Lexical Summary leios: Smooth Original Word: λεῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance smooth. Apparently a primary word; smooth, i.e. "level" -- smooth. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition smooth NASB Translation smooth (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3006: λεῖοςλεῖος, λεῖα, λειον (cf. Latinlevis), smooth, level: opposed to τραχύς, of ways, Luke 3:5. (Isaiah 40:4 Alex.; Proverbs 2:20; 1 Samuel 17:40; in Greek writings from Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Semantic ConnotationsThe adjective λεῖος depicts a surface that is even, plane, and unfurrowed. Within the biblical narrative the notion of “smoothness” is more than a description of topography; it serves as a metaphor for spiritual readiness and unobstructed fellowship with God. Prophetic Background Isaiah 40:3–5 foretells the coming of a herald who would prepare the way for the Lord. The vision unfolds with dramatic civil-engineering language: valleys filled, mountains brought low, crooked paths straightened, and “rough ways smooth.” The prophet is not prescribing literal roadwork alone but heralding a redemptive overhaul: everything that impedes the revelation of God’s glory must be removed. “And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together” (Isaiah 40:5). The “smooth way” therefore prefigures the unhindered advance of the Messiah’s kingdom. New Testament Fulfillment Luke 3:5 cites the Isaiah oracle in connection with John the Baptist. Employing λεῖας, Luke portrays John’s call to repentance as spiritual road-grading. By summoning Israel to confess sin and bear fruit consistent with repentance (Luke 3:8), John levels pride (mountains) and fills despairing hearts (valleys), straightening moral crookedness and smoothing relational roughness. The lone New Testament occurrence of λεῖας thus anchors the word to the forerunner’s ministry and, by extension, to the dawn of the Gospel era. Theological Significance 1. Repentance as Roadwork The command to “make His paths straight” demands inner renovation. Hearts encumbered by self-righteous elevation or by the potholes of guilt must be re-graded through repentance and faith. The “smooth” road is a life recalibrated to divine righteousness. 2. Accessibility of Salvation A smoothed highway implies unimpeded access. Likewise, the Gospel offers a clear path to God through Christ. Obstacles of ritual, ethnicity, or social standing are removed; “all flesh” is invited to behold His glory (Isaiah 40:5). 3. Corporate Restoration The prophecy envisions a communal landscape. National renewal, social justice, and covenant fidelity flourish where the Lord’s way is leveled. Luke’s citation signals that such restoration converges on Jesus Christ, in whom Israel’s hope and the nations’ salvation are secured. Historical Context Ancient Near Eastern monarchs often dispatched crews to straighten and smooth roads before a royal procession. Listeners in first-century Judea would recognize John’s metaphor: the King is arriving; the terrain must be readied. By applying this imagery to the Messiah, Luke proclaims Jesus as the long-awaited sovereign whose advent necessitates moral and spiritual preparation. Broader Biblical Motifs • Proverbs 3:6: “In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.” The promise anticipates the total alignment of life with God’s purposes. Although these passages use Hebrew terms rather than λεῖος, they sustain the canonical theme that righteousness and divine nearness produce a level, unobstructed course. Pastoral and Missional Implications 1. Preaching that prepares. Faithful proclamation still plows through spiritual roughness, confronting sin while pointing to Christ. Resonance in Early Church Tradition Patristic writers, from Origen to Chrysostom, interpreted Luke 3:5 allegorically: valleys as the humble exalted by grace, mountains as the proud humbled, rough places as hearts disciplined by the Word. The single adjective λεῖος became a vibrant image for sanctification and ecclesial reform. Summary Strong’s Greek 3006 (λεῖος) crystallizes the biblical vision of an unhindered highway for God’s redeeming presence. Rooted in Isaiah’s prophecy and fulfilled in John the Baptist’s clarion call, the “smooth” way embodies repentance, accessibility to grace, and the leveling of all that obstructs Christ’s reign. Forms and Transliterations λεία λειας λείας λείος λείους leias leíasLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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