αὐστηρός (austēros)
austēros
severe
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective austēros describes something harsh, rigid, or severe in nature. Its root sense relates to dryness, evoking a rough or unyielding quality like arid land. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, both within the Parable of the Minas in Luke 19.
Jesus uses it to depict a master whom his servants view as strict and exacting. The servant claims the man is austēros, taking from those who did not deposit and reaping where he did not sow (Luke 19:21). The term captures a perception of uncompromising severity rather than mere kindness.
While near-synonyms like sklēros also mean hard, austēros carries a specific nuance of stringency or harshness to the taste. Translators typically render it as "harsh" or "strict," preserving the image of a leader whose demands are perceived as severe and unforgiving by his subjects.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word austēros describes a harsh or severe nature, often evoking the image of dry, unyielding land. In the Parable of the Minas, it captures how fear can distort our view of authority. The servant saw his master as exacting, taking what was not given and reaping where he did not sow. This perception led to inaction rather than faithful stewardship.
When we approach God with fear rooted in dread, we may see Him as harsh or demanding. Yet Scripture invites us to understand His character through the lens of grace. While accountability is real, our relationship with Him is built on trust and love, not terror. This word reminds us to examine why we hesitate to serve.
Let this passage encourage you to move beyond fear-based service. God desires willing hearts that respond to His goodness. As you grow in faith, let your actions flow from gratitude rather than anxiety about punishment.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- harsh2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- αὐστηρός1×
- αὐστηρὸς1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 19:21
for I feared you, because you are an exacting man. You take up that which you didn’t lay down, and reap that which you didn’t sow.’
This verse shows the servant's distorted view of the master as exacting, which justifies his failure to invest the mina.
-
Luke 19:22
“He said to him, ‘Out of your own mouth I will judge you, you wicked servant! You knew that I am an exacting man, taking up that which I didn’t lay down and reaping that which I didn’t sow.
Here the master uses the servant's own description against him, highlighting that knowledge of God's nature should lead to obedience, not fear.