G2123 G2123
Easier (comparative of eukopos); used in comparisons of difficulty, especially in Jesus's rhetorical challenges.
This is the comparative form of eukopos ('easy'), appearing almost exclusively in Jesus's pointed rhetorical questions. When he asks 'Which is easier—to say your sins are forgiven, or to say rise and walk?' (Matt 9:5; Mark 2:9; Luke 5:23), the word frames a deliberate paradox about divine authority. It also appears in the memorable camel-through-the-needle's-eye saying (Matt 19:24; Mark 10:25). Spanish más fácil, French plus facile, and German leichter all render the straightforward comparative sense.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Easier, more feasible (comparative degree). Every NT occurrence sits inside a comparison introduced by Jesus to challenge assumptions. In the healing-and-forgiveness debates (Matt 9:5; Mark 2:9; Luke 5:23), eukopōteron sets up the logic that visible healing proves invisible forgiveness. In the camel-and-needle sayings (Matt 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25), it underscores humanly impossible odds. French plus facile and German leichter confirm the uniform comparative meaning across all seven occurrences. 7×
AR["أَسهَلُ", "أَسْهَلُ", "أَيْسَرُ"]·ben["সহজ", "সহজতর", "সহজতর,"]·DE["leichter", "εὐκοπώτερον", "εὐκοπώτερόν"]·EN["Easier", "easier"]·FR["plus-facile"]·heb["נָקֵל", "נָקֵל׳יוֹתֵר", "קַל", "קַל-יוֹתֵר", "קַל־יוֹתֵר"]·HI["अअसअन", "आसान", "आसान-है", "सरल", "सहज"]·ID["Lebih-mudah", "lebih-mudah", "lebih-mudah,"]·IT["più-facile"]·jav["gampang,", "langkung-gampil", "langkung-gampil,"]·KO["더-쉬운", "더-쉬운-것이다", "더-쉬운가", "더-쉽다"]·PT["mais-fácil", "mais-fácil,"]·RU["легче", "легче,"]·ES["más-fácil"]·SW["Ni-rahisi-zaidi", "ni", "rahisi-zaidi", "rahisi-zaidi,"]·TR["daha-kolay", "daha-kolaydır", "daha-kolaydır,"]·urd["آسان", "آسان-تر"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
Included with: εὔκοπ-ος, ον, easy, Refs 2nd c.BC+: mostly in comparative, - ωτέρα σκευασία Refs 1st c.AD+; -ώτερόν [ἐστι] with infinitive, NT adverb -πως Refs 5th c.BC+: comparative -ώτερον Refs