"to sharpen; met. to incite, stir up, Acts 17:16; to irritate, provoke, 1 Cor. 13:5*"
Definition and meaning
to sharpen; met. to incite, stir up, Acts 17:16; to irritate, provoke, 1 Cor. 13:5*
In the original Greek the word is written: παροξύνω
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of paroxyno (G3947) across the King James Bible.
Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry.
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
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Common questions
Strong's G3947 (paroxyno) is a Greek word that means: to sharpen; met. to incite, stir up, Acts 17:16; to irritate, provoke, 1 Cor. 13:5* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word paroxyno (G3947) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3947 is paroxyno, a Greek word defined as: to sharpen; met. to incite, stir up, Acts 17:16; to irritate, provoke, 1 Cor. 13:5*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
paroxyno is a Greek word found in the New Testament.