Topic
Compel
10 passages cited, from 1 classic reference work.
These works date from 1915 and are in the public domain. They reflect the Protestant scholarship of their time: their history, archaeology and dates can be out of date, and where they interpret, other traditions read the text differently. The verses are shown in the King James Version, the wording these works were written against.
The verses
The passages the works cite, those cited by more of them first.
- Leviticus 25:39ISBE
¶ 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:
- 1 Samuel 28:23ISBE
But he refused, and said, I will not eat. But his servants, together with the woman, compelled him; and he hearkened unto their voice. So he arose from the earth, and sat upon the bed.
- 2 Chronicles 21:11ISBE
Moreover he made high places in the mountains of Judah, and caused the inhabitants of Jerusalem to commit fornication, and compelled Judah thereto.
- Esther 1:8ISBE
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.
- Proverbs 7:21ISBE
With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.
- Matthew 5:41ISBE
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain.
- Matthew 27:32ISBE
And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.
- Mark 15:21ISBE
And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
- Luke 14:23ISBE
And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.
- Acts 26:11ISBE
And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.
In the reference works
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915) · 10 references
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 (Es 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) (2Ch 21:11). The same word rendered "force," as the adulteress by flattering words her victim (Pr 7:21);
(3) 'adhadh, "to serve": not to compel him to serve as a bond servant (Le 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" (1Sa 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" (Mt 5:41 the King James Version; the Revised Version, margin "impress"); "compelled Simon to bear his cross" (Mt 27:32; Mr 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" (Lu 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 Ac 26:11.
George Henry Trever
Texts: International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (1915), from the CrossWire SWORD modules (public domain). Verse references were parsed from the works' own markup and checked against the KJV verse list.