1423. duskolós

Lexicon

duskolós: Difficult, hard to please

Original Word: δυσκολός
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: duskolós
Pronunciation: doos-ko-LOS
Phonetic Spelling: (doos-kol'-oce)
Definition: Difficult, hard to please
Meaning: with difficulty, hardly.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

hardly.

Adverb from duskolos; impracticably -- hardly.

see GREEK duskolos

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 1423 dyskólōs (an adverb) – properly, hardly, referring to how hard it is to pass through; (figuratively) problematic, difficult ("hardly passing through"), like trying to push something too large through a narrow passageway. See 1422 (dyskolos).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
adverb from duskolos
Definition
with difficulty
NASB Translation
hard (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1423: δυσκόλως

δυσκόλως, adverb (δύσκολος) (from Plato down), with difficulty: Matthew 19:23; Mark 10:23; Luke 18:24.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from δυσ- (dys-, meaning "hard" or "difficult") and κολεός (koleos, meaning "sheath" or "covering"). The term suggests a sense of being difficult to satisfy or please.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for δυσκολός, the concept of difficulty or hardness in a spiritual or moral sense can be related to Hebrew terms such as קָשֶׁה (qasheh, Strong's Hebrew 7186), meaning "hard" or "stiff," often used to describe a stubborn or obstinate heart. This reflects a similar idea of resistance or difficulty in aligning with God's will.

Usage: The term δυσκολός is used in the New Testament to describe a person who is difficult to please or satisfy, often in the context of wealth and the challenges it presents to entering the kingdom of God.

Context: The Greek word δυσκολός appears in the New Testament in the context of Jesus' teachings about wealth and the kingdom of God. In Mark 10:24, Jesus addresses His disciples, emphasizing the challenges that wealth can pose to spiritual receptivity and humility. The Berean Standard Bible translates this passage as: "The disciples were amazed at His words. But Jesus said to them again, 'Children, how difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God!'" Here, δυσκολός underscores the spiritual difficulty and the inner resistance that wealth can create, making it challenging for individuals to fully embrace the values of the kingdom of God.

The term reflects a broader biblical theme that wealth, while not inherently evil, can create obstacles to spiritual growth and dependence on God. The difficulty lies not in the possession of wealth itself but in the potential for wealth to foster self-reliance and a false sense of security, diverting one's focus from God.

In the cultural context of the New Testament, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's favor, yet Jesus' teachings frequently inverted this assumption, highlighting the spiritual perils associated with riches. The use of δυσκολός in this passage serves as a poignant reminder of the need for humility and the willingness to prioritize spiritual values over material possessions.

Forms and Transliterations

δυσκολως δυσκόλως δύσκωφον duskolos duskolōs dyskolos dyskolōs dyskólos dyskólōs

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 19:23 Adv
GRK: ὅτι πλούσιος δυσκόλως εἰσελεύσεται εἰς
NAS: I say to you, it is hard for a rich man
KJV: a rich man shall hardly enter
INT: that a rich man with difficulty will enter into

Mark 10:23 Adv
GRK: αὐτοῦ Πῶς δυσκόλως οἱ τὰ
NAS: How hard it will be for those
KJV: How hardly shall they that have
INT: of him How difficultly those

Luke 18:24 Adv
GRK: εἶπεν Πῶς δυσκόλως οἱ τὰ
NAS: How hard it is for those
KJV: How hardly shall they
INT: [and] said How difficulty those

Strong's Greek 1423
3 Occurrences

δυσκόλως — 3 Occ.