Greek word · G2116

εὐθύνω

euthynō

to straighten

To make straight, to level. It also means to steer or guide a ship, and in classical Greek to examine or correct. In the New Testament it appears only here and at James 3:4, where it means the helmsman.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

εὐθύνω

(εὐθύς), [in LXX: Numbers 22:23, Joshua 24:23 (נָטָה hi.), Judges 14:7, 1 Samuel 18:20 (יָשַׁר) Proverbs 20:24, Sirach 2:2, 6, al. ;]

1. to direct: James 3:4.

2. to make straight: John 1:23 (LXX, ἑτοιμάσατε).†

(AS)

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 John 1:23

Range of meaning

To make straight, to level. It also means to steer or guide a ship, and in classical Greek to examine or correct. In the New Testament it appears only here and at James 3:4, where it means the helmsman.

Against the English

"Make straight" (KJV, BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV) is literal. NLT "Clear the way" keeps the road-building picture but loses the idea of straightness.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Isaiah 40:3 reads "Prepare (hetoimasate) the way of the Lord, make straight (eutheias poieite) the paths of our God." Mark 1:3, Matthew 3:3 and Luke 3:4 keep "prepare." John alone uses the single verb euthynate, which seems to blend the two lines of the verse. Greek Sirach 2:6 and 37:15 use the same verb for God or a person making one's ways straight.

From the study of James 3:4

Range of meaning

To make straight; to direct, guide, steer (a ship, chariot or course). In classical Athens the related noun euthynai was the formal audit of an official, a "straightening out" of accounts.

Against the English

"Pilot," "helmsman," "governor" (KJV). All correctly identify the person. None keeps the root picture of "one who keeps straight."

Used elsewhere in the period

John 1:23 ("make straight the way of the Lord," quoting Isaiah). LXX Num 22:23: Balaam beats the donkey "to turn it" back onto the road. Sirach 2:6: "make your ways straight." Greek literature uses it for steering ships and driving chariots.

From the study of Sirach 49:9

Range of meaning

To make straight. Also to steer a ship, direct or guide. Morally, to keep one's conduct straight and upright.

Against the English

WEB: "those who directed their ways aright". KJV and Brenton: "directed them that went right", which makes the subject the one doing the directing and loses the picture of people keeping their own paths straight.

Used elsewhere in the period

Sirach 2:6: "make your ways straight (euthyne tas hodous sou) and hope in him". John 1:23: "Make straight the way of the Lord". In classical Greek it is used of a helmsman steering.

Where it appears

John · 1

  1. John 1:23 εὐθύνατε do make straight

    John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’”

    Here: A plural command addressed to the hearers: "Straighten!" It is the picture of road-builders levelling and straightening a route for a coming ruler. The Greek translation of Isaiah has "prepare" here, so John's wording differs.

James · 1

  1. James 3:4 εὐθύνοντος is steering

    Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

    Here: "The one steering": the helmsman. The verb literally means "to make straight, keep on a straight course," so the pilot is the one who keeps the ship on line.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.