Bible Encyclopedia: Compel

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

COMPEL

kom-pel': Our English word always has in it now the flavor of force, not always, however, physical. It may be strong moral urgency, though "constrain" better expresses this.

1. In the Old Testament:

There are several words indicative of such strong pressure:

(1) 'anac "to press": "none could compel" to drink (Esther 1:8);

(2) nadhach, "to drive," "force": "compelled Judah thereto" (the King James Version, the Revised Version, margin); "led Judah astray" the Revised Version (British and American) (2 Chronicles 21:11). The same word rendered "force," as the adulteress by flattering words her victim (Proverbs 7:21);

(3) 'adhadh, "to serve": not to compel him to serve as a bond servant (Leviticus 25:39 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "make him serve");

(4) parats, "to break forth upon," "urge": "his servants compelled him" (1 Samuel 28:23 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "constrained").

2. In the New Testament:

In the New Testament two words are found:

(1) aggareuo: The word is of Persian origin and means to employ a courier. The Aggaroi were public couriers stationed by appointment of the kings of Persia, at fixed localities, with horses ready for use, to transmit speedily from one to another the royal messages. These couriers had authority to press into their service, in case of need, horses, vessels, and even men, they might meet (Josephus, Ant, XIII ii, 3); "compel thee to go a mile" (Matthew 5:41 the King James Version; the Revised Version, margin "impress"); "compelled Simon to bear his cross" (Matthew 27:32 Mark 15:21 the King James Version; the Revised Version, margin "impressed").

(2) anagkazo, "to constrain," whether by force, threats, entreaties, persuasion, etc.: "compel them to come in" (Luke 14:23 the King James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) "constrain"). This has been a favorite text of religious persecutors. As Robertson says in his history of Charles V, "As they could not persuade, they tried to compel men to believe." But it simply means that utmost zeal and moral urgency should be used by Christians to induce sinners to enter the Kingdom of God. Compare Acts 26:11.

George Henry Trever

Greek

315. anagkazo -- to necessitate, compel
... to necessitate, compel. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anagkazo Phonetic
Spelling: (an-ang-kad'-zo) Short Definition: I force, compel Definition: I force ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/315.htm - 7k

29. aggareuo -- to impress, compel
... to impress, compel. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: aggareuo Phonetic Spelling:
(ang-ar-yew'-o) Short Definition: I impress, send Definition: I impress ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/29.htm - 6k

4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be ...
... by illness). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunecho Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-ekh'-o) Short Definition: I press together, confine, compel, am afflicted ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4912.htm - 7k

3849. parabiazomai -- to force against (nature)
... 3849 (from 3844 , ", close-beside" and 971 , "to compel by force") -- properly,
using words that powerfully "hit home" and hence are persuasive (successful). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3849.htm - 7k

4900. sunelauno -- to reconcile
... to reconcile. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sunelauno Phonetic Spelling:
(soon-el-ow'-no) Short Definition: I compel, urge Definition: I compel, urge ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4900.htm - 6k

1210. deo -- to tie, bind
... bind. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: deo Phonetic Spelling: (deh'-o) Short
Definition: I bind Definition: I bind, tie, fasten; I impel, compel; I declare ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1210.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

597. anas -- to compel, constrain
... 596, 597. anas. 598 . to compel, constrain. Transliteration: anas Phonetic
Spelling: (aw-nas') Short Definition: compulsion. ... compel. To insist -- compel. ...
/hebrew/597.htm - 5k

5647. abad -- to work, serve
... working (1), worship (7), worshipers (6). keep in bondage, be bondmen,
bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear,. A primitive root; to work ...
/hebrew/5647.htm - 6k

5080. nadach -- to impel, thrust, banish
... banish, bring, cast down out, chase, compel, draw away, drive away, out,.
A primitive root; to push off; used in a great variety ...
/hebrew/5080.htm - 6k

6555. parats -- to break through
... abroad, make a breach, break away, down burst out, come spread abroad, compel,
disperse, grow,. A primitive root; to break out (in ...
/hebrew/6555.htm - 6k

Library

Compel them to Come In
... Compel Them to Come In. A Sermon (No.227). ... REV. CH SPURGEON. at the Music Hall,
Royal Surrey Gardens. "Compel them to come in.""Luke 14:23. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 5 1859/compel them to come in.htm

But as it was Easily Seen to be Unjust to Compel Freemen against ...
... Chapter XXVIII. But as it was easily seen to be unjust to compel freemen
against their will� But as it was easily seen to be unjust ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/apology/chapter xxviii but as it.htm

October 26. "Go Out into the Highways and Compel them to Come In" ...
... OCTOBER 26. "Go out into the highways and compel them to come in" (Luke xiv. 23).
"Go out into the highways and compel them to come in" (Luke 14:23). ...
/.../simpson/days of heaven upon earth /october 26 go out into.htm

Whether one Can be Compelled by One's Father's Command to Marry?
... this. Objection 3: Further, no one should promise, especially with an oath,
for one whom he cannot compel to keep the promise. Now ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether one can be compelled.htm

Whether the Devil Can Induce Man to Sin of Necessity?
... Objection 1: It would seem that the devil can induce man to sin of necessity. Because
the greater can compel the lesser. ... Therefore he does not compel to sin. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether the devil can induce 2.htm

It is Indeed Better as no one ever could Deny that Men Should...
... believe or not believe? Towards whom did Christ use violence? Whom did He
compel? Here they have the Apostle Paul. Let them recognize ...
/.../writings in connection with the donatist controversy /chapter 6 21 it.htm

Letter ii. Self-Control and Self-Culture.
... It may help you in acquiring this self-control to reflect often what a really great
thing it is to be able to compel yourself to do from a sense of duty what ...
/.../letter ii self-control and self-culture.htm

2 Cor. x. 1, 2
... For what he would say is this, I beseech you do not compel me, nor leave me to use
my power against those that hold us cheap, and think of us as carnal.' This ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily xxi 2 cor x.htm

Matt. xvi. 24
... "If any man will come after me." "I force not, I compel not, but each one I make
lord of his own choice; wherefore also I say, If any man will.' For to good ...
/.../chrysostom/homilies on the gospel of saint matthew/homily lv matt xvi 24.htm

The Dilemma in which I am Placed is of Your Making: it is Brought ...
... You at once forbid me to answer and compel me. Well, then; I must shun excess
on both sides. ... You at once forbid me to answer and compel me. ...
/.../3 the dilemma in which.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. t.) To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.

2. (v. t.) To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort.

3. (v. t.) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.

4. (v. t.) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.

5. (v. t.) To call forth; to summon.

6. (v. i.) To make one yield or submit.

Thesaurus

Compel (10 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. COMPEL. kom-pel': Our English word always has
in it now the flavor of force, not always, however, physical. ...
/c/compel.htm - 12k

Force (250 Occurrences)
... 9. (n.) To constrain to do or to forbear, by the exertion of a power not resistible;
to compel by physical, moral, or intellectual means; to coerce; as ...
/f/force.htm - 40k

Compelled (22 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Compel. Multi-Version Concordance
Compelled (22 Occurrences). Matthew 14:22 And immediately ...
/c/compelled.htm - 12k

Display (30 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:2 I beseech you not to compel me when present to make a bold display
of the confidence with which I reckon I shall show my 'courage' against ...
/d/display.htm - 15k

Press (57 Occurrences)
... 4. (v.) To urge, or act upon, with force, as weight; to act upon by pushing or
thrusting, in distinction from pulling; to crowd or compel by a gradual and ...
/p/press.htm - 46k

Banish (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vt) To condemn to exile, or compel to leave one's country, by authority of the
ruling power. ... 3. (vt) To drive away; to compel to depart; to dispel. ...
/b/banish.htm - 10k

Showing (41 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:2 I beseech you not to compel me when present to make a bold display
of the confidence with which I reckon I shall show my 'courage' against ...
/s/showing.htm - 19k

Constrain (6 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress. 4. (vt) To compel; to force;
to necessitate; to oblige. ... See COMPEL. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/c/constrain.htm - 9k

Compassions (17 Occurrences)

/c/compassions.htm - 11k

Quarrel (22 Occurrences)
... one's lot. 14. (vt) To quarrel with. 15. (vt) To compel by a quarrel; as,
to quarrel a man out of his estate or rights. 16. (n.) One ...
/q/quarrel.htm - 15k

Bible Concordance

Compel (10 Occurrences)

Matthew 5:41 Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY)

Mark 15:21 They compelled one passing by, coming from the country, Simon of Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to go with them, that he might bear his cross.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY RSV)

Luke 5:34 "Can you compel the bridal party to fast," replied Jesus, "so long as they have the bridegroom among them?
(WEY)

Luke 14:23 "The lord said to the servant,'Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
(WEB KJV WEY DBY WBS NAS RSV)

2 Corinthians 10:2 I beseech you not to compel me when present to make a bold display of the confidence with which I reckon I shall show my 'courage' against some who reckon that we are guided by worldly principles.
(WEY)

2 Corinthians 12:11 I have become foolish in boasting. You compelled me, for I ought to have been commended by you, for in nothing was I inferior to the very best apostles, though I am nothing.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Galatians 2:14 But when I saw that they didn't walk uprightly according to the truth of the Good News, I said to Peter before them all, "If you, being a Jew, live as the Gentiles do, and not as the Jews do, why do you compel the Gentiles to live as the Jews do?
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to look good in the flesh, they compel you to be circumcised; only that they may not be persecuted for the cross of Christ.
(WEB WEY ASV DBY NAS RSV NIV)

Leviticus 25:39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:
(KJV DBY WBS)

Esther 1:8 And the drinking was according to the law; none did compel: for so the king had appointed to all the officers of his house, that they should do according to every man's pleasure.
(KJV JPS ASV RSV)

Subtopics

Compel

Related Terms

Force (250 Occurrences)

Compelled (22 Occurrences)

Display (30 Occurrences)

Press (57 Occurrences)

Banish (13 Occurrences)

Showing (41 Occurrences)

Constrain (6 Occurrences)

Compassions (17 Occurrences)

Quarrel (22 Occurrences)