.htm

The Image of the Earthly and the Heavenly
... against the temptation which Solomon felt when he said: "I have seen all the works
which are done under the sun, and behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon x the image of.htm

Letter xvii. --Remorse and Rebellion.
... Only try not to give rise to them yourself; but should this, unfortunately, happen,
then humble yourself peacefully and without vexation, which would be a ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter xvii remorse and rebellion.htm

Epistle xvii. To Felix, Bishop of Messana.
... to consult the Apostolic See, in which thou hast been brought up and educated, on
three points; that is on marriages of consanguinity, on vexation of bishops ...
/.../the epistles of saint gregory the great/epistle xvii to felix bishop.htm

Solomon
... I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity
and vexation of spirit. All have heard of Solomon the Wise. ...
/.../kingsley/the water of life and other sermons/sermon xi solomon.htm

Ep. Lix. To Basil.
... you did not acknowledge that you were hurt, neither did you conceal it, or if you
did it was with great skill, as with a mask, hiding your vexation under an ...
/.../cyril/select letters of saint gregory nazianzen/ep lix to basil.htm

Letter xvi. --Hatred of Sin.
... Provided that this discontent does not turn to vexation, trouble, or discouragement,
it will inspire you with a sincere interior humility, a profound self ...
/.../de caussade/abandonment to divine providence/letter xvi hatred of sin.htm

Thesaurus
Vexation (36 Occurrences)
... suit. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VEX, VEXATION. veks ... etc. WL Walker.
Multi-Version Concordance Vexation (36 Occurrences). Deuteronomy ...
/v/vexation.htm - 18k

Vex (20 Occurrences)
... to tease. 3. (vt) To twist; to weave. 4. (vi) To be irritated; to fret.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. VEX, VEXATION. veks, vek ...
/v/vex.htm - 14k

Grief (252 Occurrences)
... the same word is rendered "wrath" in 12:16, the King James Version "a fool's wrath,"
the Revised Version (British and American) "vexation"; so also Proverbs 27 ...
/g/grief.htm - 45k

Grieve (29 Occurrences)
... the same word is rendered "wrath" in 12:16, the King James Version "a fool's wrath,"
the Revised Version (British and American) "vexation"; so also Proverbs 27 ...
/g/grieve.htm - 23k

Laboured (34 Occurrences)
... 2:11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour
that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit ...
/l/laboured.htm - 16k

Trouble (477 Occurrences)
... 4. (a.) Troubled; dark; gloomy. 5. (n.) The state of being troubled;
disturbance; agitation; uneasiness; vexation; calamity. 6. (vt ...
/t/trouble.htm - 36k

Mischief (64 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Harm; damage; esp., disarrangement of order; trouble or vexation caused
by human agency or by some living being, intentionally or not; often, calamity ...
/m/mischief.htm - 26k

Chafe (1 Occurrence)
... 6. (vi) To have a feeling of vexation; to be vexed; to fret; to be irritated. 7.
(n.) Heat excited by friction. ... 9. (n.) Vexation; irritation of mind; rage. ...
/c/chafe.htm - 7k

Travail (54 Occurrences)
... This is also vanity and vexation of spirit. ... Ecclesiastes 4:6 Better is an handful
with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit. ...
/t/travail.htm - 26k

Preacher (27 Occurrences)
... This is equally the meaning of the text, whether we translate "vanity and vexation
of spirit" or "vanity and a striving after wind," ("emptiness, and ...
/p/preacher.htm - 48k

Resources
What is the biblical understanding of the wrath of God? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to vex / be vexed? | GotQuestions.org

What is the “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God” sermon? | GotQuestions.org

Vexation: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible ConcordanceBible DictionaryBible EncyclopediaTopical BibleBible Thesuarus
Concordance
Vexation (36 Occurrences)

Deuteronomy 28:20
The LORD shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
(KJV WBS)

1 Samuel 1:16
Count not thy handmaid for a wicked woman; for out of the abundance of my complaint and my provocation have I spoken hitherto.
(See JPS RSV)

2 Chronicles 29:8
Therefore the wrath of Jehovah has been upon Judah and Jerusalem, and he has delivered them to vexation, to desolation, and to hissing, as ye see with your eyes.
(DBY)

Job 5:2
For vexation killeth the foolish man, And jealousy slayeth the silly one.
(ASV DBY RSV)

Job 6:2
Oh that my vexation were but weighed, And all my calamity laid in the balances!
(See JPS ASV RSV)

Job 10:17
You renew your witnesses against me, and increase your indignation on me. Changes and warfare are with me.
(See RSV)

Job 17:7
Mine eye also is dim by reason of sorrow, And all my members are as a shadow.
(See JPS)

Psalms 6:7
Mine eye wasteth away because of grief; It waxeth old because of all mine adversaries.
(See JPS)

Psalms 10:14
Thou hast seen it ; for thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with thy hand: The helpless committeth himself unto thee; Thou hast been the helper of the fatherless.
(See JPS DBY NAS RSV)

Psalms 31:9
Have mercy upon me, O Jehovah, for I am in distress: Mine eye wasteth away with grief, yea , my soul and my body.
(See JPS DBY)

Proverbs 12:16
A fool's vexation is presently known; But a prudent man concealeth shame.
(See JPS ASV DBY RSV)

Proverbs 17:25
A foolish son is a grief to his father, And bitterness to her that bare him.
(See JPS)

Proverbs 27:3
A stone is heavy, and the sand weighty; But a fool's vexation is heavier than they both.
(See JPS ASV DBY)

Ecclesiastes 1:14
I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 1:17
And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness and folly: I perceived that this also is vexation of spirit.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 1:18
For in much wisdom is much grief; and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow.
(See JPS DBY RSV)

Ecclesiastes 2:11
Then I looked on all the works that my hands had wrought, and on the labour that I had laboured to do: and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit, and there was no profit under the sun.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:17
Therefore I hated life; because the work that is wrought under the sun is grievous unto me: for all is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 2:22
For what hath man of all his labour, and of the vexation of his heart, wherein he hath laboured under the sun?
(KJV WBS)

Ecclesiastes 2:23
For all his days are but'sorrows, and his travail is grief; yea, even in the night his heart taketh no rest. This also is vanity.
(See JPS DBY RSV)

Ecclesiastes 4:4
Again, I considered all travail, and every right work, that for this a man is envied of his neighbour. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 4:6
Better is an handful with quietness, than both the hands full with travail and vexation of spirit.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 4:16
There is no end of all the people, even of all that have been before them: they also that come after shall not rejoice in him. Surely this also is vanity and vexation of spirit.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 5:17
All his days also he eateth in darkness, and he is sore vexed, and hath sickness and wrath.
(See JPS DBY NAS RSV)

Ecclesiastes 6:9
Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the desire: this is also vanity and vexation of spirit.
(KJV WBS YLT)

Ecclesiastes 7:3
Sorrow is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the countenance the heart is made glad.
(See JPS DBY)

Ecclesiastes 7:9
Be not hasty in thy spirit to be vexed; for vexation resteth in the bosom of fools.
(DBY)

Ecclesiastes 11:10
Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh; for youth and the dawn of life are vanity.
(See JPS RSV)

Isaiah 9:1
Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations.
(KJV)

Isaiah 28:19
From the time that it goeth forth it shall take you: for morning by morning shall it pass over, by day and by night: and it shall be a vexation only to understand the report.
(KJV WBS)

Isaiah 65:14
Behold, my servants shall sing for joy of heart, but ye shall cry for sorrow of heart, and shall howl for vexation of spirit.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Jeremiah 2:27
Saying to wood, 'My father 'art' thou!' And to a stone, 'Thou hast brought me forth,' For they turned unto me the back and not the face, And in the time of their vexation, They say, 'Arise Thou, and save us.'
(YLT)

Jeremiah 2:28
And where 'are' thy gods, that thou hast made to thyself? Let them arise, if they may save thee, In the time of thy vexation, For -- the number of thy cities have been thy gods, O Judah,
(YLT)

Jeremiah 4:18
Thy way and thy doings have done these to thee, This 'is' thy vexation, for 'it is' bitter, For it hath struck unto thy heart.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 11:12
And the cities of Judah, and inhabitants of Jerusalem have gone, And they have cried unto the gods, To whom they are making perfume, And they give no deliverance at all to them, In the time of their vexation.
(YLT)

Jeremiah 11:14
And thou, thou dost not pray for this people, Nor dost thou lift up for them cry and prayer, For I do not hearken in the time of their calling unto Me for their vexation.
(YLT)

Subtopics

Vexation

Related Terms

Vexed (37 Occurrences)

Vexation (36 Occurrences)

Disalloweth (2 Occurrences)

Discomfitures (1 Occurrence)

Pester (2 Occurrences)

Countries (86 Occurrences)

Fix (36 Occurrences)

Beat (85 Occurrences)

Vex
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