### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb καταπονέω (kataponéō, `{{G2669}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition κατά (katá), meaning "down" or "against" and often serving as an intensifier, and a derivative of the noun πόνος (pónos, `{{G4192}}`), which signifies "toil," "labor," "pain," or "distress." Etymologically, καταπονέω thus conveys the sense of being "labored down" or "worn out by toil." This implies an overwhelming burden, a state of being pressed down by hardship. Its semantic range extends from literal physical exhaustion due to heavy labor to figurative emotional, mental, or moral distress. The core idea is one of being severely burdened, harassed, oppressed, or vexed to the point of being weighed down or overwhelmed.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term καταπονέω appears only twice in the New Testament, each instance illuminating a distinct yet related facet of its meaning:
1. **[[Acts 7:24]]**: In Stephen's sermon, he recounts Moses's intervention: "And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he defended him, and avenged him that was oppressed [καταπονέω], and smote the Egyptian." Here, the word describes the severe physical and systemic oppression endured by an Israelite at the hands of an Egyptian. The context clearly points to an act of violent mistreatment, an injustice that weighs heavily upon the victim. Moses's action is a direct response to this profound affliction, highlighting the desperate state of the one being καταπονέω.
2. **[[2 Peter 2:7]]**: Peter writes, "and delivered righteous Lot, sore distressed [καταπονέω] by the filthy conversation of the wicked." In this passage, καταπονέω describes Lot's profound moral and spiritual anguish. He was not necessarily physically oppressed but was "sore distressed" or "vexed" by the rampant licentiousness and lawlessness of Sodom. His righteous soul was weighed down and tormented by the ungodly behavior he witnessed daily. This usage emphasizes the internal, psychological, and moral burden imposed by an environment steeped in depravity.
Across these two occurrences, καταπονέω consistently denotes an intense, overwhelming burden, whether manifested as physical oppression or deep internal vexation. It speaks to a state where an individual is profoundly affected and weighed down by external circumstances or the actions of others.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding καταπονέω is enhanced by examining related Greek terms that describe various forms of suffering, burden, or distress:
* **πόνος (ponos, `{{G4192}}`)**: The root noun for "toil," "labor," "pain," or "distress." While πόνος can denote any kind of laborious effort or pain, καταπονέω specifically implies being *overwhelmed* or *worn out* by such toil or pain.
* **θλῖψις (thlipsis, `{{G2347}}`)**: Meaning "tribulation," "affliction," or "pressure." Like καταπονέω, θλῖψις conveys a sense of being pressed or crushed, often by external circumstances. However, καταπονέω emphasizes the *wearing down* or *overwhelming* aspect of that pressure.
* **βαρέω (bareō, `{{G916}}`)**: "To weigh down," "to burden." This verb shares the idea of being burdened, but καταπονέω adds the dimension of being worn out or oppressed *by* that burden, suggesting a more severe and prolonged impact.
* **ὀδύνη (odynē, `{{G3601}}`)**: "Pain," "distress," "anguish." While ὀδύνη describes the feeling of pain, καταπονέω describes the *action* or *state* of being subjected to something that causes such pain or distress to the point of being overwhelmed.
These related terms highlight the multifaceted nature of human suffering, with καταπονέω specifically capturing the experience of being utterly weighed down and worn out by oppression or vexation.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of καταπονέω lies in its portrayal of intense suffering and God's response to it. In both biblical instances, the word underscores a profound state of being overwhelmed by injustice or moral depravity.
1. **God's Awareness of Oppression**: In [[Acts 7:24]], the καταπονέω of the Israelite by the Egyptian highlights God's awareness of and concern for His people's suffering under oppressive regimes. Moses's intervention, though an act of human agency, foreshadows God's ultimate deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage. It speaks to a divine justice that does not ignore the cries of the oppressed.
2. **God's Deliverance of the Righteous**: In [[2 Peter 2:7]], Lot's καταπονέω by the ungodly behavior of Sodom emphasizes the moral distress experienced by the righteous in a wicked world. Peter uses this to illustrate God's capacity to discern between the righteous and the unrighteous, and His commitment to delivering those who are genuinely vexed by sin, even as He brings judgment upon the wicked. This provides comfort and assurance to believers who may feel overwhelmed by the moral decay around them.
3. **The Severity of Suffering**: The word's intensity ("to labor down," "wear with toil") underscores the severe and debilitating nature of the oppression or vexation described. It is not a minor inconvenience but a profound burden that weighs heavily on the individual, whether physically or spiritually. This deep suffering is precisely what God sees and to which He responds with deliverance or preservation.
### Summary
καταπονέω (kataponéō, `{{G2669}}`) describes the state of being utterly weighed down, worn out, or overwhelmed by toil, suffering, or moral distress. Its etymology points to an intense "laboring down." In the New Testament, it appears twice: once to describe the severe physical oppression of an Israelite by an Egyptian ([[Acts 7:24]]), and once to depict the profound moral vexation of righteous Lot by the depravity of Sodom ([[2 Peter 2:7]]). Theologically, καταπονέω highlights God's keen awareness of intense suffering and His steadfast commitment to delivering or preserving the righteous who are burdened by injustice or ungodliness, demonstrating His divine justice and care for His people.
TRV