Press (Verb)

"to press, distress, trouble," is translated "pressed" in 2Co 4:8, RV (AV, "troubled"). See AFFLICT, No. 4.

translated "press" in Luk 8:45 (end): see CRUSH.

in the Middle Voice, "to press violently" or "force one's way into," is translated "presseth" in Luk 16:16, AV, RV, "entereth violently," a meaning confirmed by the papyri. Moulton and Milligan also quote a passage from D.S. Sharp's Epictetus and the NT, speaking of "those who (try to) force their way in;" the verb suggests forceful endeavor. See ENTER, Note (3), VIOLENCE, B, No. 2.

for the significance of this in Act 18:5, "was constrained by the word," RV, i.e., Paul felt the urge of the word of his testimony to the Jews in Corinth, see CONSTRAIN, No. 3. It is used with No. 1 in Luk 8:45, RV, "press" (AV, "throng").

lit., "to hold in," also signifies "to set oneself against, be urgent against," as the scribes and Pharisees were regarding Christ, Luk 11:53, RV, "to press upon," marg., "set themselves vehemently against" (AV, "to urge"). See ENTANGLE, No. 3.

"to lie upon, press upon," is rendered "pressed upon" in Luk 5:1. See IMPOSED.

"to fall upon," is rendered "pressed upon" in Mar 3:10. See FALL, B, No. 5.

"to weigh down, burden," is rendered "we were pressed" in 2Co 1:8, AV (RV, "we were weighed down"). See BURDEN, B, No. 1.

2Co 2:5, RV, "I press (not) too heavily" (AV, "overcharge"). See BURDEN, B, No. 2, OVERCHARGE.

"to press down together," is used in Luk 6:38, "pressed down," of the character of the measure given in return for giving. In the Sept., Mic 6:15.

"to pursue," is used as a metaphor from the footrace, in Phi 3:12, Phi 3:14, of "speeding on earnestly," RV, "I press on." See FOLLOW, No. 7.

"to bear, carry," is used in the Passive Voice in Heb 6:1, "let us ... press on," RV, lit., "let us be borne on" (AV, "go on"). See GO, Note (2), (h).

primarily "a stopping, halting" (as of soldiers), then, "an incursion, onset, rush, pressure" (akin to ephistemi, "to set upon"), is so used in 2Co 11:28, "(that which) presseth upon (me)," AV, "cometh upon," lit., "(the daily) pressure (upon me);" some have taken the word in its other meaning "attention," which perhaps is accounted for by the variant reading of the pronoun (mou, "my," instead of moi, "to me, upon me"), but that does not adequately describe the "pressure" or onset due to the constant call upon the Apostle for all kinds of help, advice, counsel, exhortation, decisions as to difficulties, disputes, etc. Cp. the other occurrence of the word in Act 24:12, "stirring up," RV (AV, "raising"), lit. "making a stir" (in some mss., episustasis). See COME, Notes at end (9).