δυσκόλως

with difficulty, hardly

Definition

δυσκόλως is an adverb meaning 'with difficulty' or 'hardly.' It describes actions or outcomes that are not easily achieved, often implying significant struggle or improbability. In the New Testament, it is used exclusively in the Synoptic Gospels to describe the extreme difficulty for a wealthy person to enter the Kingdom of God (Matthew 19:23, Mark 10:23, Luke 18:24). The word intensifies the statement, moving from a general difficulty to a near impossibility, emphasizing the profound spiritual challenge posed by attachment to riches.

Biblical Usage

This word appears three times, all in parallel accounts of Jesus's encounter with the rich young ruler. It is used in the solemn declaration, 'How difficult it is for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God!' (Mark 10:23). The usage pattern is identical across Matthew, Mark, and Luke, highlighting a core, challenging teaching of Jesus about discipleship and wealth. It functions as a strong adverbial qualifier to the verb 'enter,' underscoring the formidable obstacle wealth can become.

Etymology

Derived from the adjective δύσκολος (duskolos), meaning 'hard to please,' 'difficult,' or 'grumbling.' The adjective itself comes from the prefix δυσ- (dys-, meaning 'bad,' 'hard,' or 'ill') and κόλον (kolon), likely related to 'food' or 'nourishment,' originally suggesting someone who is hard to feed or please. The adverbial form δυσκόλως thus carries the sense of something being done in a difficult, troublesome, or grudging manner.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it anchors Jesus's radical teaching on wealth and salvation. It confronts the cultural assumption that material blessing signifies divine favor. Understanding its force—'with great difficulty' or 'hardly'—deepens the impact of Jesus's warning about the spiritual danger of riches and the absolute necessity of God's grace for salvation (Mark 10:27). It challenges readers to examine what they truly trust in and highlights the kingdom's values as contrary to worldly security.

In the ancient Greco-Roman and Jewish contexts, wealth was often seen as a sign of God's blessing and favor (e.g., Deuteronomy 28:1-14). Jesus's statement that the wealthy enter the kingdom δυσκόλως would have been shocking and countercultural. It inverted common expectations, suggesting that wealth, rather than being an advantage, could be a major spiritual hindrance because it fosters self-reliance and attachment to the present world.

μόγις (mogis, G3425) — also means 'with difficulty' or 'scarcely,' but is more general and less theologically charged; used in Acts 14:18 and 27:7-8.

Word Details

Scripture References