Word Study for G315 (ἀναγκάζω)

anankázō /an-ang-kad'-zo/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀνάγκη

Meaningto necessitate

KJV usagecompel, constrain.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of anankázō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word anankázō, represented by G315, means "to necessitate:--compel, constrain." Derived from ἀνάγκη, it conveys a sense of necessity or force. It appears 9 times in 9 unique verses, illustrating various forms of compulsion, from divine commands and circumstantial pressure to social coercion and outright persecution.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In the biblical narrative, G315 is used to describe actions driven by a powerful external force. Jesus constrained His disciples to get into a ship, indicating a firm, authoritative directive (Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:45). In a parable, a lord commands his servant to compel people to come to his feast, ensuring his house is full Luke 14:23. The word also depicts negative pressure, as when Paul confronted Peter for compelling Gentiles to adopt Jewish customs Galatians 2:14. In his testimony, Paul recounts how he formerly compelled believers to blaspheme as part of his persecution of the church Acts 26:11. The term can also signify a necessity arising from circumstances, as when Paul was constrained to appeal to Caesar Acts 28:19.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the contexts in which compulsion occurs:

G1377 diṓkō (to pursue, persecute): This is often linked to G315 in contexts of persecution. Paul compelled believers to blaspheme while he persecuted them Acts 26:11, and Judaizers constrained others to be circumcised to avoid persecution themselves Galatians 6:12.
G1684 embaínō (to embark): This word specifies the action Jesus constrained His disciples to take, which was to get into a ship (Matthew 14:22; Mark 6:45).
G1941 epikaléomai (to invoke, appeal): Paul's feeling of being constrained led him to appeal unto Caesar, highlighting a compulsion toward a specific legal action Acts 28:19.
G4059 peritémnō (to circumcise): This word is central to the disputes where G315 is used. Judaizers constrained believers to be circumcised Galatians 6:12, but Titus was notably not compelled to do so Galatians 2:3.
G5097 timōréō (to punish): The severe nature of the compulsion Paul once exerted is shown by its pairing with this word; he punished believers in synagogues and compelled them to blaspheme Acts 26:11.

Theological Significance

The use of G315 carries significant thematic weight across its occurrences.

Divine vs. Human Compulsion: The word contrasts the legitimate, authoritative commands of Jesus Mark 6:45 and the urgent invitation in the parable Luke 14:23 with the illegitimate social and religious pressure exerted by humans (Galatians 2:14; Galatians 6:12).
Force in Persecution: A key theme is the use of force to coerce believers against their faith. Paul's own history of compelling people to blaspheme demonstrates the violent nature of persecution Acts 26:11.
Circumstantial Necessity: The term is not limited to personal influence but can also describe being forced into a decision by a situation. Paul's appeal to Caesar was not his primary desire but an action he was constrained to take by the opposition of the Jews Acts 28:19.
Pressure Within the Church: The word highlights internal conflicts, such as when Paul felt the Corinthians had compelled him to boast 2 Corinthians 12:11 or when he challenged Peter's hypocrisy in compelling Gentiles to live like Jews Galatians 2:14.

Summary

In summary, G315 provides a nuanced look at the concept of force. It is not a simple term but one that encompasses a spectrum of meaning, from the decisive authority of Christ and the urgent call of the gospel to the manipulative pressures of religious factions and the dire necessities of persecution. The word effectively captures the various ways in which individuals and groups can be necessitated, constrained, or compelled to act.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 9 occurrences, inflected in 8 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 2×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Passive Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Aorist Passive Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 1st Singular 1×
Present Active Indicative 2nd Singular 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×

Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 9 verses across 6 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Galatians (3 verses); never once in the other 21.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

Acts

2 Corinthians

Galatians

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.