Brief Overview of ἀναγκαστῶς (Strong’s G317:)

ἀναγκαστῶς (anankastōs) is an adverb in Greek that primarily means:

1. Necessarily: It indicates that something is done out of necessity or compulsion.
2. Of Necessity: It describes actions that are performed because they are required or unavoidable.

Detailed Overview with Concordances

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1. BDAG (A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature):

• BDAG defines ἀναγκαστῶς as “necessarily” or “out of necessity.” It highlights that the term is used to convey the idea of something being done due to compulsion or unavoidable circumstances. This usage is often found in contexts where an action is not voluntary but is done due to an external requirement.

2. LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones Greek-English Lexicon):

• LSJ defines ἀναγκαστῶς as “necessarily” or “of necessity.” The lexicon points out that it denotes actions that are compelled or required by circumstances, reflecting its use in classical texts to describe actions that are inevitable or obligatory.

3. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer explains ἀναγκαστῶς as meaning “out of necessity” or “by compulsion.” It is used to describe situations where actions are performed not freely but because they are required or enforced by external factors.

4. Strong’s Concordance:

• Strong’s Concordance includes ἀναγκαστῶς under G317, defining it as “of necessity” or “compulsorily.” It is used to describe actions performed due to unavoidable circumstances or compulsion.

Summary:
ἀναγκαστῶς (anankastōs) is an adverb that means “necessarily” or “of necessity,” reflecting actions done out of compulsion or unavoidable circumstances. Major lexicons, including BDAG, LSJ, Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, and Strong’s Concordance, emphasize its use to describe actions performed not voluntarily but due to external requirements or compulsion.