The term "straiten" is derived from the concept of making something narrow or restricted. In biblical contexts, it often refers to situations of distress, difficulty, or constraint. The word is not commonly used in modern translations but can be found in older versions of the Bible, where it conveys the idea of being in a tight spot or under pressure.

Biblical Usage and Context

1. Physical and Spiritual Constraint: The concept of being "straitened" can be applied both physically and spiritually. In a physical sense, it may refer to being hemmed in by enemies or facing a lack of resources. Spiritually, it can denote a period of trial or testing where one's faith is challenged.

2. Old Testament References: While the specific term "straiten" may not appear in the Berean Standard Bible, the idea is present in various passages. For example, in times of war or famine, the Israelites often found themselves in straitened circumstances, relying on God's deliverance. The Psalms frequently express feelings of being overwhelmed or confined, seeking God's intervention for relief.

3. New Testament Insights: In the New Testament, the concept of straitening can be seen in the trials faced by early Christians. The Apostle Paul, for instance, often wrote about the pressures and constraints of his ministry, yet he viewed these as opportunities for the gospel to advance. In 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 , Paul states, "We are hard pressed on all sides, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed."

4. Moral and Ethical Implications: Straitening can also have moral implications, as it may refer to the narrow path of righteousness that believers are called to follow. Jesus speaks of the "narrow gate" in Matthew 7:13-14 , saying, "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the way that leads to life, and only a few find it." This passage highlights the disciplined and often challenging journey of living according to God's will.

5. Theological Significance: From a theological perspective, straitening serves as a reminder of human dependence on God. It underscores the belief that in times of constraint, whether physical, emotional, or spiritual, believers are called to trust in God's provision and guidance. The experience of being straitened can lead to spiritual growth and a deeper reliance on divine strength.

Conclusion

The concept of straitening in the Bible encompasses a range of experiences from physical hardship to spiritual discipline. It serves as a metaphor for the challenges faced by believers and the narrow path of righteousness they are called to walk. Through these experiences, the faithful are reminded of their reliance on God and the promise of His deliverance.1. (v. t.) To make strait; to make narrow; hence, to contract; to confine.

2. (v. t.) To make tense, or tight; to tighten.

3. (v. t.) To restrict; to distress or embarrass in respect of means or conditions of life; -- used chiefly in the past participle; -- as, a man straitened in his circumstances.

STRAIT; STRAITEN; STRAITLY

strat, strat'-'-n, strat'-il: The word "strait" and its compounds are used in English Versions of the Bible in the literal sense of "narrow" (tsar, 2 Kings 6:1 Isaiah 49:20; mutsaq, Job 37:10; 'atsal, Ezekiel 42:6) and in the figurative sense of "strict" (shabha`, Exodus 13:19; caghar, Joshua 6:1; tsarar, "to be distressed," 2 Samuel 24:14 parallel; yatsar, Job 20:22; metsar, Lamentations 1:3). In Apocrypha the verb "straitened" occurs in Susanna verse 22. In the New Testament we have stenos (Matthew 7:13 f parallel, the Revised Version (British and American) "narrow"; polus, "much"; so the Revised Version (British and American) Mark 3:12; Mark 5:43; sunecho, "to urge," "hold together," Luke 12:50 Philippians 1:23). It occurs in its superlative form in Acts 26:5, "After the straitest (akribestatos, "most exact," "scrupulous") sect of our religion," i.e. "the most precise and rigorous in interpreting the Mosaic Law, and in observing the more minute precepts of the Law and of tradition" (Thayer, Lexicon, under the word; compare Acts 22:3).

See also STRAIGHT, STRAIGHTWAY.

M. O. Evans

4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be ...
... a prisoner); figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy -- constrain,
hold, keep in, press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4912.htm - 7k

4729. stenochoreo -- to be made narrow, to compress
... cramp, confine. From the same as stenochoria; to hem in closely, ie (figuratively)
cramp -- distress, straiten. see GREEK stenochoria. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4729.htm - 7k

6693. tsuq -- to constrain, bring into straits, press upon
... constrain, distress, lie sore, oppressor, straiten. A primitive root; to
compress, ie (figuratively) oppress, distress -- constrain ...
/hebrew/6693.htm - 6k

680. atsal -- to lay aside, reserve, withdraw, withhold
... reserved (1), set back (1), take (1), took (1). keep, reserve, straiten,
take. A primitive root; properly, to join; used only as ...
/hebrew/680.htm - 6k

5148. nachah -- to lead, guide
... bestow, bring, govern, guide, lead forth, put, straiten. A primitive root;
to guide; by implication, to transport (into exile, or ...
/hebrew/5148.htm - 6k

7114. qatsar -- to be short
... harvest (grass or grain) -- X at all, cut down, much discouraged, grieve, harvestman,
lothe, mourn, reap(-er), (be, wax) short(-en, -er), straiten, trouble, vex ...
/hebrew/7114.htm - 5k

The Oration of Moses at the Rehearsal of the Blessing and the ...
... flesh of thy sons and of thy daughters which the LORD thy God hath given thee; in
the siege and in the straitness, wherewith thine enemies shall straiten thee. ...
/.../various/select masterpieces of biblical literature/i the oration of moses.htm

On the Words of the Gospel, Matt. xix. 28, "Come unto Me, all Ye ...
... 2307] For why do we labour all, except that we are mortal men, frail creatures and
infirm, bearing about vessels of clay which crowd and straiten one another. ...
/.../sermons on selected lessons of the new testament/sermon xix on the words.htm

Blessed be that Child, who Gladdened Bethlehem To-Day!
... Glory to that Great One, Whose Son descended and was small! Glory to the Power Who
did straiten His greatness by a form, His unseen nature by a shape! ...
/.../ephraim/hymns and homilies of ephraim the syrian/hymn ii blessed be that.htm

"That the Righteousness of the Law Might be Fulfilled in Us. "
... Truly, we may wonder, what was it that could straiten his majesty so, that he must
send his own Son, so beloved of him, and bruise him, and hide his face from ...
/.../binning/the works of the rev hugh binning/sermon xiv that the righteousness.htm

Psalm CXXXIV.
... Remain in this enlargement, and thou canst love thy enemy, because thou
lovest not things in which an enemy could straiten thee. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxiv.htm

Commandment Fifth. Of Sadness of Heart, and of Patience.
... that space is attributed to the heart or soul, and that joy and goodness expand
the heart, and produce width, while sadness and wickedness contract and straiten ...
/.../pastor/the pastor books first second third/commandment fifth of sadness of.htm

And Jesus Six Days Before the Passover...
... now that is [40] hidden from thine eyes. [2710] There shall come unto thee days
when thine enemies [41] shall encompass thee, and straiten thee from every ...
/.../hogg/the diatessaron of tatian/section xxxix and jesus six.htm

Whether it is Necessary for one to Confess to One's Own Priest?
... Reply to Objection 6: The necessity of confessing to one's own priest does not
straiten the way of salvation, but determines it sufficiently. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether it is necessary for 8.htm

Psalm CXXXIII.
... Do not hear, "Lift up your hearts," with a deaf ear. Keep thy heart lifted up, and
no one will straiten thee in heaven. Footnotes: [5627] Lat. CXXXII. ...
/.../augustine/exposition on the book of psalms/psalm cxxxiii.htm

Another Royal Procession
... the kingdom to come and the cause of Christ to grow while in these days of unreal
profession Christ's followers deny him his due, and straiten the exchequer of ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 18 1872/another royal procession.htm

Straiten (4 Occurrences)
... Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STRAIT; STRAITEN; STRAITLY. strat ... MO Evans.
Multi-Version Concordance Straiten (4 Occurrences). Deuteronomy ...
/s/straiten.htm - 10k

Strait (14 Occurrences)
... to great straits. 13. (vt) To put to difficulties. Int. Standard Bible
Encyclopedia. STRAIT; STRAITEN; STRAITLY. strat, strat'-'-n ...
/s/strait.htm - 13k

Straitened (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Straiten. Multi-Version Concordance
Straitened (14 Occurrences). Matthew 7:14 For narrow ...
/s/straitened.htm - 10k

Tighten (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (vt) To draw tighter; to straiten; to make more close
in any manner. Multi-Version Concordance Tighten (1 Occurrence). ...
/t/tighten.htm - 6k

Press (57 Occurrences)
... 7. (v.) To embrace closely; to hug. 8. (v.) To oppress; to bear hard upon. 9. (v.)
To straiten; to distress; as, to be pressed with want or hunger. 10. ...
/p/press.htm - 46k

Pinch (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To plait. 4. (vt) Figuratively: To cramp; to straiten; to oppress;
to starve; to distress; as, to be pinched for money. ...
/p/pinch.htm - 8k

Straitly (12 Occurrences)
... 1. (adv.) In a strait manner; narrowly; strictly; rigorously. 2. (adv.) Closely;
intimately. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. STRAIT; STRAITEN; STRAITLY. ...
/s/straitly.htm - 11k

Straighten (4 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) To make right or correct; to reduce to order; as, to straighten one's affairs;
to straighten an account. 3. (n.) A variant of Straiten. ...
/s/straighten.htm - 7k

Straitness (6 Occurrences)
... and they shall eat every one the flesh of his friend in the siege and straitness,
wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lives, shall straiten them. ...
/s/straitness.htm - 8k

Scant (4 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To limit; to straiten; to treat illiberally; to stint; as, to scant one
in provisions; to scant ourselves in the use of necessaries. ...
/s/scant.htm - 8k

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