ὑποφέρω

I endure, suffer

Definition

The verb ὑποφέρω means to bear up under a weight or burden, particularly in the sense of enduring hardship or suffering. In 1 Corinthians 10:13, it describes God's faithfulness in not allowing believers to be tested beyond what they can 'endure' or 'bear up under.' In 2 Timothy 3:11, Paul lists the persecutions he 'endured' in various cities. In 1 Peter 2:19, it refers to patiently 'enduring' unjust suffering because of a consciousness of God, which is commendable. The core meaning consistently involves sustaining or tolerating a difficult circumstance without giving way.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used three times in the New Testament, always in contexts of enduring trials or persecution. It appears in didactic (teaching) passages: Paul uses it in a general principle about temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13) and in a personal testimony of his sufferings (2 Timothy 3:11). Peter uses it in ethical instruction to slaves about enduring unjust treatment (1 Peter 2:19). The pattern shows it is a term for the patient, steadfast endurance expected of believers under pressure.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ὑπό (hypo, meaning 'under') and the verb φέρω (pherō, meaning 'to bear' or 'to carry'). It literally means 'to bear under' or 'to carry from beneath,' picturing the act of supporting a weight. This compound form intensifies the idea of bearing a burden, leading to its figurative meaning of enduring hardship.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it describes a key aspect of the Christian life: faithful endurance under trial. It connects to doctrines of God's providence (1 Corinthians 10:13), discipleship and suffering (2 Timothy 3:11), and the grace that enables believers to endure unjust treatment in a Christ-like manner (1 Peter 2:19). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that this endurance is not passive resignation but an active, sustaining perseverance under a weight, empowered by trust in God.

In the Greco-Roman world, endurance (ὑπομονή, hypomonē) was a valued virtue, especially in Stoic philosophy, which emphasized bearing hardship with fortitude. The New Testament use of ὑποφέρω shares this cultural concept but transforms it by rooting the capacity to endure not in personal willpower but in God's faithfulness and the example of Christ. The instruction in 1 Peter 2:19 directly addresses the common cultural context of slavery, calling for a distinctively Christian response to injustice.

ὑπομένω (hypomenō, G5278) — emphasizes patient, hopeful endurance, often with a forward-looking aspect. πάσχω (paschō, G3958) — focuses more on the experience of suffering itself rather than the act of bearing up under it. βαστάζω (bastazō, G941) — a more general term for carrying a physical or metaphorical burden.

Word Details

Scripture References