Greek word · G1421
δυσερμήνευτος
dysermēneutos
hard to interpret
Hard to explain, hard to interpret, hard to put into words. It is built from δυσ- ('hard, bad') and ἑρμηνεύω ('to interpret, explain, translate').
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
From the study of Hebrews 5:11
- Range of meaning
Hard to explain, hard to interpret, hard to put into words. It is built from δυσ- ('hard, bad') and ἑρμηνεύω ('to interpret, explain, translate').
- Against the English
KJV's 'hard to be uttered' can sound to a modern ear like 'hard to pronounce' or 'too sacred to say'. The sense is 'hard to explain so that it is understood'. Modern versions ('hard to explain', 'hard to interpret') are closer.
- How it drifted
'Uttered' in 1611 meant 'expressed, put forth in speech'. Today it suggests the mere physical act of speaking.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Rare. Standard lexicons (BDAG) cite it from the historian Diodorus Siculus, the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria (On Dreams 1.188), and Artemidorus, the second-century writer on dreams. In each it is used of things hard to put into words. It is not in the Septuagint and appears only here in the New Testament.
Where it appears
Hebrews · 1
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Hebrews 5:11 δυσερμήνευτος difficult in interpretation
We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain, because you are dull of hearing.
Here: A rare word, found only here in the New Testament: 'hard to put into words so that it gets across'. The next clause shows that the difficulty lies mainly with the listeners, not only with the subject.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.