What does it mean to vex / be vexed?

Response

The term vex signifies “to disturb, trouble, or provoke.” To be vexed is to feel frustrated, annoyed, or exasperated. A vexed individual experiences significant irritation. Vexing someone involves pushing them from patience to impatience, or harassing and goading them to the limit of endurance.

In the Bible, there are instances of individuals being vexed. One example is Samson, who was vexed by his lover, Delilah. Delilah was deceitful and sided with Samson’s enemies, the Philistines. The Philistines were aware that there was a secret source to Samson’s immense strength, and they paid Delilah to uncover it. Despite Delilah’s repeated attempts to extract the secret from Samson, he did not divulge it. Delilah persisted and continued her verbal onslaught: “She pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, [until] his soul was vexed to death” «And it came to pass, when she pressed him daily with her words, and urged him, so that his soul was vexed unto death; », (Judges 16:16, ESV). The NIV translates Samson’s frustration as “he was sick to death of it.”

Another individual in the Bible who was described as vexed was King Ahab. When Ahab requested Naboth to sell his vineyard, Naboth declined, stating, “The Lord forbid that I should give you the inheritance of my ancestors” «And Naboth said to Ahab, The LORD forbid it me, that I should give the inheritance of my fathers unto thee. », (1 Kings 21:3). As a result, the king returned home “vexed and sullen” (verse 4). In this context, the term vexed conveys Ahab’s resentment and anger at being denied what he desired. Ultimately, his vexation led him to murder Naboth and seize his vineyard by force.

Job was vexed by his well-intentioned friends «How long will ye vex my soul, And break me in pieces with words? », (Job 19:2).

Do not vex (harass) the foreigners living among you «Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. », (Exodus 22:21). Fathers should not vex or dishearten their children «Fathers, provoke not your children to anger, lest they be discouraged. », (Colossians 3:21). God promises to vex the ungodly who oppose the Messiah «Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure. », (Psalm 2:5).