414. anektoteros
Lexical Summary
anektoteros: More tolerable

Original Word: ἀνεκτότερος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: anektoteros
Pronunciation: an-ek-TOT-er-os
Phonetic Spelling: (an-ek-tot'-er-os)
KJV: more tolerable
NASB: more tolerable
Word Origin: [comparative of a derivative of G430 (ἀνέχομαι - put)]

1. more endurable

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
more tolerable.

Comparative of a derivative of anechomai; more endurable -- more tolerable.

see GREEK anechomai

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
cptv. of anektos (bearable, tolerable); from anechó
Definition
more tolerable
NASB Translation
more tolerable (5).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 414: ἀνεκτός

ἀνεκτός, ἀνεκτον, and in later Greek also ἀνεκτός, ἀνεκτη, ἀνεκτον (cf. Winers Grammar, 68 (67); Buttmann, 25 (22)) (ἀνέχομαι to bear, endure); from Homer down; bearable, tolerable: ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται the lot will be more tolerable, Matthew 10:15; Matthew 11:22, 24; Mark 6:11 R L brackets; Luke 10:12, 14. (In Greek writings from Homer down.)

Topical Lexicon
Concept and Nuance

Strong’s Greek 414, ἀνεκτότερον, expresses relative tolerability—“more bearable” or “more tolerable.” Scripture employs the word exclusively in future-judgment contexts, contrasting the fate of openly wicked cities with that of people who have been granted fuller revelation yet remain unrepentant. The term underscores graduated accountability before God; greater light carries greater responsibility.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. Matthew 10:15
2. Matthew 11:22
3. Matthew 11:24
4. Mark 6:11
5. Luke 10:12
6. Luke 10:14

All six references arise in commissioning or denunciatory speeches of Jesus, highlighting two intertwined themes: (1) the seriousness of rejecting the gospel, and (2) the certainty and equity of divine judgment.

Narrative Setting

Matthew 10 and Mark 6 record the Twelve’s first missionary tour. Jesus warns that cities refusing the apostles’ message will fare worse than Sodom and Gomorrah. Luke 10 extends the same principle to the Seventy-two. In Matthew 11 Jesus applies the word to Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum after His Galilean miracle ministry. Thus, ἀνεκτότερον becomes a prophetic verdict on those who witness God’s works firsthand yet persist in unbelief.

Biblical-Theological Significance

Graduated judgment does not diminish the universality of sin; it magnifies divine justice. “The Judge of all the earth” (Genesis 18:25) weighs both revelation received and response rendered. Sodom had only dim moral witness; Chorazin saw “mighty works.” Consequently, “it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you” (Matthew 11:22). The word therefore links Christ’s earthly ministry with eschatological reckoning, affirming that history’s decisive moment lies yet ahead.

Old Testament Echoes

While ἀνεκτότερον itself is New Testament Greek, its logic recalls prophetic oracles against the nations (e.g., Amos 1–2). The prophets often compared Israel’s guilt with that of neighboring peoples, declaring heavier judgment upon the covenant community because of greater privilege. Jesus develops the same pattern: covenant cities that reject their Messiah will endure a stricter sentence than infamous pagan centers.

Implications for Evangelism and Missions

1. Urgency: The word injects solemn gravity into gospel proclamation. Rejection is not a neutral act; it aggravates accountability.
2. Responsibility of Messengers: Shaking dust from one’s feet (Matthew 10:14; Mark 6:11; Luke 10:11) signals the completion of witness and leaves hearers without excuse.
3. Encouragement amid Rejection: Missionaries may face refusal, yet divine justice will ultimately vindicate their labor.

Pastoral Application

Preachers can appeal to ἀνεκτότερον when urging congregations not to presume upon spiritual privileges. Modern listeners, enjoying full biblical canon and abundant resources, are cautioned against complacency. Faithful stewardship of revelation is a recurring pastoral exhortation (cf. Hebrews 2:1–3).

Eschatological Perspective

The comparative “more tolerable” presumes a final assize where degrees of punishment correspond to degrees of culpability. This harmonizes with passages such as Luke 12:47–48, where servants receive “many” or “few” stripes according to knowledge. Judgment is thus both absolute and proportionate, displaying God’s perfect righteousness.

Summary

ἀνεκτότερον surfaces six times to declare that rejecting Christ after clear exposure to His message incurs a judgment worse than that reserved for history’s most notorious cities. The term enriches biblical theology of accountability, strengthens the call to repentance, and assures believers that divine justice will address every response to the gospel with exact fairness.

Forms and Transliterations
ανεκτοτερον ανεκτότερον ἀνεκτοτερον ἀνεκτότερον ανελεημόνως anektoteron anektóteron
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 10:15 Adj-NNS-C
GRK: λέγω ὑμῖν ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται γῇ
NAS: I say to you, it will be more tolerable for [the] land
KJV: It shall be more tolerable for the land
INT: I say to you More tolerable it will be for [the] land

Matthew 11:22 Adj-NNS-C
GRK: καὶ Σιδῶνι ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται ἐν
NAS: I say to you, it will be more tolerable for Tyre
KJV: It shall be more tolerable for Tyre
INT: and Sidon more tolerable will it be in

Matthew 11:24 Adj-NNS-C
GRK: γῇ Σοδόμων ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται ἐν
NAS: I say to you that it will be more tolerable for the land
KJV: it shall be more tolerable for the land
INT: for [the] land of Sodom more tolerable will it be in

Mark 6:11 Adj-NNS
GRK: λέγω ὑμῖν ἀνεκτοτερον ἔσται Σοδόμοις
KJV: It shall be more tolerable for Sodom
INT: I say to you more tolerable it will be for Sodom

Luke 10:12 Adj-NNS-C
GRK: ἡμέρᾳ ἐκείνῃ ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται ἢ
NAS: I say to you, it will be more tolerable in that day
KJV: it shall be more tolerable in
INT: day that more tolerable it will be than

Luke 10:14 Adj-NNS-C
GRK: καὶ Σιδῶνι ἀνεκτότερον ἔσται ἐν
NAS: But it will be more tolerable for Tyre
KJV: it shall be more tolerable for Tyre
INT: and Sidon more tolerable will it be in

Strong's Greek 414
6 Occurrences


ἀνεκτότερον — 6 Occ.

413
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