Dictionaries :: Compel

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Compel:

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.

Written by George Henry Trever

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Compel:

denotes "to put constraint upon (from ananke, 'necessity'), to constrain," whether by threat, entreaty, force or persuasion; Christ "constrained" the disciples to get into a boat, Mat 14:22; Mar 6:45; the servants of the man who made a great supper were to constrain people to come in, Luk 14:23 (RV, "constrain"); Saul of Tarsus "strove" to make saints blaspheme, Act 26:11, RV (AV, "compelled"); Titus, though a Greek, was not "compelled" to be circumcised, Gal 2:3, as Galatian converts were, Gal 6:12, RV; Peter was "compelling" Gentiles to live as Jews, Gal 2:14; Paul was "constrained" to appeal to Caesar, Act 28:19, and was "compelled" by the church at Corinth to become foolish in speaking of himself, 2Cr 12:11.
See CONSTRAIN.

Compel:

"to dispatch as an angaros (a Persian courier kept at regular stages with power of impressing men into service)," and hence, in general, "to impress into service," is used of "compelling" a person to go a mile, Mat 5:41; of the impressing of Simon to bear Christ's Cross, Mat 27:32; Mar 15:21.