The Meaning of 2 Corinthians 4:8 Explained

2 Corinthians 4:8

KJV: We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;

YLT: on every side being in tribulation, but not straitened; perplexed, but not in despair;

Darby: every way afflicted, but not straitened; seeing no apparent issue, but our way not entirely shut up;

ASV: we are pressed on every side, yet not straitened; perplexed, yet not unto despair;

KJV Reverse Interlinear

[We are] troubled  on  every side,  yet  not  distressed;  [we are] perplexed,  but  not  in despair; 

What does 2 Corinthians 4:8 Mean?

Context Summary

2 Corinthians 4:7-18 - The Inward Life Triumphant Over Affliction
Few men have been more conscious of their weakness than was the Apostle. The earthen vessel had become very cracked and scratched, but the heavenly treasure was unimpaired, as in the case of Gideon, when the pitcher was broken the lantern shone out. Paul here confesses that he was troubled, perplexed, persecuted, and cast down, always bearing the scars of Jesus, and being perpetually delivered over to death. But he gratefully accepted all these disabilities because he knew that they gave greater opportunities to Jesus to show forth, through him, His resurrection power. With the daily decay of the outward, there came the renewal of the unseen and spiritual. It is only in proportion as we are conformed to the sufferings and death of Christ that we begin to realize the fullness of what He is, and what He can be or do through us. Our one thought must always be the glory of Christ in the salvation of others.
Note the contrasts of 2 Corinthians 4:17. The affliction is light, but the glory of the future is fraught with radiant and satisfying blessedness. The one is transient, the other eternal. The one is the price of the other, though each is the gift of God. The comet which has gone farthest into the outer darkness returns closest to the central sun. [source]

Chapter Summary: 2 Corinthians 4

1  Paul declares how he has used all sincerity and diligence in preaching the gospel,
7  and how his troubles and persecutions did redound to the praise of God's power,
12  to the benefit of the church,
16  and to the apostle's own eternal glory

Greek Commentary for 2 Corinthians 4:8

Pressed [τλιβομενοι]
From τλιβω — thlibō to press as grapes, to contract, to squeeze. Series of present passive participles here through 2 Corinthians 4:9 that vividly picture Paul‘s ministerial career. [source]
Yet not straitened [αλλ ου στενοχωρουμενοι]
Each time the exception is stated by αλλ ου — all' ou From στενοχωρεω — stenochōreō Late perfective compound with εχ — eẋ of εχαπορεω — exaporeō A very effective play on words here, lost, but not lost out. [source]
Yet not unto despair [αλλ ουκ εχαπορουμενοι]
Late perfective compound with εχ — eẋ of εχαπορεω — exaporeō A very effective play on words here, lost, but not lost out. [source]
Troubled [θλιβόμενοι]
See on tribulation, Matthew 13:21. The verb also has the meaning of to straiten, contract, as Matthew 7:14, where τεθλιμμένη , A.V. narrow, is properly rendered by Rev. straitened. [source]
Distressed [στενοχωρούμενοι]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 6:12. From στενός narrowand χῶρος aspace. Hence cramped. The A.V. gives no suggestion of the figurative paradox. We are pressed closely, yet not cramped. Rev., pressed on every side, yet not straitened. [source]
Perplexed [ἀπορούμενοι]
From ἀ notand πόρος apassage. Lit., to be unable to find a way out. [source]
In despair [ἐξαπορούμενοι]
Rev., very neatly, rendered unto despair. The word expresses an advance of thought on perplexed, yet on the same line. We are perplexed, but not utterly perplexed. The play between the Greek words cannot be rendered. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for 2 Corinthians 4:8

2 Corinthians 1:8 We despaired [ἐξαπορηθῆναι]
Only here and 2 Corinthians 4:8. From ἐξ outand out, and ἀπορέω tobe without a way of escape. See on did many things, Mark 6:20. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:4 In distresses [εν στενοχωριαις]
In tight places (2 Corinthians 12:10). Late word from στενοχωρεω — stenochōreō (see note on 2 Corinthians 4:8). [source]
2 Corinthians 6:10 Yet making many rich [πολλους δε πλουτιζοντες]
Old word from πλουτος — ploutos (wealth), to enrich. Spiritual riches Paul has in mind as in 1 Corinthians 1:5 (cf. Matthew 5:37). As having nothing and yet possessing all things (ως μηδεν εχοντες και παντα κατεχοντες — hōs mēden echontes kai panta katechontes). Contrast between μηδεν — mēden (nothing) and παντα — panta (all things, cf. 1 Corinthians 3:22) and εχω — echō (to have) and κατεχω — katechō (to hold down, to hold fast). Play on words (simple and compound) as in 2 Corinthians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 4:8. Climax of Paul‘s panegyric on the Christian ministry. He now resumes the thread of the story broken off in 2 Corinthians 2:14. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:10 As having nothing and yet possessing all things [ως μηδεν εχοντες και παντα κατεχοντες]
Contrast between μηδεν — mēden (nothing) and παντα — panta (all things, cf. 1 Corinthians 3:22) and εχω — echō (to have) and κατεχω — katechō (to hold down, to hold fast). Play on words (simple and compound) as in 2 Corinthians 3:2; 2 Corinthians 4:8. Climax of Paul‘s panegyric on the Christian ministry. He now resumes the thread of the story broken off in 2 Corinthians 2:14. [source]
2 Corinthians 6:12 Ye are not straitened in us [ου στενοχωρειστε εν ημιν]
The same figure as in 2 Corinthians 6:11. See note on 2 Corinthians 4:8 for στενοχωρεω — stenochōreō There is no restraint in me (my heart). My adversaries may have caused some of you to tighten up your affections (σπλαγχνα — splagchna for affection as in James 5:11; 1 Peter 3:8). [source]
2 Corinthians 7:5 Had no relief [ουδεμιαν εσχηκεν ανεσιν]
Perfect active indicative precisely as in 2 Corinthians 2:13 which see, “has had no relief” (dramatic perfect). Afflicted (τλιβομενοι — thlibomenoi). Present passive participle of τλιβω — thlibō as in 2 Corinthians 4:8, but with anacoluthon, for the nominative case agrees not with the genitive ημων — hēmōn nor with the accusative ημας — hēmas in 2 Corinthians 7:6. It is used as if a principal verb as in 2 Corinthians 9:11; 2 Corinthians 11:6; Romans 12:16 (Moulton, Prolegomena, p. 182; Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1132-35). Without were fightings Asyndeton and no copula, a parenthesis also in structure. Perhaps pagan adversaries in Macedonia (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:32). Within were fears (εσωτεν ποβοι — esōthen phoboi). Same construction. “Mental perturbations” (Augustine) as in 2 Corinthians 11:28. [source]
2 Corinthians 7:5 Afflicted [τλιβομενοι]
Present passive participle of τλιβω — thlibō as in 2 Corinthians 4:8, but with anacoluthon, for the nominative case agrees not with the genitive ημων — hēmōn nor with the accusative ημας — hēmas in 2 Corinthians 7:6. It is used as if a principal verb as in 2 Corinthians 9:11; 2 Corinthians 11:6; Romans 12:16 (Moulton, Prolegomena, p. 182; Robertson, Grammar, pp. 1132-35). [source]
Galatians 4:20 I stand in doubt of you [ἀποροῦμαι ἐν ὑμῖν]
Lit. I am perplexed in you. For this use of ἐν, comp. 2 Corinthians 7:16; Galatians 1:24. Paul's perplexity is conceived as taking place in the readers. For the verb, see on Mark 6:20; see on 2 Corinthians 4:8. Paul means: “I am puzzled how to deal with you; how to find entrance to your hearts. [source]
1 Timothy 5:10 The afflicted [θλιβομένοις]
See on tribulation, Matthew href="/desk/?q=mt+13:21&sr=1">Matthew 13:21, and comp. 2 Corinthians 1:6; 2 Corinthians 4:8; 2 Thessalonians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 1:7; Hebrews 11:37. [source]

What do the individual words in 2 Corinthians 4:8 mean?

in every [way] being hard pressed but not being crushed being perplexed not despairing
ἐν παντὶ θλιβόμενοι ἀλλ’ οὐ στενοχωρούμενοι ἀπορούμενοι οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι

παντὶ  every  [way] 
Parse: Adjective, Dative Neuter Singular
Root: πᾶς  
Sense: individually.
θλιβόμενοι  being  hard  pressed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: θλίβω  
Sense: to press (as grapes), press hard upon.
στενοχωρούμενοι  being  crushed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: στενοχωρέω  
Sense: to be in a narrow place.
ἀπορούμενοι  being  perplexed 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἀπορέω  
Sense: to be without resources, to be in straits, to be left wanting, to be embarrassed, to be in doubt, not to know which way to turn.
ἐξαπορούμενοι  despairing 
Parse: Verb, Present Participle Middle or Passive, Nominative Masculine Plural
Root: ἐξαπορέω  
Sense: to be utterly at loss, be utterly destitute of measures or resources, to renounce all hope, be in despair.