δύσκολος (duskolos)
duskolos
difficult
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective duskolos describes something or someone that is difficult, hard, or troublesome to deal with. Its literal roots point to food: derived from a word for "bad" and one for "food," it originally described people who were fastidious or hard to please regarding their meals. This concrete image of picky eating expands into a broader sense of being generally disagreeable or difficult to satisfy.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, in Mark 10:24. The disciples are astonished by Jesus’ teaching on wealth because they perceive his words as too hard to follow. Here, duskolos captures the weight of a command that feels burdensome and challenging to accept, reflecting the human struggle with divine expectations.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word duskolos appears only once in the New Testament, yet it carries a heavy weight. It originally described someone who was difficult to please, perhaps even picky about their food. In Mark 10:24, Jesus uses this term to describe how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter God’s Kingdom. The disciples were amazed and troubled by this teaching because they saw wealth as a sign of blessing, not a barrier.
For us, this word reminds us that following Jesus can feel demanding. It challenges our deepest attachments and comforts. When we find certain commands or truths difficult to accept, we are not alone. Even the closest followers of Jesus felt the weight of His words. This difficulty is not a sign of failure but an invitation to rely more deeply on God’s grace.
God does not ask us to carry burdens beyond our strength. He meets us in our struggle with duskolos and offers peace. We can trust that He guides us through what feels hard, leading us toward true freedom and life in His Kingdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- difficult1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δύσκολόν1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 10:24
The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus answered again, “Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter into God’s Kingdom!
This verse captures the disciples' astonishment at Jesus' teaching, using duskolos to highlight how challenging it is to detach from wealth and fully trust God.