ἀγγᾰρ-εύω G0029
to press into service, compel to serve as courier; requisition labor or resources by authority
A verb derived from Persian imperial practice—the ἄγγαρος system of requisitioning supplies and forced labor for royal messengers. Jesus uses it in the Sermon on the Mount: if someone forces you to go one mile, go two (Matt 5:41). Simon of Cyrene was 'compelled' to carry Jesus's cross (Matt 27:32, Mark 15:21). The term reflects the Roman practice of impressing civilians for military or official service, experienced as oppressive by occupied populations.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Denotes coercive requisition of service by authorities—a practice Jews knew from both Persian and Roman occupation. Jesus transforms this symbol of oppression into an occasion for radical generosity: voluntary doubling of compelled service subverts the power dynamic. The multilingual glosses consistently use compulsion vocabulary (Spanish 'obligar,' French 'réquisitionner'), reflecting the element of force. Simon's impressment historicizes what Jesus taught theoretically—crucifixion logistics requiring commandeered labor from passing civilians. 3×
AR["سَخَّرَ", "سَخَّرُوهُ", "يُسَخِّرُونَ"]·ben["বাধ্য-করল", "বাধ্য-করে", "বাধ্য-করেন"]·DE["ἀγγαρεύουσιν", "ἀγγαρεύσει", "ἠγγάρευσαν"]·EN["forces", "they-compel", "they-compelled"]·FR["réquisitionner"]·heb["גָּדְדוּ", "הֶכְרִיח-וּ", "יַכְרִיחַ"]·HI["अंगारे-में-ले", "बेगार-करते-हैं", "बेगार-में-लिया"]·ID["memaksa", "memaksa-berjalan", "mereka-paksa"]·IT["aggareuousin", "aggareusei", "eggareusan"]·jav["dipunpeksa", "meksa", "sami-meksa"]·KO["강제한다", "강제했다", "억지로-시키면"]·PT["obrigar-a-ir", "requisitam", "requisitaram"]·RU["заставили", "принудит", "принуждают"]·ES["obligan", "obligaron", "obligue-a-ir"]·SW["atakayekushurutisha", "walimlazimisha", "wanamlazimisha"]·TR["zorla-alıkoydular", "zorla-alıyorlar", "zorlarsa"]·urd["بیگار-میں-لے", "بیگار-میں-پکڑتے-ہیں", "بیگار-پکڑا"]
Related Senses
G2962 1. Lord (divine title) (661×)H0136 1. Lord (divine title) (440×)H0113 1. lord, human superior (249×)G1849 1. authority, power (91×)H6485a 2. Qal: punish, bring judgment (63×)H8198 1. maidservant, female slave (63×)G2962 2. master, lord (human authority) (61×)H0034 1. needy, poor, destitute (61×)H0519 1. female servant, maidservant (56×)H6041 1. poor, needy person (55×)H0113 2. master, owner of servants (49×)H4910 1. Qal: to have dominion, exercise power over (44×)H1800 1. poor, needy (socioeconomic) (38×)H3515 1. heavy, severe, grievous (36×)G4434 1. (34×)G5092 1. honor, esteem, respect (33×)H6485a 4. Qal: visit, attend to, care for (32×)H3513 1. honor / show respect (Piel) (30×)H4910 2. Qal: to rule, govern (administrative authority) (27×)H4513 1. withhold, restrain, hold back (25×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀγγᾰρ-εύω, press one to serve as an ἄγγαρος, generally, press into service, NT.Matt.5.41,Refs 3rd c.BC+:—passive, to be pressed into service, Refs 4th c.BC+: metaphorically, to be constrained, Refs 6th c.AD+