It is a word we often use to describe our pain, and suffering. We say things like, “I’ve been in excruciating pain with my back injury.” Do you know where this word comes to us from? It is a Latin compound of, “ex” and “cruciare.” “Ex” is used to denote the idea of; out of, from, or of. “Cruciare” is to crucify. The specific type of suffering caused by Roman crucifixion had it’s own word. It is the suffering of crucifixion that was so intense, they had to come up with a word to describe it. Most of the online dictionaries I checked leave this information out of the definition, as well as the etymology. Webster’s was the only one with an etymology. Two dictionaries were more honest about the word, and it’s origins.
Webster’s defines excruciate,
1: to inflict intense pain on: TORTURE
2: to subject to intense mental distress
While Dictionary.com defines it,
verb as in nail to a cross
Think about the intense suffering Jesus experienced under the Roman torture. It was so intense, that the Romans had a word for it. Now, consider it in comparison to God pouring out His just wrath on the spotless, and true, Passover Lamb. Jesus, our Lord, and our God, suffered the wrath of God in our place. He took on Himself the guilt of all sinners He is saving. By faith, we can have His righteousness imputed to us. This miracle places us before Him on the day of judgment clothed in His righteousness.
I think this is why many dictionaries are leaving this information out these days. Some of them don’t even have the verb, “excruciate” in them. They have the word, “excruciating.” Remember, the world might try to digitally erase certain ideas, words, people, & historical facts, from common knowledge. Part of my job as an old curmudgeon is to remind younger people that they are being lied to by omission. I’d encourage you all to buy old dictionaries, theology books, Bibles, & other works, when you find them at yard sales, or thrift stores. If you read them, you might find, that you have been duped.
Until very recently, a majority of people knew about this word, and it’s etymology. I’m reminding us today. Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Repent of your sins, and trust Him. He is the good Shepherd of Psalm 23. He is the one who leaves the ninety nine to retrieve the lost one. God does not try to save, and fail. He is not thwarted by fallen, and enslaved, human volition. Recollect your past. Examine yourself honestly. You are not innocent of breaking God’s laws. You know that law breakers justly deserve punishment. You know this by experiencing the shadow of this eternal truth in our temporal world. How much more do we deserve God’s wrath as traitors to Him? God is faithful, and just, to forgive us of our sins if we would repent, turn from them, and solely trust the work of Jesus Christ to justify us to God. I strongly encourage, and exhort, you today. Consider the good news. Repent, and trust Jesus!
Snyder's Soapbox 