χαλεπός (chalepos)
chalepos
harsh
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective chalepos describes something as difficult to handle, harsh, or savage. It carries a sense of weight and resistance, often applied to situations that are grievous or dangerous to endure. In the New Testament, this word appears only twice, yet it captures distinct shades of human experience.
In Matthew 8:28, it characterizes two men as "hard to deal with," conveying a fierce and savage nature that makes approach perilous. Conversely, in 2 Timothy 3:1, Paul uses it to describe the serious times ahead, where people will be lovers of themselves rather than God, indicating a period that is harsh and difficult to bear.
The term likely stems from a root idea of reducing strength or power, emphasizing the burden or threat involved. Translators typically render it as "hard," "difficult," or "fierce," depending on whether the subject is a person’s temperament or the nature of a circumstance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When life feels overwhelming, it helps to recognize that some seasons are genuinely difficult. The Greek word chalepos captures this reality, describing situations that are harsh, savage, or hard to handle. It is not a sign of spiritual failure when circumstances feel heavy; rather, it is an honest acknowledgment of the weight we carry.
In Matthew 8:28, Jesus encounters men who are described as exceedingly fierce, making the path impassable for others. Yet He approaches them with calm authority, showing that no situation is beyond His care. Similarly, in 2 Timothy 3:1, Paul warns of grievous times ahead, preparing believers not with fear but with awareness.
This word reminds us that we do not face these challenges alone. Even when the way seems blocked or the times are tough, faith offers a steady anchor. You are held by grace, even in the hardest moments.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- violent1×
- difficult.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χαλεποί.1×
- χαλεποὶ1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 8:28
When he came to the other side, into the country of the Gergesenes, two people possessed by demons met him there, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that nobody could pass that way.
This verse uses the word to describe the savage nature of demon-possessed men, highlighting a situation so dangerous that no one could pass by.
-
II Timothy 3:1
But know this: that in the last days, grievous times will come.
Paul employs this term here to characterize the last days as grievous times, emphasizing the severity and difficulty of the coming era.