ἐρεθίζω
erethízō
G2042 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To stir up, incite, or provoke, especially in the sense of arousing strong feeling or emotion (often anger or irritation). The verb denotes the act of stimulating someone or something, frequently implying a negative consequence such as provocation to anger, irritation, or vexation. In certain contexts, it can also refer more neutrally to causing a reaction or arousing a response.
Semantic Range
to provoke to anger, to irritate, to incite, to stimulate, to rouse strong feeling, to cause resentment or emotional upheaval
Root / Etymology
From Greek root ἔρις (eris, 'strife, quarrel') with the causative verbalizing suffix -ίζω, thus meaning 'to cause strife' or 'to stir up.' Morphologically formed as a denominative verb from the noun.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested in classical Greek primarily in the sense of provoking, irritating, or challenging, often in relation to competitive or adversarial situations. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the New Testament (e.g., Ephesians 6:4; Colossians 3:21), ἐρεθίζω frequently conveys the idea of provoking someone—particularly children or subordinates—to anger or resentment. The nuance is commonly negative, often emphasizing irresponsible or harsh treatment that elicits a strong emotional response. In the Septuagint, the verb may overlap with related Greek terms such as παροργίζω ('to enrage, provoke to wrath'), but ἐρεθίζω can be milder, sometimes suggesting irritation rather than full wrath. Standard English translations like 'provoke' or 'cause to become angry' capture the usual sense but may understate the broader semantic potential, which could include stirring up other strong reactions depending on context. The verb does not always carry a strictly negative connotation in extra-biblical sources, but in biblical Greek it most often refers to wrongful provocation to anger or grief. No direct equivalent in Hebrew is systematically represented by this Greek verb in the Septuagint.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a presumed prolonged form of ἔρις; to stimulate (especially to anger):--provoke.
Root Family
ἐριθ- (erethízō) — to stir up, to provoke, to incite
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2052 | ἐριθεία | self-serving ambition |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2042-01 |
ἠρέθισε | erethise | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has stirred up | stirred up | stirred up | 1 |
G2042-02 |
ἐρεθίζετε | erethizete | V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL |
exasperate | keep provoking | keep provoking | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2042-01 |
2 Corinthians 9:2 | ἠρέθισε | erethise | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
has stirred up | stirred up | stirred up |
G2042-02 |
Colossians 3:21 | ἐρεθίζετε | erethizete | V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL |
exasperate | keep provoking | keep provoking |