G2347 — θλῖψις (thlipsis)¶

Core Data¶

Strong's: G2347
Original: θλῖψις
Transliteration: thlipsis
Pronunciation: thlip'-sis
Part of Speech: Feminine noun (n-f)
Root: θλίβω (G2346) — to press, squeeze, oppress
Occurrences: 43 unique verses (45 tokens) in 15 NT books
First Occurrence: Matt 13:21 — "when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word"
Hapax Legomenon: No

Lexicon Definition¶

From θλίβω (G2346); pressure (literally or figuratively):—afflicted(-tion), anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

The core image is pressing or squeezing — the noun denotes an external force bearing down on a person. It is used exclusively in figurative, experiential senses in the NT.

Semantic Domains¶

Louw-Nida: - 022.001 — Trouble, Hardship, Distress - Other words in domain: ἀνάγκη (G318), βάρος (G922), κόπος (G2873), στενοχωρία (G4730), πληγή (G4127), οὐαί (G3759)

UBS Semantic Domains: - [022] Trouble, Hardship, Relief, Favorable Circumstances

Translation Distribution (KJV)¶

Translation	Verses	%
tribulation / tribulations	18	40%
affliction / afflictions	18	40%
trouble	3	7%
anguish	1	2%
burdened	1	2%
persecution	1	2%
Other forms	3	7%

Distribution by Book¶

Book	Count	Per 100 Verses
2 Thessalonians	2	4.3
1 Thessalonians	3	3.4
2 Corinthians	8	3.1
Philippians	2	1.9*
Revelation	5	1.2
Colossians	1	1.1
Romans	4	0.9
James	1	0.9
Ephesians	1	0.6
Acts	5	0.5
Matthew	4	0.4
Mark	3	0.4
Hebrews	1	0.3
John	2	0.2
1 Corinthians	1	0.2

*Philippians verse count missing from DB; rate calculated manually (2/104 verses).

Concentrated in Paul's epistles (21 of 43 verses). The Thessalonian letters have the highest density. Prophetic/eschatological contexts account for the Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Revelation cluster.

Semantic Categories¶

1. Eschatological / Cosmic Tribulation¶

End-time events of unparalleled scope, often marked by the phrase "great tribulation." - Matt 24:21 — "For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be" - Matt 24:29 — "Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened..." - Mark 13:19 — "For in those days shall be affliction, such as was not from the beginning of the creation which God created" - Rev 7:14 — "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes... in the blood of the Lamb"

2. Persecution Arising from Faith¶

Tribulation inflicted on believers because of their confession or proclamation of the word. - Matt 13:21 — "when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended" - Acts 11:19 — "they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen" - 1 Thess 1:6 — "ye received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost" - Heb 10:33 — "whilst ye were made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions"

3. Apostolic and Ministerial Hardship¶

Suffering belonging to the calling of ministry; associated with Paul's bonds, travels, and mission. - Acts 20:23 — "the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me" - 2 Cor 1:8 — "our trouble which came to us in Asia, that we were pressed out of measure, above strength" - 2 Cor 4:17 — "our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory" - Phil 1:16 — "supposing to add affliction to my bonds"

4. Tribulation as Spiritual Catalyst¶

Suffering that produces patience, deepens faith, and coexists with joy; embraced or gloried in. - Rom 5:3 — "we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience" - Rom 12:12 — "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer" - 2 Cor 8:2 — "in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality" - Rev 1:9 — "I John... your companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ"

5. Divine Retributive Tribulation¶

Tribulation that God sends as judgment on the disobedient; a form of righteous recompense. - Rom 2:9 — "Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile" - 2 Thess 1:6 — "it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you" - Rev 2:22 — "I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation, except they repent"

Common Collocations¶

Word	Strong's	Co-occ	Typical Pattern
διωγμός (diōgmos)	G1375	4x	"tribulation or persecution" — paired as twin external pressures
ὑπομονή (hupomone)	G5281	4x	"tribulation worketh patience" — thlipsis as catalyst for endurance
χαρά (chara)	G5479	4x	"received the word in much affliction, with joy" — suffering + joy paradox
μέγας (megas)	G3173	4x	"great tribulation" — eschatological intensifier
κόσμος (kosmos)	G2889	4x	"in the world ye shall have tribulation" — tribulation as the world's characteristic
Χριστός (Christos)	G5547	4x	"afflictions of Christ," "companion in tribulation" — Christ-related suffering

Word Family / Cognates¶

G2346 θλίβω (thlibō) — root verb: to press, squeeze, oppress (10 occurrences; e.g., 2 Cor 1:6 "we are troubled on every side")

Synonyms¶

G1375 διωγμός (diogmos) — persecution
G318 ἀνάγκη (ananke) — distress, necessity
G4730 στενοχωρία (stenochoria) — distress, anguish
G5604 ὠδίν (odin) — travail, acute distress
G150 αἰσχρός (aischros) — shameful, base
G2873 κόπος (kopos) — toil, trouble
G3709 ὀργή (orge) — wrath
G4432 πτωχεία (ptocheia) — poverty

Antonyms¶

No direct antonyms were identified by search_relationships.py for θλῖψις.

Easily Confused Words¶

Word	Strong's	Shared Translation	Key Difference
πάθημα (pathēma)	G3804	"afflictions"	pathēma = what one passively experiences/undergoes (the suffering side); thlipsis = external pressure bearing down from outside
κάκωσις (kakōsis)	G2561	"affliction"	kakōsis = deliberate maltreatment inflicted by others; thlipsis = pressure of any kind
κόπος (kopos)	G2873	"trouble"	kopos = wearisome toil, labor, exhaustion from effort; thlipsis = external oppression/affliction
στενοχωρία (stenochōria)	G4730	"distress, anguish"	stenochōria = confinement in a narrow space (related metaphor); appears alongside thlipsis in Rom 2:9 and 8:35 as an intensifying pair

Domain Neighbors (Louw-Nida 022.001)¶

Strong's	Word	Transliteration	Primary KJV	Key Difference
G318	ἀνάγκη	anankē	necessity, distress	anankē = compulsion or necessity (inner or outer); thlipsis = external pressure/tribulation
G922	βάρος	baros	burden	baros = a heavy weight/load; thlipsis = squeezing/oppressive pressure
G2873	κόπος	kopos	labour, toil	kopos = weariness from effort; thlipsis = external affliction
G4127	πληγή	plēgē	plagues, stripes	plēgē = a specific blow or wound; more physically concrete
G4730	στενοχωρία	stenochōria	distress, anguish	stenochōria = narrowness/confinement; frequently paired with thlipsis

Hebrew Source¶

Hebrew	Strong's	Co-occ	PMI	Notes
צָרָה (tsârâh)	H6869	56	7.52	Primary LXX equivalent; same semantic range: tightness, trouble, distress
צַר (tsar)	H6862	15	5.06	tsar = narrow place, adversary, trouble
לַחַץ (lachats)	H3906	5	6.88	lachats = distress, oppression
מָצוֹק (matsok)	H4689	4	7.30	narrow place, anguish
צוֹק (tsok)	H6695	3	7.47	a strait, figuratively distress