Greek word · G3947

παροξύνω

paroxynō

to provoke

Literally 'to sharpen'. Figuratively, to spur on, stir up, provoke, irritate, exasperate, rouse to anger. In the middle/passive form used here it means 'to become irritated, be exasperated, be roused to anger'.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 31, 2026

What it means

παρ-οξύνω

[in LXX for נָאַץ, קָצַף, רָגַז, etc. ;]

1. primarily, but never so in cl., to sharpen (μάχαιραν, Deuteronomy 32:41, שָׁנַן).

2. Metaphorical, as always in cl.,

(a) to spur on, stimulate (Arist., Xen., al.);

(b) to provoke, rouse to anger (Deuteronomy 9:7, 18, Psalms 106:29, al.) : pass., Acts 17:16, 1 Corinthians 13:5.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Corinthians 13:5

Range of meaning: Literally 'to sharpen'. Figuratively, to spur on, stir up, provoke, irritate, exasperate, rouse to anger. In the middle/passive form used here it means 'to become irritated, be exasperated, be roused to anger'.
Against the English: KJV 'is not easily provoked', BSB/NIV 'not easily angered', ESV/NLT 'irritable', NASB and WEB 'is not provoked', YLT 'is not provoked'. 'Easily' has no matching Greek word. It is the translator's way of expressing that the present tense describes a settled character. That is a defensible reading, but it can suggest that a moderate amount of irritation is acceptable, and Paul says nothing about degrees.
How it drifted: Earlier English versions (Tyndale, Geneva) had 'is not provoked to anger'. 'Easily' seems to enter with the KJV and was kept by NIV and BSB.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Septuagint it is used often for Israel 'provoking' God (e.g., Num 14:11; Deut 31:20; Ps 10:3–4 LXX). In the New Testament, Paul's spirit 'was provoked' by the idols of Athens (Acts 17:16). The noun παροξυσμός names the 'sharp disagreement' between Paul and Barnabas (Acts 15:39), and in a positive sense the 'stirring up' to love (Heb 10:24).

From the study of Acts 17:16

Range of meaning: From para ('beside') + oxynō ('to sharpen'). The physical idea is to whet or sharpen. Applied to people it means to spur on or incite (sometimes in a good sense). Much more often it means to irritate, exasperate, or provoke to anger. In medical writers the related noun paroxysmos names the sudden flare of a fever, which is where English 'paroxysm' comes from. BDAG gives 'to cause a state of inward arousal, urge on, stimulate', and in the passive 'be irritated, angry'.
Against the English: BSB 'deeply disturbed' and NIV 'greatly distressed' lean toward grief or upset. KJV and YLT 'stirred' is vague, and modern ears may hear it as 'moved' or even 'inspired'. ESV and WEB 'provoked' and NASB 'being provoked' keep the edge of indignation best. NASB alone keeps the ongoing force of the tense.
How it drifted: 'Stirred' in 1611 English could mean agitated or roused, but today 'my spirit was stirred' sounds like being emotionally or spiritually moved in a positive way. 'Distressed' softens the anger into sorrow.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament Paul and Luke used) paroxynō is a standard word for God being provoked by Israel's unfaithfulness, especially idolatry: Num 14:11 ('How long will this people provoke me?'), Deut 9:18, Deut 32:16 ('they provoked me with strange gods'), Ps 106(105):29, Isa 65:3. Elsewhere in the NT: 1 Cor 13:5 love 'is not provoked' (does not become exasperated). Heb 10:24 uses the noun positively, 'to spur one another on to love'. Acts 15:39 uses the noun for the 'sharp disagreement' between Paul and Barnabas.

Similar words

παροξυσμός paroxysmos · stirring up

Where it appears

Acts · 1

Acts 17:16 παρωξύνετο was provoked

While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

Here: The main verb. Literally 'to sharpen alongside': to goad, irritate, rouse to indignation. The tense shows an ongoing state ('kept being provoked'), not one flash of temper. In the Greek Old Testament the word is used again and again for God being provoked by idol-worship.

1 Corinthians · 1

1 Corinthians 13:5 παροξύνεται, is easily provoked,

It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no account of wrongs.

Here: From a root meaning 'to sharpen'. In this form it means 'to be stirred up, irritated, exasperated'. Love is not driven into sharp, irritated anger. The Greek has no word for 'easily'.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.