Greek word · G3006

λεῖος

leios

smooth

Smooth, even, level; free from roughness (of ground, skin, surfaces) (BDAG, LSJ).

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

λεῖος, -εία, -εῖον

[in LXX: Genesis 27:11, 1 Samuel 17:40 R (חָלַק, חַלֻּק); ὁδὸς λ., Isaiah 40:4 Α (בִּקְעָה); Proverbs 2:20 12:13 26:23 * ;]

smooth: opposite to τραχύς, Luke 3:5 (LXX).†

(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 Luke 3:5

Range of meaning

Smooth, even, level; free from roughness (of ground, skin, surfaces) (BDAG, LSJ).

Against the English

"Smooth" is accurate. ESV's "level ways" is also fair.

Used elsewhere in the period

Occurs only here in the NT. LXX: Gen 27:11 (Jacob's "smooth" skin) and Prov 2:20 LXX/26:23 in some witnesses. Isa 40:4 LXX here reads πεδία, "plains". Luke (or the text form he used) has "smooth roads" instead.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 3:5 λείας· smooth;

    Every valley shall be filled in, and every mountain and hill made low. The crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough ways smooth.

    Here: Smooth, even, free of stones and ruts. It appears only here in the New Testament and is Luke's own wording (Greek Isaiah has "plains").

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