45. PAIN. TRAVAIL. LABOUR. WEARINESS
45. PAIN. TRAVAIL. LABOUR. WEARINESS
The words , , , and have similar meanings, but there are different ideas connected with them. occurs but four times in the N.T. It refers literally to the pangs of a woman in child-birth, in which sense it occurs in 1Th 5:3; twice it refers to the pangs that will seize the wicked when God’s judgements are poured out upon the earth, Mat 24:8; Mar 13:8; and once in reference to the pains of death endured by the Lord. Act 2:24
(from , ‘to labour, be in distress’) occurs three times in the N.T. It has been judged to refer to the toil which is the lot of man in this world of sin, answering to “in the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread.” This seems to be confirmed by Paul’s twice using it in reference to his labours (travail, A.V.), having to work night and day in addition to his apostolic work. 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8. In 2Co 11:27 it is joined with , where Paul describes his life of labour and toil (“weariness [.] and painfulness [.]” A.V.), as well as the dangers he passed through
(from , ‘to labour’) occurs three times in the N.T., twice referring to the ‘distress’ that will attend the pouring out of God’s judgements, and once to when there will be no distress or pain. Rev 16:10-11; Rev 21:4. (Some editors read in Col 4:13 instead of .) The word is used by the LXX for the rigorous bondage of the Israelites in Egypt. Exo 2:11. It seems to express the extremity of distress
– (from , ‘to strike’) occurs often in the N.T. In th e A.V. it is translated ‘weariness’ in 2Co 11:27; ‘trouble’ and ‘labour’ often. Perhaps the weariness of labour and trouble marks this word
In the LXX three of the above words are attributed to Job’s wife in her despair under the dealings of Satan. “The pangs () and pains () of my womb which I bore in vain with sorrows ()” – having lost her sons and daughters. Job 2:9