Bible Encyclopedia: Groan

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

GROAN

gron (na'aq, 'anaq; stenazo, embrimaomai): The English word, noun and verb, is an attempt to imitate the vocal sound which is expressive of severe pain or distress, physical or mental. It is cognate with the Scottish dialect word girn, and with grin in its original obsolete sense, as used in the Anglican Prayer-book version of Psalm 59:6, 14, "grin like a dog and go about the city"; here "grin" is a translation of hamah, and means the sound of the nightly howling of the pariah dogs in Jerusalem and other oriental cities. It is used in the Old Testament:

(1) To denote the expression accompanying physical suffering, as in the case of the Israelites in Egypt oppressed by Pharaoh's taskmasters (Exodus 2:24; Exodus 6:5), or in Palestine under the yoke of the Canaanites (Judges 2:18, neqaqah). It is also used in Job's description of the sufferings and wretchedness of the poor (Job 24:12) as well as in his complaint concerning his own suffering when smitten by the hand of God (Job 23:2). The Psalmist speaks of groaning when fever-stricken and remorseful, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "roaring all the day long" (Psalm 32:3; Psalm 38:9; Psalm 102:5; 22:1).

(2) The expression of suffering on the part of beasts, hungry and thirsty in drought (Joel 1:18).

(3) The manifestation of mental and spiritual distress as in Psalm 6:6; Psalm 102:20 (the Revised Version (British and American) "sighing").

(4) Metaphorically groaning is the despairing note of Egypt in the prophecy of her overthrow by Babylon, the sound being that uttered by a deadly wounded man (Ezekiel 30:24; similarly in the prophecy of the Persian conquest the misery of Babylon is thus represented by Jeremiah 51:52); and the misery of Tyre when taken by Babylon is similarly described (Ezekiel 26:15, the King James Version "cry").

The word for "sigh" ('anachah) is closely allied, and the meanings are sufficiently akin, so that the terms seem interchangeable. A sigh is physically a sign of respiratory distress due to depressed action of the heart; sighing is consequently the indication of physical weakness or mental disquietude, as Psalm 12:5; Psalm 31:10; Psalm 79:11 Isaiah 21:2; Isaiah 24:7; Isaiah 35:10 Jeremiah 45:3.

Na'aq is the crying of persons dying or starving, as in Ezekiel 30:24 Job 24:12. A somewhat similar word, haghah, means the complaining sound like that of the cooing of doves (Isaiah 59:11 Nahum 2:7). Nehi is the sound of lamentation of the dead (Jeremiah 9:10; Jeremiah 31:15 Amos 5:16).

In the New Testament "groaning" is used for the expression of mental distress. In John 11:33, 15 the word used is part of the verb embrimaomai, which conveys the idea of deep and earnest emotion. The same word in two other passages is translated "strictly charged," and indicates the emphasis of the charge (Matthew 9:30 Mark 1:43). Elsewhere "sighing" and "groaning" are renderings of words derived from the verb stenazo, as in Romans 8:23 2 Corinthians 5:2, 4; Mark 7:34; Mark 8:12. Stephen calls the groaning of Israel in Egypt stenagmos (Acts 7:34), and the united wail of the travailing creation is expressed by Paul by the word sunstenazei (Romans 8:22). The sigh is a characteristic sign of woe in Isaiah 21:2; 24:07:00; Jeremiah 45:3; Lamentations 14, 8, 11, 12; Ezekiel 9:4; 21:6.

Alexander Macalister

Greek

4727. stenazo -- to groan (within oneself)
... to groan (within oneself). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: stenazo Phonetic
Spelling: (sten-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I groan Definition: I groan ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4727.htm - 7k

4959. sustenazo -- to groan together
... to groan together. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: sustenazo Phonetic Spelling:
(soos-ten-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I groan together Definition: I groan ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4959.htm - 6k

389. anastenazo -- to sigh deeply
... to sigh deeply. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: anastenazo Phonetic Spelling:
(an-as-ten-ad'-zo) Short Definition: I groan or sigh deeply Definition: I ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/389.htm - 7k

1690. embrimaomai -- to be moved with anger, to admonish sternly
... have indignation on, ie (transitively) to blame, (intransitively) to sigh with chagrin,
(specially) to sternly enjoin -- straitly charge, groan, murmur against ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/1690.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

5008. naaq -- to groan
... naaq. 5009 . to groan. Transliteration: naaq Phonetic Spelling: (naw-ak') Short
Definition: groan. ... root Definition to groan NASB Word Usage groan (2). groan. ...
/hebrew/5008.htm - 5k

602. anaq -- to cry, groan
... anaq. 603 . to cry, groan. Transliteration: anaq Phonetic Spelling: (aw-nak')
Short Definition: groan. ... root Definition to cry, groan NASB Word Usage groan (4). ...
/hebrew/602.htm - 5k

584. anach -- to sigh, groan
... 583, 584. anach. 585 . to sigh, groan. Transliteration: anach Phonetic Spelling:
(aw-nakh') Short Definition: groan. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/584.htm - 5k

5098. naham -- to growl, groan
... 5097, 5098. naham. 5099 . to growl, groan. Transliteration: naham Phonetic
Spelling: (naw-ham') Short Definition: groan. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/5098.htm - 5k

6463. paah -- to groan
... paah. 6464 . to groan. Transliteration: paah Phonetic Spelling: (paw-aw') Short
Definition: groan. ... root Definition to groan NASB Word Usage groan (1). cry. ...
/hebrew/6463.htm - 5k

5009. neaqah -- a groan, groaning
... neaqah. 5010 . a groan, groaning. Transliteration: neaqah Phonetic Spelling:
(neh-aw-kaw') Short Definition: groaning. ... groaning. From na'aq; a groan -- groaning ...
/hebrew/5009.htm - 6k

5091. nahah -- to wail, lament
... lament, wail. A primitive root; to groan, ie Bewail; hence (through the idea of
crying aloud), to assemble (as if on proclamation) -- lament, wail. ...
/hebrew/5091.htm - 6k

578. anah -- to mourn
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to mourn NASB Word Usage lament (2). lament,
mourn. A primitive root; to groan -- lament, mourn. 577, 578. anah. 579 . ...
/hebrew/578.htm - 5k

2603a. chanan -- to show favor, be gracious
... pity (1), finds...favor (1), give them to us voluntarily (1), gracious (45), graciously
(1), graciously given (1), graciously grant (1), groan (1), implore (1 ...
/hebrew/2603a.htm - 6k

7580. shaag -- to roar
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to roar NASB Word Usage groan (1), roar (6),
roar mightily (1), roared (3), roaring (4), roars (4). mightily, roar. ...
/hebrew/7580.htm - 5k

Library

Nor did I yet Groan in My Prayers, that Thou Wouldest Help Me...
... Book VI Chapter III Nor did I yet groan in my prayers, that Thou wouldest
help me� Nor did I yet groan in my prayers, that Thou ...
/.../augustine/the confessions of saint augustine/chapter iii nor did i.htm

ChapterThree May be Paraphrased, I Think, Somewhat in this Way...
... How deep and terrible the groan here, "For all is vanity." Yet the pitch-dark
background shall serve to throw into glorious relief, the glory of that light ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter iii chapter three may.htm

In Wisdom Let us Hearken to Death, O My Beloved: How He Accuses us ...
... In the houses weeping and in the streets, also wailing: and even unto the gates
of Sheol, they groan over me."26. Groan over yourselves ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn lxi in wisdom let.htm

Remembering How Far the Writer of Our Book Excels all who have ...
... more rest. Bitter groan this, indeed! For ... need alone. Yes, but does this really
answer the root cause of the groan in our chapter? Is ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter vi remembering how far.htm

2 Cor. v. 1
... [2.] Ver.2. "For verily in this we groan, longing to be clothed upon with our
habitation which is from heaven.". What habitation? ... And why do we groan now? ...
/.../homilies on the epistles of paul to the corinthians/homily x 2 cor v.htm

Letter Lv. Replies to Questions of Januarius.
... faith is accomplished in the hope of that future final resurrection and glory, when
"this corruptible," that is, this flesh in which we now groan, "shall put ...
/.../augustine/the confessions and letters of st/letter lv replies to questions.htm

The Enchanted Ground
... You sighed once; you would give a world if you could sigh now. You used to groan
once; a groan now would be worth a golden star if you could buy it. ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the enchanted ground.htm

Letter Xlvi. To a Fallen virgin.
... Truly God's laws would groan aloud on seeing so great a pollution on the earth. ...
[2113] So too would groan the companies [2114] of the Saints. ...
/.../basil/basil letters and select works/letter xlvi to a fallen.htm

Spiritual Revival, the Want of the Church
... of Jesus; the connection between themmselves and Christ will at times be severed,
as to their own conscious enjoyment of it; but they will always groan and cry ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 44 1898/spiritual revival the want of.htm

The Wise Man, Having Found that Wisdom Brought with it but ...
... that I had labored to do; and, behold, all was vanity and vexation of spirit; and
there was no profit under the sun." Thus he groans again,"a groan that has ...
/.../jennings/old groans and new songs/chapter ii the wise man.htm

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (v. i.) To give forth a low, moaning sound in breathing; to utter a groan, as in pain, in sorrow, or in derision; to moan.

2. (v. i.) To strive after earnestly, as with groans.

3. (v. t.) To affect by groans.

4. (n.) A low, moaning sound; usually, a deep, mournful sound uttered in pain or great distress; sometimes, an expression of strong disapprobation; as, the remark was received with groans.

Thesaurus

Groan (32 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (vi) To give forth a low, moaning sound in breathing;
to utter a groan, as in pain, in sorrow, or in derision; to moan. ...GROAN. ...
/g/groan.htm - 21k

Groaned (7 Occurrences)
... (imp. & pp) of Groan. Multi-Version Concordance ... (WEB ASV). Psalms 77:3 I remember
God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah. (See NIV). ...
/g/groaned.htm - 8k

Moan (13 Occurrences)
... 1. (vi) To make a low prolonged sound of grief or pain, whether articulate or not;
to groan softly and continuously. ... Joel 1:18 How the animals groan! ...
/m/moan.htm - 10k

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)
... Romans 8:23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit,
even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the ...
/o/ourselves.htm - 38k

Clothed (153 Occurrences)
... In all probability Paul thinks of a certain envelopment of his physical mortal body
even in this life ("in this we groan," ie in this present body), hence, the ...
/c/clothed.htm - 37k

Mortally (17 Occurrences)
... 51:52 Therefore, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will execute judgment
on her engraved images; and through all her land the wounded shall groan. ...
/m/mortally.htm - 11k

Crying (247 Occurrences)
... Other Hebrew words are 'anaq, "to groan" (Ezekiel 9:4; Ezekiel 24:17 the King James
Version; Ezekiel 26:15 the King James Version); hamah, "to make a noise ...
/c/crying.htm - 44k

Clothe (52 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 5:2 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with
our habitation which is from heaven; (Root in WEB KJV ASV BBE WBS YLT NAS NIV ...
/c/clothe.htm - 22k

Cry (431 Occurrences)
... Other Hebrew words are 'anaq, "to groan" (Ezekiel 9:4; Ezekiel 24:17 the King James
Version; Ezekiel 26:15 the King James Version); hamah, "to make a noise ...
/c/cry.htm - 46k

Wounded (114 Occurrences)
... I am sore wounded. (WEB KJV JPS ASV BBE DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV). Job 24:12
From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the ...
/w/wounded.htm - 37k

Bible Concordance

Groan (32 Occurrences)

John 11:33 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews weeping who came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,
(Root in WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Acts 7:34 I have surely seen the affliction of my people that is in Egypt, and have heard their groaning. I have come down to deliver them. Now come, I will send you into Egypt.'
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 8:22 For we know that the whole creation groans and travails in pain together until now.
(Root in WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 8:23 Not only so, but ourselves also, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for adoption, the redemption of our body.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:2 For most certainly in this we groan, longing to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven;
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

2 Corinthians 5:4 For indeed we who are in this tent do groan, being burdened; not that we desire to be unclothed, but that we desire to be clothed, that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS NIV)

Job 24:12 From out of the populous city, men groan. The soul of the wounded cries out, yet God doesn't regard the folly.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Job 30:7 Among shrubs they do groan, Under nettles they are gathered together.
(YLT)

Psalms 12:5 "Because of the oppression of the weak and because of the groaning of the needy, I will now arise," says Yahweh; "I will set him in safety from those who malign him."
(Root in WEB YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 38:8 I am faint and severely bruised. I have groaned by reason of the anguish of my heart.
(Root in WEB JPS ASV NAS RSV NIV)

Psalms 77:3 I remember God, and I groan. I complain, and my spirit is overwhelmed. Selah.
(WEB NIV)

Psalms 102:20 to hear the groans of the prisoner; to free those who are condemned to death;
(Root in WEB KJV JPS DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 5:11 You will groan at your latter end, when your flesh and your body are consumed,
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous thrive, the people rejoice; but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
(WEB NAS RSV NIV)

Isaiah 19:8 The fishermen will be sad, and all those who put fishing-lines into the Nile will be full of grief, and those whose nets are stretched out on the waters will have sorrow in their hearts.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 24:7 The new wine is thin, the vine is feeble, and all the glad-hearted make sounds of grief.
(See NIV)

Isaiah 42:14 I have long been quiet, I have kept myself in and done nothing: now I will make sounds of pain like a woman in childbirth, breathing hard and quickly.
(See NAS)

Jeremiah 4:31 A voice has come to my ears like the voice of a woman in birth-pains, the pain of one giving birth to her first child, the voice of the daughter of Zion, fighting for breath, stretching out her hands, saying, Now sorrow is mine! for my strength is gone from me before the takers of life.
(See NIV)

Jeremiah 22:23 Inhabitant of Lebanon, who makes your nest in the cedars, how greatly to be pitied you will be when pangs come on you, the pain as of a woman in travail!
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Jeremiah 51:52 Therefore, behold, the days come, says Yahweh, that I will execute judgment on her engraved images; and through all her land the wounded shall groan.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 1:4 The ways of Zion do mourn, because none come to the solemn assembly; all her gates are desolate, her priests do sigh: her virgins are afflicted, and she herself is in bitterness.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 1:11 All her people sigh, they seek bread; they have given their pleasant things for food to refresh the soul: look, Yahweh, and see; for I am become abject.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Lamentations 1:21 They have heard that I sigh; there is none to comfort me; All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it: You will bring the day that you have proclaimed, and they shall be like me.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 9:4 And He calleth unto the man who is clothed with linen, who hath the scribe's inkhorn at his loins, and Jehovah saith unto him, 'Pass on into the midst of the city, into the midst of Jerusalem, and thou hast made a mark on the foreheads of the men who are sighing and who are groaning for all the abominations that are done in its midst.'
(Root in YLT NAS RSV)

Ezekiel 21:6 Sigh therefore, you son of man; with the breaking of your thighs and with bitterness you will sigh before their eyes.
(See NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 21:7 It shall be, when they tell you, Why do you sigh? that you shall say, Because of the news, for it comes; and every heart shall melt, and all hands shall be feeble, and every spirit shall faint, and all knees shall be weak as water: behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord Yahweh.
(See NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 24:17 Cease to groan, 'for' the dead thou dost make no mourning, thy bonnet bind on thee, and thy shoes thou dost put on thy feet, and thou dost not cover over the upper lip, and bread of men thou dost not eat.'
(YLT NAS NIV)

Ezekiel 24:23 Your tires shall be on your heads, and your shoes on your feet: you shall not mourn nor weep; but you shall pine away in your iniquities, and moan one toward another.
(See NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 26:15 Thus says the Lord Yahweh to Tyre: shall not the islands shake at the sound of your fall, when the wounded groan, when the slaughter is made in the midst of you?
(WEB JPS ASV DBY YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Ezekiel 30:24 I will strengthen the arms of the king of Babylon, and put my sword in his hand: but I will break the arms of Pharaoh, and he shall groan before him with the groanings of a deadly wounded man.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Joel 1:18 How the animals groan! The herds of livestock are perplexed, because they have no pasture. Yes, the flocks of sheep are made desolate.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

Micah 4:10 Be in pain, and labor to bring forth, daughter of Zion, like a woman in travail; for now you will go forth out of the city, and will dwell in the field, and will come even to Babylon. There you will be rescued. There Yahweh will redeem you from the hand of your enemies.
(See RSV)

Subtopics

Groan

Related Terms

Groaned (7 Occurrences)

Moan (13 Occurrences)

Ourselves (129 Occurrences)

Clothed (153 Occurrences)

Mortally (17 Occurrences)

Crying (247 Occurrences)

Clothe (52 Occurrences)

Cry (431 Occurrences)

Wounded (114 Occurrences)