λεῖος (leios)
leios
smooth
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective leios describes something that is physically smooth or level. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 3:5, where John the Baptist quotes Isaiah to describe a path prepared for the Lord. Here, the word contrasts with rough or uneven terrain, suggesting a road cleared of obstacles and made easy to travel.
Its usage in the Septuagint often mirrors Hebrew terms for smooth skin or clear pathways, such as in Genesis 27:11 where Esau’s brotherly resemblance is noted by his smoothness, or Isaiah 40:4 which speaks of valleys being filled. This concrete imagery grounds the spiritual metaphor: just as a smooth road allows for safe passage, the coming of God requires a life stripped of moral roughness and pride.
Translators typically render leios as "smooth" to preserve this tangible sense of preparation. The word does not imply abstract ease but rather the physical reality of a path made ready for a king’s journey. It serves as a vivid picture of the internal work required to receive divine presence, turning difficult ground into a straight and level way.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word leios describes a surface that is level and free of bumps or stones. In Luke 3:5, John the Baptist uses this image to show how God prepares a path for Himself. It is not about making life easy in a casual sense, but about removing the obstacles that block our way to Jesus.
When we look at our own hearts, we might see rough edges like pride, fear, or unresolved anger. These things make the road hard to walk. The promise here is that God works to smooth out these areas, creating a clear path for His presence. This preparation allows us to move forward with confidence and peace.
This image reminds us that God cares about the details of our daily walk. He does not leave us stumbling over hidden rocks. Instead, He clears the way so we can follow Him safely. We can trust that He is working in us to make our path straight and level, leading us closer to His heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- smooth;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λείας·1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 3:5
Every valley will be filled. Every mountain and hill will be brought low. The crooked will become straight, and the rough ways smooth.
This verse uses leios to describe the final state of a prepared road, indicating that obstacles have been removed so the way is clear for the Lord.