ἀποθλίβω

I jostle

Definition

The verb ἀποθλίβω means to press hard, crowd, or jostle someone. It carries the literal sense of physical pressure, often in a dense crowd where people are being squeezed together. In its single New Testament occurrence in Luke 8:45, it describes the sensation Jesus feels when the woman with the issue of blood touches his garment amidst a pressing throng. The word implies a forceful, sustained pressure from all sides, not merely a light touch or casual bump.

Biblical Usage

ἀποθλίβω is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 8:45. It appears in the narrative of Jesus healing the woman with a hemorrhage. The context is a large, dense crowd following Jesus, where the physical pressure of the multitude is intense. Jesus asks, 'Who touched me?' and Peter responds, 'Master, the crowds are pressing (ἀποθλίβω) you and jostling you.' The word vividly depicts the chaotic, physical environment surrounding Jesus at that moment.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, often meaning 'from' or 'away') and the verb θλίβω (thlibō, meaning 'to press, afflict, or trouble'). The compound form intensifies the root meaning, emphasizing a pressing that comes from or results in being squeezed out or compressed. It is related to other words using the θλιβ- root concerning pressure and tribulation.

Semantic Range

While the word itself describes a physical action, its use in Luke 8:45 highlights a key theological theme: Jesus' divine perception amidst human chaos. While the crowd merely 'presses' him (ἀποθλίβω), Jesus discerns the one touch of faith that draws power from him. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by contrasting the impersonal, physical jostling of the crowd with the intentional, faith-filled connection that Jesus immediately recognizes, underscoring his authority and attentiveness to individual need.

In the 1st-century Mediterranean world, public gatherings and crowds were common, and physical jostling was a typical experience, especially around popular figures like traveling teachers or healers. The word captures the reality of a dense, unorganized mass of people where personal space was nonexistent. This context makes Jesus' specific question—'Who touched me?'—all the more remarkable, as it would have seemed absurd to his disciples that he could distinguish one touch from the general pressure.

θλίβω (thlibō, G2346) — The root verb, meaning generally to press, afflict, or trouble, often used metaphorically for persecution. ὀθλέω (othleō, not in NT) — A less common synonym for to crowd or trouble. συνθλίβω (synthlibō, G4918) — To press together, crowd; used in Mark 5:24, 31 in a very similar crowd scene.

Word Details

Scripture References