Lexical Summary talaipóreó: To suffer distress, to be miserable, to endure hardship Original Word: ταλαιπωρέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance endureFrom talaiporos; to be wretched, i.e. Realize one's own misery -- be afflicted. see GREEK talaiporos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5003 talaipōréō – intensely afflict, leaving someone in a wretched (miserable) condition – literally, showing callouses due to sustained affliction (used only at Js 4:9). See 5005 (talaipōros). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom talaipóros Definition to suffer hardship or distress NASB Translation miserable (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5003: ταλαιπωρέωταλαιπωρέω, ταλαιπώρω: 1 aorist imperative ταλαιπωρήσατε; (τλαιπωρος, which see); from Euripides, and Thucydides down; the Sept. for שָׁדַד; a. to toil heavily, to endure labors and hardships; to be afflicted; to feel afflicted and miserable: James 4:9. b. in Greek writings and the Sept. also transitively (cf. Liddell and Scott, under the word, II.), to afflict: Psalm 16:9 Topical Lexicon Word Family and Semantic Range Belonging to the “talaip-” word group, the verb found in James 4:9 describes an inward condition of misery that arises when the sinner honestly faces personal ungodliness before a holy God. Other family members appear as nouns or adjectives meaning “wretched” (Romans 7:24; Revelation 3:17), so the group carries the idea of spiritual distress that drives one to seek divine mercy. Biblical Usage James employs the imperative: “Be miserable, mourn, and weep. Let your laughter turn to mourning and your joy to gloom” (James 4:9). The command stands inside a larger appeal (James 4:7-10) urging believers who have flirted with worldliness to submit to God, resist the devil, and humble themselves. The misery called for is not self-pity but Spirit-prompted contrition leading to restoration (James 4:10). Theological Significance 1. Conviction of Sin: The term underscores that genuine repentance involves more than intellectual assent; it reaches emotional depths (Psalm 51:17; 2 Corinthians 7:10). Pastoral and Devotional Applications • Personal Examination: Regular times of self-assessment, such as during the Lord’s Supper (1 Corinthians 11:28), echo James’s call to feel the weight of sin. Historical Interpretation • Early Fathers: Chrysostom saw the verse as medicine for the soul, cautioning that laughter apart from repentance leads to eternal sorrow. Connections with Related Passages • Romans 7:24 – Paul’s cry, “What a wretched man I am!” parallels the misery James enjoins, culminating in thanksgiving through Jesus Christ (Romans 7:25). Practical Ministry Implications 1. Preaching: Faithful proclamation must include calls to heartfelt repentance, allowing space for conviction rather than rushing to comfort. Summary The lone New Testament appearance of this verb supplies a powerful theology of repentance. It teaches that feeling wretched over sin is neither optional nor harmful; it is the divinely appointed pathway to deeper grace, restored fellowship, and lasting joy. Forms and Transliterations εταλαιπώρηθησαν εταλαιπώρησα εταλαιπωρήσαμεν εταλαιπώρησεν ταλαιπωρησάντων ταλαιπωρησατε ταλαιπωρήσατε ταλαιπωρήσουσιν ταλαιπωρούμεν ταλαιπωρούντες ταλαιπωρούσιν τεταλαιπώρηκε τεταλαιπώρηκεν talaiporesate talaiporḗsate talaipōrēsate talaipōrḗsateLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |