γλυκύς (glukus)
glukus
sweet
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective glukus describes something that is sweet to the taste or pleasant in experience. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, with a notable concentration in the book of Revelation and the letter of James. Its primary function is to denote physical sweetness, serving as a direct contrast to bitterness (pikran) or saltiness (halyn). This simple sensory description grounds its metaphorical use in Scripture.
James employs the word to illustrate the inconsistency of nature, asking how a spring can produce both sweet and bitter water from the same opening (James 3:11-12). Here, the sweetness represents goodness or purity. In Revelation, John is commanded to eat a scroll that tastes sweet as honey in his mouth but turns bitter in his stomach (Revelation 10:9-10). This vivid imagery uses glukus to convey the initial delight of God’s message, even when its fulfillment brings judgment.
The word’s root affinity is uncertain, but its usage highlights a common biblical pattern: what is spiritually pleasing may not always be experientially easy. Translators consistently render it as "sweet," preserving the direct sensory link. The term reminds readers that divine truth can be delightful to receive, even if its consequences are challenging.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word glukus simply means sweet, capturing a sensory experience that is immediately pleasant to the taste. In Scripture, this sweetness often points to the initial delight we find in God’s truth. When John was told to eat the scroll, it tasted like honey in his mouth, reflecting how divine promises can feel deeply comforting and good when we first receive them.
Yet the biblical picture is not one-sided. The same word appears in James to show that a single source should not produce conflicting results, reminding us that true spiritual life remains consistent. Similarly, the scroll’s sweetness turned bitter in the stomach, illustrating that while God’s message brings joy, it also calls us to face difficult realities.
This tension invites you to rest in the goodness of what God has shared with you. Even when the path ahead feels challenging, the foundation remains sweet and true. You can trust that the source of this truth is faithful, offering comfort even as it calls for courage.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- sweet;1×
- sweet1×
- fresh1×
- [both] fresh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- γλυκὺ3×
- γλυκύ·1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 10:9
I went to the angel, telling him to give me the little book. He said to me, “Take it and eat it. It will make your stomach bitter, but in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.”
This verse highlights the initial delight of God's message by comparing it to honey in the mouth.
-
Revelation of John 10:10
I took the little book out of the angel’s hand, and ate it. It was as sweet as honey in my mouth. When I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter.
Here the sweetness contrasts with the subsequent bitterness, showing that receiving truth involves both joy and sobering reality.
-
James 3:11
Does a spring send out from the same opening fresh and bitter water?
James uses the concept of sweet water to argue against inconsistency in a believer's life and speech.