Luke 18:5 - Coke's Commentary on the Holy Bible

She weary me.— 'Υπωπιαξημε : the word properly signifies to beat on the face, and particularly under the eye; so as to make the parts black and blue. Hence it signifies to beat in general: see on 1 Corinthians 9:27. In the present passage it has a metaphorical meaning, as all the translators acknowledge, though they seem to have missed the exact propriety of the metaphor; for the word 'Υπωπιαξειν here signifies to give great pain, such as arises from a severe beating. The meaning therefore is, that the uneasy feelings which this widow raised in the judge's breast, by the moving representations that she gave him of her distress, affected him to such a degree, that he could not bear it: and therefore, to be rid of these feelings, he resolved to do her justice. The passage understood in this sense has a peculiar advantage, as it throws a beautiful light on our Lord's argument, (Luke 18:6-7.) and lays a proper foundation for the conclusions which it contains.