Lexical Summary oknéros: Slothful, lazy, idle Original Word: ὀκνηρός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lazy, slothful. From okneo; tardy, i.e. Indolent; (figuratively) irksome -- grievous, slothful. see GREEK okneo HELPS Word-studies 3636 oknērós(from 3635 /oknéō, "to delay") – properly, hesitate and hence be tardy (delayed); (figuratively) reluctant, slothful, indolent ("dragging one's feet"). 3636 /oknērós ("indolent") refers to a reluctant attitude, unwilling to act (participate) – i.e. slothful (lazy), unambitious, disinterested. [In classical Greek 3636 /oknērós ("indolent") refers to "shrinking backward, because unready. The idea of 'delay' underlies the secondary sense, 'burdensome, troublesome.' It is the vexation arising from weary waiting, and which appears in the middle English irken (to tire or to become tired), cognate with the Latin urgere (to press), and English irk (irksome, work)" (WS, 884).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom okneó Definition shrinking, timid, hence idle, lazy, troublesome NASB Translation lagging behind (1), lazy (1), trouble (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3636: ὀκνηρόςὀκνηρός, ὀκνηρά, ὀκνηρόν (ὀκνέω), sluggish, slothful, backward: Matthew 25:26; with a dative of respect (cf. Winers Grammar, § 31, 6 a.; Buttmann, § 133, 21), Romans 12:11; οὐκ ὀκνηρόν μοι ἐστι, followed by an infinitive, is not irksome to me, I am not reluctant, Philippians 3:1 (cf. Lightfoot at the passage). (Pindar, Sophocles, Thucydides, Demosthenes, Theocritus, etc.; the Sept. for עָצֵל.) Topical Lexicon Conceptual FocusThe adjective ὀκνηρός underlines a spirit of hesitation that drifts into negligence. It is the opposite of earnest responsiveness to God and neighbor. The term therefore becomes a concise mirror in Scripture reflecting both the peril of spiritual inertia and the blessing of energetic obedience. New Testament Occurrences 1. Matthew 25:26 – In the Parable of the Talents the master rebukes the third servant: “You wicked, lazy servant!”. Here ὀκνηρός exposes unbelief that excuses itself rather than invest entrusted resources for the Master’s glory. Old Testament Background Hebrew wisdom literature repeatedly pairs sloth with ruin (Proverbs 6:6-11; Proverbs 24:30-34; Ecclesiastes 10:18). The Septuagint often renders these Hebrew warnings with cognate words that share the semantic field of ὀκνηρός. Thus the New Testament usage stands on a well-established biblical ethic: diligence springs from the fear of the Lord, while reluctance signals folly. Theological Significance • Stewardship: Matthew 25 shows that spiritual lethargy violates the stewardship mandate established at creation and clarified in redemption. Historical Reception Early church fathers such as Chrysostom contrasted ὀκνηρός with spoudē (“eagerness”), urging believers to labor because the Judgment Seat looms. The Reformers echoed the same call, linking diligence to sola fide: true faith expresses itself in energetic service. Puritan writers, notably Richard Baxter, applied Romans 12:11 to pastoral self-examination, warning that indolence in the pulpit leads to languor in the pew. Implications for Christian Life and Ministry 1. Personal Devotion – Regular prayer and Scripture intake resist the drift into spiritual sluggishness. Eschatological Warning and Hope The lazy servant of Matthew 25 forfeited reward and entered outer darkness. This sobering end underscores that persistent ὀκνηρία can reveal an unregenerate heart. Conversely, diligence is crowned: “Well done, good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:21). Future commendation empowers present perseverance. Summary ὀκνηρός exposes a heart posture of reluctant disengagement toward God’s revealed will. Scripture counters it with fervent, steadfast, joyful labor in every sphere. The believer who heeds this three-fold New Testament witness will cultivate a life and ministry marked by watchful diligence, confident that “your labor in the Lord is not in vain” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Forms and Transliterations οκνηρά οκνηρε οκνηρέ ὀκνηρέ οκνηροι οκνηροί ὀκνηροί οκνηρον οκνηρόν ὀκνηρόν οκνηρός οκνηρούς oknere okneré oknēre oknēré okneroi okneroí oknēroi oknēroí okneron oknerón oknēron oknērónLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 25:26 Adj-VMSGRK: δοῦλε καὶ ὀκνηρέ ᾔδεις ὅτι NAS: to him, 'You wicked, lazy slave, KJV: and slothful servant, INT: servant and lazy you knew that Romans 12:11 Adj-NMP Philippians 3:1 Adj-NNS Strong's Greek 3636 |
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