Lexical Summary anektoteros: More tolerable Original Word: ἀνεκτότερος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance more tolerable. Comparative of a derivative of anechomai; more endurable -- more tolerable. see GREEK anechomai NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origincptv. of anektos (bearable, tolerable); from anechó Definition more tolerable NASB Translation more tolerable (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 414: ἀνεκτόςἀνεκτός, 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 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. 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 anektóteronLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 10:15 Adj-NNS-CGRK: 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 Matthew 11:24 Adj-NNS-C Mark 6:11 Adj-NNS Luke 10:12 Adj-NNS-C Luke 10:14 Adj-NNS-C |
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