Lexical Summary eudia: Fair weather, calmness Original Word: εὐδία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fair weather. Feminine from eu and the alternate of Zeus (as the god of the weather); a clear sky, i.e. Fine weather -- fair weather. see GREEK eu see GREEK Zeus NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom eudios (calm) Definition fair weather NASB Translation fair weather (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2105: εὐδίαεὐδία, ἐυδιας, ἡ (from εὔδιος, ἐυδιον, and this from εὖ and Ζεύς, genitive Διός, Zeus, the ruler of the air and sky), a serene sky, fair weather: Matthew 16:2 (T brackets WH reject the passage). (Sir. 3:15; Pindar, Aeschylus, Hippocrates, Xenophon, and following.) Topical Lexicon Fair WeatherAppearing only once in the Greek New Testament (Matthew 16:2), εὐδία denotes a calm, clear atmosphere that promises pleasant conditions for travelers, sailors, and farmers alike. Jesus draws upon this familiar phenomenon to confront His generation’s spiritual dullness, contrasting their confident reading of the evening sky with their failure to recognize the unmistakable messianic “signs of the times.” Biblical Context Matthew 16:2–3 records the interaction: “When evening comes, you say, ‘Fair weather, for the sky is red,’ and in the morning, ‘Today it will be stormy, for the sky is red and overcast.’ You know how to interpret the appearance of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times.” The phrase “fair weather” translates εὐδία. It is not merely a meteorological remark but an incisive rebuke aimed at the Pharisees and Sadducees who demanded additional proof of Jesus’ authority while disregarding His fulfilled prophecies, miracles, and teachings. Historical and Cultural Setting Mediterranean peoples depended upon the sky’s color at dawn and dusk to forecast the next day’s conditions. A red evening sky usually signaled a stable high-pressure system approaching from the west, bringing settled weather—hence εὐδία. Jesus leverages this common proverb to expose hypocrisy: the same leaders who confidently interpreted atmospheric signals ignored clearer spiritual evidence standing before them. Theological Significance 1. Discernment. The contrast between reading the sky and reading divine revelation underscores the Scriptural mandate to cultivate spiritual perception (Hebrews 5:14; Colossians 1:9-10). Fair weather functions as a parable for clarity granted by God to those who seek truth. 2. Accountability. By appealing to εὐδία, Jesus holds His hearers responsible; natural common-sense discernment leaves them without excuse for their spiritual blindness (John 15:24). 3. Sovereignty over Creation. Scripture consistently ascribes weather patterns to God’s governance (Job 37:11-13; Psalm 135:6-7). The ability to anticipate εὐδία is a gift rooted in the Creator’s orderly design, mirroring the reliability of His promises. Pastoral and Practical Applications • Spiritual Weather-Watching. Believers are called to observe cultural and moral climates with the same attentiveness sailors give the horizon, responding with readiness and faithfulness (1 Chronicles 12:32; Romans 13:11-12). Reception in Church History Early commentators such as John Chrysostom viewed the passage as a trenchant critique of willful blindness, while Reformers like John Calvin highlighted how external religion often masks an incapacity to perceive spiritual truth. In each era, εὐδία reminded the Church that ordinary experience corroborates Scripture and heightens responsibility to obey it. Related Biblical Motifs • Calming of Storms: Just as εὐδία describes fair weather, Christ manifests sovereignty by producing calm after chaos (Mark 4:39; Psalm 107:29). Conclusion The solitary appearance of εὐδία in Scripture distills a profound lesson: if human beings readily discern physical fair weather, they are doubly obliged to perceive the spiritual realities revealed in Christ. Fair weather, therefore, is not only a gracious gift of God’s orderly creation but also a summons to spiritual awareness, repentance, and responsive obedience. Forms and Transliterations Ευδια ευδία Εὐδία Eudia EudíaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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