Anguish

Anguish - (Webster's 1828 Dictionary)

AN'GUISH, n. [L. angustia, narrowness, from pressure. See Anger.]

Extreme pain, either of body or mind. As bodily pain, it may differ from agony, which is such distress of the whole body as to cause contortion, whereas anguish may be a local pain as of an ulcer, or gout. But anguish and agony are nearly synonymous. As pain of the mind, it signifies any keen distress from sorrow, remorse, despair and kindred passions.

And they hearkened not to Moses, for anguish of spirit, and for cruel bondage. Exo 6.

AN'GUISH, v.t. To distress with extreme pain or grief.

an'-gwish: Extreme distress of body, mind or spirit; excruciating pain or suffering of soul, e.g. excessive grief, remorse, despair. Chiefly expressed in Old Testament, by four derivatives of tsuq, "straitened," "pressed," and tsar, and two derivatives signifying "straitness," "narrowness," hence distress; also shabhats, "giddiness," "confusion of mind"; hul "to twist" with pain, "writhe." So in the New Testament, thlipsis, "a pressing together," hence affliction, tribulation, stenochoria, "narrowness of place," hence extreme affliction; sunoche, "a holding together," hence distress. The fundamental idea in these various terms is pressure--being straitened, compressed into a narrow place, or pain through physical or mental torture. Used of the physical agony of child-birth (Jer 4:31; 6:24; 49:24; 50:43; Joh 16:21); of distress of soul as the result of sin and wickedness (Job 15:24; Pr 1:27; Ro 2:9); of anguish of spirit through the cruel bondage of slavery (Ex 6:9) and Assyrian oppression (Isa 8:22); of the anxiety and pain of Christian love because of the sins of fellow-disciples (2Co 2:4).

Dwight M. Pratt

Definition

The term “anguish” refers to severe pain or distress.

• Anguish can be physical or emotional pain or distress.
• Often people who are in extreme anguish will show it in their face and behaviors.
• For example, a person in severe pain or anguish might grit his teeth or cry out.
• The term “anguish” could also be translated as “emotional distress” or “deep sorrow” or “severe pain.”

Bible References

• Jeremiah 6:24
• Jeremiah 19:9
• Job 15:24
• Luke 16:24
• Psalms 116:3-4

Word Data

• Strong’s: H2342, H2470, H2479, H3708, H4164, H4689, H4691, H5100, H6695, H6862, H6869, H7267, H7581, G09280, G36000, G49280