λῆρος (lēros)
lēros
nonsense
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun lēros refers to foolish or empty talk, essentially describing words that amount to nonsense. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Luke 24:11, where the risen Jesus explains why his disciples struggle to believe the reports of his resurrection. They had dismissed the women’s account as idle chatter, a dismissive label for stories that seemed too improbable to be true.
Lexical sources note that this word likely originated as slang or colloquial speech rather than formal philosophical terminology. Its use here highlights a human tendency to reject divine revelation when it conflicts with existing expectations. The disciples’ reaction serves as a stark example of how easily genuine spiritual truth can be categorized as mere folly by those who are not yet open to new understanding.
Translators typically render this word as "nonsense" or "idle talk," capturing its derogatory tone. By using such a sharp term, the Gospel writer emphasizes the depth of the disciples’ initial unbelief. It was not just confusion; it was active dismissal. This single occurrence reminds readers that faith often requires overcoming the instinct to classify unexpected divine actions as absurd before they are fully understood.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we hear something that contradicts our expectations, it is easy to dismiss it as nonsense. The disciples in Luke 24 faced this exact moment. They heard reports of an empty tomb and a risen Lord, but their minds were locked in the reality of death. Their reaction was not just confusion; it was active dismissal. We often do the same when God’s plans seem too strange or improbable for our current understanding.
This word reminds us that faith sometimes requires us to pause before labeling divine actions as absurd. The women’s testimony was true, even if it sounded impossible. By recognizing our own tendency to reject what we cannot immediately explain, we open ourselves to the surprise of God’s work. It is an invitation to listen more closely and look deeper, trusting that truth often arrives in ways we did not predict.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- folly1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- λῆρος1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 24:11
These words seemed to them to be nonsense, and they didn’t believe them.
This verse captures the disciples' initial rejection of the resurrection report, showing how strong disbelief can lead even believers to label divine truth as foolishness.