Provocation, Provoke

from para, "amiss" or "from," used intensively, and pikraino, "to make bitter" (pikros, "sharp, bitter"), "provocation," occurs in Heb 3:8, Heb 3:15. In the Sept., Psa 95:8.

denotes "a stimulation" (Eng., "paroxysm"), (cp. B, No. 2): in Heb 10:24, "to provoke," lit., "unto a stimulation (of love)." See CONTENTION, No. 2.

"to embitter, provoke" (akin to A, No. 1), occurs in Heb 3:16.

primarily, "to sharpen" (akin to A, No. 2), is used metaphorically, signifying "to rouse to anger, to provoke," in the Passive Voice, in Act 17:16, RV, "was provoked" (AV, "was stirred"); in 1Co 13:5, RV, "is not provoked" (the word "easily" in AV, represents no word in the original). See STIR.

"to excite, stir up, provoke," is used (a) in a good sense in 2Co 9:2, AV, "hath provoked," RV, "hath stirred up;" (b) in an evil sense in Col 3:21, "provoke." See STIR.

"to provoke to wrath:" see ANGER, B, No. 2.

"to provoke to jealousy:" see JEALOUSY.

in classical Greek meant "to speak from memory, to dictate to a pupil" (apo, "from," stoma, "a mouth"); in later Greek, "to catechize;" in Luk 11:53, "to provoke (Him) to speak."

"to call forth," as to a contest, hence "to stir up what is evil in another," occurs in the Middle Voice in Gal 5:26.