σκληρός (sklēros)
sklēros
hard
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective skleros describes something that is hard, rough, or stiff to the touch. In the New Testament, it often carries a metaphorical weight, describing people who are stern or severe in their attitudes. For instance, the parable in Matthew 25:24 uses it to characterize a master who is perceived as harsh and demanding.
When applied to non-human subjects, the word conveys violence or roughness. It describes a harsh wind in James 3:4 or an offensive teaching in John 6:60 that causes disciples to stumble. Jude also employs it to describe sharp, biting words spoken by false teachers.
This term is etymologically linked to drying out, suggesting a loss of flexibility. Its opposite is malakos, meaning soft or tender. Translators typically render skleros as "hard" or "harsh," capturing the sense of something unyielding and difficult to endure.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word skleros describes something rigid, stiff, or difficult to handle. In everyday life, we encounter hardness in weather, materials, and even in the words people speak. When applied to human attitudes, it suggests a lack of flexibility or gentleness. This term helps us understand why certain teachings or interactions can feel overwhelming or unyielding.
In the New Testament, this word often highlights the tension between divine truth and human resistance. For example, some disciples found Jesus’ teaching so demanding that they struggled to accept it. Others perceived a master as severe, fearing his expectations. These moments remind us that faith is not always easy; it often requires us to confront realities that challenge our comfort.
Yet, this hardness is not meant to discourage us but to reveal the depth of God’s standards and the need for grace. Whether facing harsh winds or difficult words, we are invited to seek understanding rather than retreat. The Bible acknowledges these struggles honestly, offering hope that even in rigid circumstances, God’s purpose remains steady and His love enduring.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- hard2×
- strong1×
- harsh [things]1×
- [It is] hard1×
- Difficult1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- σκληρῶν2×
- σκληρόν2×
- σκληρός1×
- σκληρὸς1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 25:24
“He also who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you that you are a hard man, reaping where you didn’t sow, and gathering where you didn’t scatter.
This verse uses the word to describe a master perceived as harsh, revealing how fear can distort our view of authority.
-
John 6:60
Therefore many of his disciples, when they heard this, said, “This is a hard saying! Who can listen to it?”
Here it characterizes Jesus’ teaching as difficult, showing that some spiritual truths require deep commitment to accept.
-
Acts 26:14
When we had all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’
Paul recalls this phrase to illustrate the futility of resisting God’s call, using the image of kicking against goads.