Bible Word Study
τραχύς
trachys · rough
τραχύς
rough
Definition
The adjective τραχύς (trachys) primarily means 'rough' or 'rugged,' describing a physical texture or terrain that is uneven, harsh, or difficult to traverse. In Luke 3:5, it is used metaphorically within a quotation from Isaiah 40:4 to describe 'rough places' (τραχεῖς) being made smooth, symbolizing the removal of spiritual obstacles in preparation for the Lord's coming. In its other New Testament occurrence, Acts 27:29, it describes the 'rocky ground' (τραχεῖς τόπος) the sailors feared their ship would strike, emphasizing a literal, dangerous physical landscape.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only twice in the New Testament, in two distinct contexts. In Luke 3:5, it appears in a prophetic, theological context quoting the Septuagint, applying the term to spiritual and metaphorical 'rough places.' In Acts 27:29, it is used in a vivid narrative of a shipwreck, describing a literal, perilous coastline. Both uses highlight impediments—one spiritual, one physical—that must be overcome.
Etymology
Derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *terh₁- ('to rub, turn, drill'), which relates to friction and abrasion. It is cognate with the Greek verb τρίβω (tribō, G5147), meaning 'to rub' or 'wear down.' The etymology directly informs its meaning of a surface that is grating, uneven, or worn.
Semantic Range
In Luke 3:5, quoting Isaiah, τραχύς carries significant theological weight. The 'making smooth of rough places' is a powerful image of God's transformative work in preparing a path for salvation and his presence. It symbolizes the removal of human pride, sin, and obstacles that hinder repentance and the reception of the Messiah, emphasizing God's power to level spiritual barriers. In a Greco-Roman context, 'rough' terrain was a serious practical hazard for travel and navigation, as vividly illustrated in Acts 27. The metaphorical use in Isaiah and Luke would resonate with an audience familiar with the dangers and difficulties of travel, making the promise of a smoothed path a potent image of divine intervention and ease. σκληρός (sklēros, G4642) — hard, harsh, often of people's hearts or speech; τρηχύς (trēchys) — a variant spelling with identical meaning.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]