Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (v. t.) To secure by bonds; to chain; to bond or confine; to hold tightly; to constringe. 2. (v. t.) To bring into a narrow compass; to compress. 3. (v. t.) To hold back by force; to restrain; to repress. 4. (v. t.) To compel; to force; to necessitate; to oblige. 5. (v. t.) To violate; to ravish. 6. (v. t.) To produce in such a manner as to give an unnatural effect; as, a constrained voice. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia CONSTRAIN kon-stran': Generally in the sense of pressing urgently (2 Kings 4:8 Luke 24:29 Acts 16:15), to impel or carry away (2 Corinthians 5:14); sometimes to be compelled of necessity (Job 32:18 Acts 28:19; compare Galatians 6:12). See COMPEL.

Multi-Version Concordance Constrain (6 Occurrences) Matthew 5:41 And whoever shall constrain thee to go one mile, go with him two. (WBS) Mark 15:21 And they constrain one Simon, a Cyrenian, who was passing by, coming from the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. (WBS) Luke 14:23 And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and constrain 'them' to come in, that my house may be filled. (ASV YLT) 2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ constrains us; because we judge thus, that one died for all, therefore all died. (Root in WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT) Galatians 6:12 As many as desire to make a fair shew in the flesh, they constrain you to be circumcised; only lest they should suffer persecution for the cross of Christ. (KJV WBS YLT) Judges 9:31 He sent messengers to Abimelech craftily, saying, "Behold, Gaal the son of Ebed and his brothers are come to Shechem; and behold, they constrain the city to take part against you. (WEB ASV)