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Affliction
Afflictions • Afflictions and Adversities • Difficulties • Disturb • Suffering • Trouble
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Dictionaries
Baker Encyclopedia of the Bible
Affliction
Affliction. Anything causing pain or distress; suffering; calamity. From the biblical viewpoint, affliction began with the entrance of sin into the world. Both mankind and all creation were afflicted with “thorns and thistles,” sin, death, and decay (cf. Gn 3:16–19; Rom 8:18–21). Because of sin, misery
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, Revised
Affliction
Affliction [Heb. ‘onî, makkâ, ‘ānâ, neg̱a‘, ṣār, ṣārâ, ’āwen, ‘enîṯ, mû‘āqâ (Ps. 66:11), ḥolî, laḥaṣ, ta‘alūlîm (Isa. 66:4), ra‘ (Ps. 34:19); Gk. thlípsis, thlíbō]; AV also PLAGUE, TRIBULATION, TROUBLE, SORE (2 Ch. 6:29), ENEMY (ṣār, Est. 7:4), DISEASE, DELUSIONS (Isa.
The Wycliffe Bible Encyclopedia
Affliction
AFFLICTION. The unsaved suffers afflictions because of his sins (Ps 107:10, 39); the Christian, because of the curse of sin and death upon the world, because of Satan (Job 1:6–12; 2:1–7), and because the fallen world hates righteousness and the light (Jn 15:18; 3:20). Moses chose to “suffer evil [literal]
Dictionary of Paul and His Letters
Afflictions
Afflictions, trials, hardshipsPaul refers frequently to his trials and afflictions, sometimes cataloging them in his letters. He appears to have found persecution at the hands of the Jews the most difficult of his afflictions to bear. Paul’s letters nevertheless reflect a positive attitude toward afflictions.
Dictionary of New Testament Background
Affliction Lists
AFFLICTION LISTSWritings from the ancient Mediterranean world contain many lists of afflictions, hardships and tribulations. There are at least seven different types of these lists, which occur in a wide variety of Greek, Roman and Jewish authors, including astrologers, apocalyptists, writers of testaments,
The New Unger’s Bible Dictionary
Affliction
AFFLICTION (usually Heb. ˓ōnê, “depressed”; Gk. thlipsis, “pressure”). Other Heb. and Gk. words are used, and if they were all literally rendered we should have iniquity, straitness, lowered, evil, breach, suffering. This last word expresses its meaning in common use. The English word comes from the
Easton’s Bible Dictionary
Afflictions
Afflictions—common to all (Job 5:7; 14:1; Ps. 34:19); are for the good of men (James 1:2, 3, 12; 2 Cor. 12:7) and the glory of God (2 Cor. 12:7–10; 1 Pet. 4:14), and are to be borne with patience by the Lord’s people (Ps. 94:12; Prov. 3:12). They are all directed by God (Lam. 3:33), and will result in
Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Affliction
AFFLICTION — any condition or problem that produces suffering or pain. The Bible speaks of two types of affliction—suffering that represents God’s judgment on sin (Is. 53:4; Matt. 24:29; Rom. 2:9), and suffering that brings about the purifying of believers as they identify with Christ (Rom. 5:3–5; 2
Dictionary of Biblical Imagery
Affliction
AfflictionAffliction is understood in modern parlance as persistent suffering or anguish. So defined, it provides helpful insight into the varied biblical images of affliction. In the most fundamental sense, affliction is the mirror of fallenness within the creation. Although God created the world good
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
AFFLICTION
AFFLICTION<a-flik’-shun>: Represents no fewer than 11 Hebrew words in the Old Testament, and 3 Greek words in the New Testament, of which the most common are ( עַנִי‎ [oni]), ([φλι̂ψις, thlipsis]). It is used1. actively = that which causes or tends to cause bodily pain or mental distress, as “the
A Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels: Aaron–Zion
Affliction
AFFLICTION.—In AV of the Gospels ‘affliction’ occurs only twice (Mk 4:17, 13:19), corresponding both times to θλῖψις in the original. RV gives ‘tribulation’—its invariable rendering of θλῖψις except in Jn 16:21, where, like AV, it has ‘anguish.’ In Mt 24:9 AV translates εἰς θλῖψιν ‘to be afflicted’ (RV
Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary
Affliction
AFFLICTION Condition of physical or mental distress. While the source and purpose of affliction may vary, the Bible describes the state of affliction with many terms. In the OT the Hebrew language uses as many as 13 words that maybe translated “affliction.”Old Testament The OT identifies many forms
Key passages
Ro 5:3–5

And not only this, but we also boast in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces patient endurance, and patient endurance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts through the Holy Spirit …

2 Co 4:16–17

Therefore we do not lose heart, but even if our outer person is being destroyed, yet our inner person is being renewed day after day. For our momentary light affliction is producing in us an eternal weight of glory beyond all measure and proportion,

See also
Topics & Themes
Suffering