Original Word: βραδύς
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: bradus
Pronunciation: bra-DOOS
Phonetic Spelling: (brad-ooce')
Definition: Slow, sluggish
Meaning: slow, slow of understanding.

slow.

Of uncertain affinity; slow; figuratively, dull -- slow.

1021 bradýs – properly, slow, as in taking time to deliberate (Js 1:19); unhurried, while still moving forward after considering all the facts.

Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
slow
NASB Translation
slow (3).

STRONGS NT 1021: βραδύς

βραδύς βραδεια, βραδυ, slow;

a. properly: εἰς τί, James 1:19.

b. metaphorically, dull, inactive, in mind; stupid, slow to apprehend or believe (so Homer, Iliad 10, 226; opposed to συνετός, Polybius 4, 8, 7; τόν νοῦν, Dionysius Halicarnassus, de Art. oratt. 7 (de Lysias judic.); δυσμαθία βραδύτης ἐν μαθησει, Plato, defin., p. 415 e.): with a dative of respect, τῇ καρδία, Luke 24:25. (Synonym: see ἀργός, at the end.)

Word Origin: Derived from the base of βραδύνω (bradynō), meaning "to delay" or "to be slow."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for βραδύς, similar concepts can be found in Hebrew words that convey slowness or delay, such as אָחַר (achar, Strong's Hebrew 309), meaning "to delay" or "to tarry," and כָּבֵד (kaved, Strong's Hebrew 3515), which can mean "heavy" or "dull" in the sense of being slow or unresponsive. These terms similarly reflect themes of delay or lack of promptness in action or understanding within the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: The term βραδύς is used in the New Testament to describe a lack of quickness in understanding or action. It is often used metaphorically to describe a spiritual or intellectual sluggishness.

Context: The Greek word βραδύς appears in the New Testament in contexts that highlight a deficiency in promptness or readiness, particularly in understanding or responding to spiritual truths. In James 1:19, believers are admonished to be "quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger," where βραδύς is used to emphasize the importance of being deliberate and thoughtful in speech and emotion. This usage underscores a biblical principle of exercising patience and self-control, virtues that are highly esteemed in Christian conduct.

In Luke 24:25, Jesus uses the term to rebuke the disciples on the road to Emmaus, saying, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken!" Here, βραδύς characterizes a spiritual dullness or reluctance to grasp and accept the fulfillment of prophetic Scripture concerning the Messiah. This highlights a recurring theme in the New Testament where spiritual insight and readiness to embrace divine truth are commended, while slowness in these areas is seen as a hindrance to faith.

The use of βραδύς in these contexts serves as a reminder of the need for vigilance and responsiveness in one's spiritual journey. It calls believers to cultivate a readiness to understand and act upon God's word, contrasting the natural human tendency towards complacency and inaction.

βραδεις βραδείς βραδεῖς βραδυς βραδύς βραδὺς bradeis bradeîs bradus bradys bradỳsInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts