παραβιάζομαι

From the study of Acts 16:15

Range of meaning

To press, to urge strongly, to prevail upon or compel someone through insistence. It is built on bia, 'force'. In Greek literature it can mean forcing someone in a hostile sense, but in Luke it is used for warm, insistent hospitality.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'constrained' meant 'pressed' in 1611, but today it suggests 'restricted'. BSB, NIV and WEB 'persuaded' is too mild. ESV and NASB 'prevailed upon' comes closest to the original.

How it drifted

The English word 'constrain' moved from 'press, urge' toward 'limit, hold back'.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it occurs only here and in Luke 24:29, where the disciples at Emmaus 'urged him strongly (parebiasanto), saying, "Stay (meinon) with us"'. The same author uses the same two verbs, an insistent appeal followed by 'stay'. In the Septuagint it appears in Genesis 19:3 (Lot pressing the angels to lodge with him) and 2 Kings 2:17 / 5:16.

From the study of Luke 24:29

Range of meaning

To use force against, or act against someone's will. In ordinary social use it means to urge strongly, press, or insist until the other person gives in. The root bia means force or violence, but in contexts of hospitality the 'force' is persistent persuasion.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'constrained' and BSB 'pleaded' sit at opposite ends. 'Constrained' keeps the force of the Greek but today sounds like physical restraint. 'Pleaded' and 'urged' catch the social meaning but lose the sense that they would not take no for an answer. Renderings like 'urged him strongly' come closest.

How it drifted

In older English 'constrain' meant to press or compel by urging. Today it mostly means to restrict or hold back, which can make readers picture the disciples physically holding Jesus.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it appears only here and in Acts 16:15, where Lydia, after her baptism, 'prevailed upon' Paul's group to stay at her house. Both passages are by Luke and both are about pressing someone to accept hospitality. In the Greek Old Testament (Septuagint) the verb and its relatives describe people pressing a reluctant person to accept food or a gift: Saul's servants pressing him to eat at En-dor (1 Sam 28:23), and Naaman pressing Elisha to accept a gift (2 Kgs 5:16). Lot 'pressed strongly' the two angelic visitors to lodge with him (Gen 19:3), using a closely related compound. That scene is the classic biblical picture of urging an unrecognized heavenly guest to come in for the night.