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μόγις

mógis

G3425 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

With difficulty, scarcely, only just—used as an adverb to indicate action accomplished under strain, with significant effort, or against obstacles. It conveys that something happens only after overcoming considerable difficulty, or that it almost does not happen at all.

Semantic Range

with difficulty, hardly, scarcely, barely, only just, after strenuous effort

Root / Etymology

Probably related to the root μογ- (mog-) meaning 'toil, struggle'. Possibly connected to μόγος (labor, toil) and derivatives, though direct derivation from a standard verb is not clear; etymology uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

μόγις functions as an adverb primarily in Hellenistic and Koine texts, including the New Testament (e.g., Acts 14:18; 27:7, 8; 1 Peter 4:18). The word regularly marks situations that involve effortful accomplishment or emphasize the tenuous or barely realized nature of an outcome. Comparable classical Greek adverbs include μόλις, though μόγις appears less frequently in older literature, becoming more common in later (post-classical, Hellenistic) Greek. In Septuagint and New Testament contexts, μόγις often underscores adversity or limited success ("with great difficulty", "only with effort"). English translations typically render the adverb as 'with difficulty', 'barely', or 'scarcely', but this can sometimes understate the nuance of strenuous exertion implied by the Greek. Distinct from μόλις, which sometimes has a temporal nuance of 'barely in time', μόγις focuses more on the arduousness or near-failure of an action's completion.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb from a primary (toil); with difficulty:--hardly.

Root Family

μογ- (mógis) — to toil, to struggle, to labor

Root μογ- to toil, to struggle, to labor

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3425-01 μόγις mogis ADV hardly with difficulty with difficulty 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3425-01 Luke 9:39 μόγις mogis ADV hardly with difficulty with difficulty
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