Quick Definition
στενοχωρέω v. I press upon, cramp, restrain
Strong's Definition
from the same as 4730; to hem in closely, i.e. (figuratively) cramp
KJV Usage: distress, straiten
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | στενάζω + χωρέω
37.18 · (στενοχωρέομαι[a]) · Control, Rule · Control, Restrain
to live under restrictions, to be restricted, to be confined to be under severe limitations or restrictions In a number of languages it may be more meaningful to render 2CO 6:12 as ‘it is not that we impose restrictions on you; it is you yourselves who are doing it.’ For another interpretation of στενοχωρέομαι in 2CO 6:12 as part of an idiom, see 25.54.
22.19 · (στενοχωρέομαι[b]) · Trouble, Hardship, Relief, Favorable Circumstances · Experience Trouble, Hardship
to be in great trouble, to be hemmed in with difficulty to be in serious circumstances, with the implication of no escape or way out
25.54 · (στενοχωρέομαι[c]) · Attitudes and Emotions · Love, Affection, Compassion
Collocation: στενοχωρέομαι ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις
to not respond with affection to someone, to close one’s heart to (an idiom, literally: to be restricted in the bowels) to restrict one’s affection for someone In 2CO 6:12 it is also possible to understand στενοχωρέομαι as meaning ‘to live with severe restrictions’ (see 37.18), and σπλάγχνα may be interpreted as a psychological faculty of intent and feeling (see 26.11).
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
στενο-χωρέω, -@: (στενόχωρος ; and this fr. στενός, and χῶρος a space) ; 1. intrans. to be in a strait place (Machon in Athen. 13 p. 582 b.); to be narrow (Is. xlix. 19). 2. trans. to straiten, compress, cramp, reduce to straits, (Vulg. angustio), (Diod., Leian., Hdian., al. ; [Sept. Josh. xvii. 15; Judg. xvi. 16; Is. xxviii. 20; 4 Mace. xi. 11]): pass. trop. of one sorely ‘straitened’ in spirit, 2 Co. iv. 8; οὐ στενοχωρεῖσθε ἐν ἡμῖν, ye are not straitened in us, ample space is granted you in our souls, i. e. we enfold you with large affection, 2 Co. vi. 12; oreνοχωρεῖσθε ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις ὑμῶν, ye are straitened in your own affections, so that there is no room there for us, i. e. you do not grant a place in your heart for love toward me, ibid.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
στενοχωρέω stenochōreō 3x
to crowd together into a narrow place, straiten; pass. met. to be in straits, to be cooped up, to be cramped from action, 2 Cor. 4:8; to be cramped in feeling, 2 Cor. 6:12*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
στενο-χωρέω, -ῶ
(< στενός + χῶρος, space) [in LXX: Jos 17:15 (אוּץ), Jg 16:16 (אלץ pi.), Is 28:19 (20) (קצר) Is 49:19 (צרר), IV Mac 11:11 * ;]
to be straitened (cf. Is 49:19); metaph., to be anxious (Hipp., al.).
In late writers, trans., to straiten, compress (LXX, Diod., al.; π. ap. MM, xxiii): pass., trop., II Co 4:8 6:12.†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
στενοχωρέω (stenochōreō) — to press upon. στενοχωρ-έω, to be straitened, confined, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: metaphorically, to be anxious, in difficulty, ἐπί τινι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. transitive, crowd, straiten, τοὺς ἀπαντῶντας [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; τὰς πύλας, τὰς ὁδούς, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, with future middle [Refs 4th c.AD+], to be crowded together, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; ἐν ταὐτῷ σ. [Refs 1st c.BC+]; of stricture, [Refs 1st c.AD+]; to be cramped or confined, ὁ Εὐφράτης -ούμενος [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of a picture, [Refs 4th c.AD+]
II.2. metaphorically, press closely, tina [LXX]:—passive, to be straitened, cramped,[LXX+5th c.AD+]; ἐν τοῖς σπλάγχνοις [NT]; ὑπὸ τῶν κακῶν [Refs 5th c.BC+]