1422. duskolos

Lexicon

duskolos: Difficult, hard, troublesome

Original Word: δυσκόλος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: duskolos
Pronunciation: doos'-ko-los
Phonetic Spelling: (doo'-kol-os)
Definition: Difficult, hard, troublesome
Meaning: difficult, hard; of persons: hard to please.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

difficult

From dus- and kolon (food); properly, fastidious about eating (peevish), i.e. (genitive case) impracticable -- hard.

see GREEK dus-

HELPS Word-studies

1422 dýskolos (an adjective, derived from 1418 /dys-, "difficult" and kolon, "food") – properly, difficult (problematic) to digest; (figuratively) disagreeable, like when food "doesn't go down well." It is used only in Mk 10:24.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1422: δύσκολος

δύσκολος, δύσκολόν (κόλον, food);

1. properly, hard to find agreeable food for, fastidious about food.

2. difficult to please, always finding fault; (Euripides, Aristophanes, Xenophon, Plato, others).

3. universally, difficult (Xenophon, oec. 15, 10 ἡ γεωργία δύσκολος ἐστι μαθεῖν): πῶς δύσκολόν ἐστι, followed by an accusative with an infinitive, Mark 10:24.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: From δυσ- (dys, meaning "hard" or "difficult") and κολεός (koleos, meaning "sheath" or "covering"). The term conveys a sense of difficulty or harshness.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for δυσκόλος, the concept of difficulty or hardness in a moral or spiritual sense can be related to Hebrew terms such as קָשֶׁה (qasheh, Strong's 7186), meaning "hard" or "stiff," often used to describe stubbornness or obstinacy. Another related term is קָשָׁה (qashah, Strong's 7185), which also conveys the idea of being hard or difficult, particularly in the context of resistance or rebellion. These Hebrew terms similarly reflect the challenges of a hardened heart or a difficult disposition in relation to God's will.

Usage: The word δυσκόλος appears in the New Testament in contexts that describe the challenging nature of certain individuals or situations. It is used to convey the idea of difficulty in pleasing or dealing with someone.

Context: The Greek term δυσκόλος is used in the New Testament to describe individuals or situations that are challenging or difficult to manage. In the Berean Standard Bible, δυσκόλος is found in Mark 10:24, where Jesus addresses the difficulty for those who are wealthy to enter the kingdom of God: "The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God!'" Here, the term underscores the spiritual challenge and the inner disposition required to embrace the kingdom of God, highlighting the potential obstacles posed by wealth and self-reliance.

The use of δυσκόλος in this context serves as a caution against the complacency and self-sufficiency that can accompany material wealth. It emphasizes the need for humility and dependence on God, rather than on worldly possessions or status. The term thus carries a moral and spiritual dimension, urging believers to examine their priorities and attitudes in light of the gospel's demands.

Forms and Transliterations

δύσκολα δυσκολον δύσκολόν duskolon dyskolon dýskolón

Englishman's Concordance

Mark 10:24 Adj-NNS
GRK: Τέκνα πῶς δύσκολόν ἐστιν εἰς
NAS: how hard it is to enter
KJV: how hard is it
INT: Children how difficult it is into

Strong's Greek 1422
1 Occurrence

δύσκολόν — 1 Occ.