Dangerous Encounters: χαλεπός (Strong’s G5467: chalepos) Reveals Spiritual Warfare

Strong’s G5467: From uncertain origin, χαλεπός denotes something fierce, dangerous, or hard to deal with. In classical and biblical usage, it describes both physical threats and difficult circumstances, particularly emphasizing severe or perilous situations that require divine intervention.

U- Unveiling the Word

χαλεπός carries a weight of meaning that extends beyond mere difficulty or danger. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts depicting both physical and spiritual warfare. The word encapsulates the fierce nature of the demon-possessed men in Matthew 8:28 and the dangerous times Paul warns about in 2 Timothy 3:1. This term serves as a powerful reminder of the spiritual battles believers face and the sovereign power of the Messiah over all forms of evil, whether manifested in demon possession or the challenging seasons of the last days.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: χαλεπός, chalepos, /kha-le-POS/
• Detailed pronunciation: kh (as in Bach) – ah – leh – POS (stress on final syllable)
• Part of Speech: Adjective

Etymology:

• Root: Uncertain origin, possibly related to Proto-Indo-European *skēlp- meaning “to cut”
• Suffix: -ός (common adjectival ending in Greek)

D – Defining Meanings

• Fierce, dangerous, violent
• Hard to deal with, troublesome
• Harsh, severe
• Grievous, perilous

For compound words: Not applicable as χαλεπός is not a compound word

Translation Options:

• “Fierce” – Best captures the violent nature in contexts of demon possession
• “Perilous” – Preferred for prophetic or eschatological contexts
• “Grievous” – Appropriate when describing difficult circumstances or times

E – Exploring Similar Words

• δεινός (deinos, /dei-NOS/) – terrible, fearful – See G1171
• ἄγριος (agrios, /A-gri-os/) – wild, fierce – See G66
• σκληρός (skleros, /skle-ROS/) – hard, harsh – See G4642

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Adjective Morphological Features:

• Case: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, Accusative
• Number: Singular, Plural
• Gender: Masculine, Feminine, Neuter
• Declension: Second declension

Examples:

• Masculine nominative singular: χαλεπός
• Feminine nominative singular: χαλεπή
• Neuter nominative singular: χαλεπόν

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

χαλεπός represents a complex term that lexicons consistently describe as denoting serious danger or difficulty. BDAG emphasizes its use in describing both dangerous persons and difficult circumstances. Thayer’s highlights its progression from meaning “difficult” in classical Greek to “dangerous” in Koine. LSJ provides extensive classical references showing its range from “difficult” to “hostile.” Vine’s connects it to the idea of fierce opposition to goodness. Strong’s emphasizes the reduced meaning range in biblical usage. Moulton and Milligan document its use in papyri for describing severe weather conditions and dangerous situations.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“When He came to the other side into the country of the Gadarenes, two men who were demon-possessed met Him as they were coming out of the tombs. They were so extremely fierce that no one could pass by that way.”

Additional References:
2 Timothy 3:1

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

χαλεπός serves as a powerful reminder of the spiritual warfare that believers face. Its usage in Matthew’s gospel highlights the Messiah’s authority over demonic forces, while Paul’s employment of the term in 2 Timothy warns believers of the increasing opposition to godliness in the last days. This word testifies to both the reality of spiritual conflict and the supreme victory of King Jesus over all forms of evil, encouraging believers to remain steadfast in their faith despite fierce opposition.

D – Did You Know?

• χαλεπός appears only twice in the New Testament but over 500 times in classical Greek literature
• The word was commonly used in ancient weather forecasting documents to describe dangerous sailing conditions
• Early church fathers frequently used this term when describing the persecution of Christians

Strong’s G5467: From uncertain origin, χαλεπός denotes something fierce, dangerous, or hard to deal with. In classical and biblical usage, it describes both physical threats and difficult circumstances, particularly emphasizing severe or perilous situations that require divine intervention.

Part of speech: Adjective

Tags: danger, difficulty, spiritual warfare, demons, end times, persecution, opposition, fierce, perilous, troublesome​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​