The Greek word mógis, represented by G3425, is an adverb derived from a root word meaning "toil." It is defined as "with difficulty" or "hardly." This specific term is quite rare, appearing only 1 times across 1 unique verses in the Bible, making its single usage particularly descriptive.
The sole appearance of G3425 is in Luke 9:39, where a man describes the torment of his son to Jesus. The passage details how a spirit G4151 taketh G2983 the boy, causing him to suddenly crieth out G2896. The spirit then violently teareth G4682 and bruising G4937 him. The use of hardly G3425 comes at the climax of this description, emphasizing that the spirit only departeth G672 from the boy "with difficulty," highlighting the tenacious and agonizing nature of the affliction.
Several related words in the surrounding text of Luke 9:39 build the scene of intense struggle:
- G4151 pneûma (a spirit): This word identifies the hostile agent inflicting the torment. Defined as a "spirit" which can be superhuman, such as an angel or demon, it is the force that only hardly departs.
- G4682 sparássō (to mangle): This verb details the physical violence of the attack. Defined as "to mangle, i.e. convluse with epilepsy:--rend, tear," it shows the harm done to the boy just before the spirit's difficult departure.
- G4937 syntríbō (to crush completely): This word adds to the description of the harm inflicted, meaning "to crush completely, i.e. to shatter... bruise." The spirit is "bruising" him as it hardly leaves.
- G672 apochōréō (to go away): This is the action that is performed with such difficulty. The spirit does not simply leave; it must "depart" with great effort.
The narrative weight of G3425 is concentrated entirely in its single context, where it serves to illustrate a key point.
- Severity of Affliction: The use of hardly demonstrates that this is no minor event. The spirit's grip is so strong that even its departure is a violent struggle, emphasizing the depth of the victim's suffering Luke 9:39.
- Tenacity of the Spirit: The word powerfully conveys the reluctance and resistance of the spirit G4151. It does not want to let go, and its departure is characterized by toil and immense difficulty.
- Physical Manifestation of Struggle: G3425 links the spirit's departure directly to the physical toll on the boy, described with words like teareth G4682 and bruising G4937. The difficulty is not abstract but visibly violent.
In summary, mógis G3425 is a precise and potent adverb that, despite its single use, provides a crucial detail in its biblical context. By describing the spirit's departure as happening hardly, or "with difficulty," it paints a vivid picture of a grueling and violent spiritual struggle. The word encapsulates the sheer tenacity of the possessing spirit and the extreme severity of the affliction described in Luke 9:39, showing how a single adverb can profoundly impact the meaning of a passage.
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