Compel

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

1: Ἀναγκάζω (Strong'S #315 — Verb — anankazo — an-ang-kad'-zo )

denotes "to put constraint upon (from ananke, 'necessity'), to constrain," whether by threat, entreaty, force or persuasion; Christ "constrained" the disciples to get into a boat,  Matthew 14:22;  Mark 6:45; the servants of the man who made a great supper were to constrain people to come in,  Luke 14:23 (RV, "constrain"); Saul of Tarsus "strove" to make saints blaspheme,   Acts 26:11 , RV (AV, "compelled"); Titus, though a Greek, was not "compelled" to be circumcised,  Galatians 2:3 , as Galatian converts were,  Galatians 6:12 , RV; Peter was "compelling" Gentiles to live as Jews,  Galatians 2:14; Paul was "constrained" to appeal to Caesar,  Acts 28:19 , and was "compelled" by the church at Corinth to become foolish in speaking of himself,  2—Corinthians 12:11 . See Constrain.

2: Ἀγγαρεύω (Strong'S #29 — Verb — angareuo — ang-ar-yew'-o )

"to dispatch as an angaros (a Persian courier kept at regular stages with power of impressing men into service)," and hence, in general, "to impress into service," is used of "compelling" a person to go a mile,  Matthew 5:41; of the impressing of Simon to bear Christ's cross,  Matthew 27:32;  Mark 15:21 .

King James Dictionary

Compel

1. To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly to constrain to oblige to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.

Thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bound servant. Levit. 25.

And they compel one Simon--to bear his cross.  Mark 15 .

Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.  Luke 14 .

Circumstances compel us to practice economy.

2. To force to take by force, or violence to seize.

The subjects grief comes through commissions, which compel from each a sixth part of his substance.

3. To drive together to gather to unite in a crowd or company. A Latinism, compellere gregem.

In one troop compelled.

4. To seize to overpower to hold.

And easy sleep their weary limbs compelled.

5. To call forth, L. compeller.

Webster's Dictionary

(1): (v. t.) To force to yield; to overpower; to subjugate.

(2): (v. t.) To call forth; to summon.

(3): (v. t.) To take by force or violence; to seize; to exact; to extort.

(4): (v. t.) To gather or unite in a crowd or company.

(5): (v. i.) To make one yield or submit.

(6): (v. t.) To drive or urge with force, or irresistibly; to force; to constrain; to oblige; to necessitate, either by physical or moral force.

Fausset's Bible Dictionary

The Greek Angareuein is a Tartar word adopted by the Persians for impressing into the government service men and horses to carry the dispatches without interruption, by relays of men and horses stationed at intervals ( Matthew 5:41;  Mark 15:21).

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

kom - pel ´: Our English word always has in it now the flavor of force, not always, however, physical. It may be strong moral urgency, though "constrain" better expresses this.

1. In the Old Testament

There are several words indicative of such strong pressure: (1) אנס , 'ānaṣ "to press": "none could compel" to drink ( Esther 1:8 ); (2) נדח , nādhaḥ , "to drive," "force": "compelled Judah thereto" (the King James Version, the Revised Version, margin); "led Judah astray" the Revised Version (British and American) ( 2 Chronicles 21:11 ). The same word rendered "force," as the adulteress by flattering words her victim ( Proverbs 7:21 ); (3) עבד , ‛ābhadh , "to serve": not to compel him to serve as a bond servant ( Leviticus 25:39 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "make him serve"); (4) פרץ , pārac , "to break forth upon," "urge": "his servants compelled him" ( 1 Samuel 28:23 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) "constrained").

2. In the New Testament

In the New Testament two words are found: (1) ἀγγαρεύω , aggareúō ̌ : The word is of Persian origin and means to employ a courier. The Aggaroi were public couriers stationed by appointment of the kings of Persia, at fixed localities, with horses ready for use, to transmit speedily from one to another the royal messages. These couriers had authority to press into their service, in case of need, horses, vessels, and even men, they might meet (Josephus, Ant , Xiii ii, 3); "compel thee to go a mile" ( Matthew 5:41 the King James Version; the Revised Version, margin "impress"); "compelled Simon to bear his cross" (  Matthew 27:32;  Mark 15:21 the King James Version; the Revised Version, margin "impressed"). (2) ἀναγκάζω , anagkázō , "to constrain," whether by force, threats, entreaties, persuasion, etc.: "compel them to come in" ( Luke 14:23 the King James Version; the Revised Version (British and American) "constrain"). This has been a favorite text of religious persecutors. As Robertson says in his history of Charles V, "As they could not persuade, they tried to compel men to believe." But it simply means that utmost zeal and moral urgency should be used by Christians to induce sinners to enter the Kingdom of God. Compare   Acts 26:11 .

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

in  Matthew 5:41;  Matthew 27:32;  Mark 15:21, is the rendering of the A. V. for the technical term Ἀγγαρεύω , to Impress into public service, (See Angareuo); in  Luke 14:23 ( Ἀναλκάζω , often to "constrain"), it has a milder sense, i.e. Urge , rather than the full meaning of Coercion (as elsewhere).