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7:13, 14, of the gate which provides the entrance to eternal life, “narrow” because it runs
counter to natural inclinations, and “the way” is similarly characterized; so in Luke 13:24
(where the more intensive word
, “strive,” is used);
RV
, “narrow” (
KJV
,
“strait”) in each place. Cf.
, “to be straitened,” and
, “narrowness,
anguish, distress.Ӧ
B. Verb.
(
&
, 2346), “to press,” is translated “narrow” in Matt. 7:14,
KJV
, lit.,
“narrowed” (
RV
, “straitened”; the verb is in the perfect participle, passive voice), i.e.,
hemmed in, like a mountain gorge; the way is rendered “narrow” by the divine
conditions, which make it impossible for any to enter who think the entrance depends
upon self-merit, or who still incline towards sin, or desire to continue in evil. See
AFFLICT
, No. 4.
NATION
1.
(
+
, 1484), originally “a multitude,” denotes (a) “a nation” or “people,”
e.g., Matt. 24:7; Acts 10:35; the Jewish people, e.g., Luke 7:5; 23:2; John 11:48, 50-52;
Acts 10:22; 24:2, 10, 17; in Matt. 21:43, the reference is to Israel in its restored condition,
(b) in the plural “the nations” as distinct from Israel. See
GENTILES
.
2.
(
!
, 1085), “a race”: see
KIND
(Noun).
3.
$
(
, 246), “foreign, of another race” (
, “another,”
$
,
“a tribe”), is used in Acts 10:28, “one of another nation.”¶
Note:
For Phil. 2:15,
(
KJV
, “nation,”
RV
, “generation”), see
AGE
.
NATURAL, NATURALLY
A. Adjectives.
1.
$
(
, 5446) originally signifying “produced by nature, inborn,” from
$
, “nature” (see below), cf. Eng., “physical,” “physics,” etc., denotes (a) “according
to nature,” Rom. 1:26, 27; (b) “governed by mere natural instincts,” 2 Pet. 2:12,
RV
,
“(born) mere animals,”
KJV
and
RV
marg., “natural (brute beasts).”¶
2.
$
(
, 5591), “belonging to the
$
, soul” (as the lower part of
the immaterial in man), “natural, physical,” describes the man in Adam and what pertains
to him (set in contrast to
$
“spiritual”), 1 Cor. 2:14; 15:44 (twice), 46 (in the
latter used as a noun); Jas. 3:15, “sensual” (
RV
marg., “natural” or “animal”), here
relating perhaps more especially to the mind, a wisdom in accordance with, or springing
from, the corrupt desires and affections; so in Jude 19.¶
B. Noun.
(
!
, 1078), “birth,” is used in Jas. 1:23, of the “natural face,” lit., “the
face of his birth,” “what God made him to be” (Hort). See
GENERATION
,
NATURE
, No. 2.
Note:
In Rom. 11:21, 24 the preposition
, “according to,” with the noun
$
,
“nature,” is translated “natural,” of branches, metaphorically describing members of the
nation of Israel.
C. Adverb.