Basic HTML Version
For
EASILY
see
EASY
EAST
(
)
, 395), primarily “a rising,” as of the sun and stars, corresponds to
, “to make to rise,” or, intransitively, “to arise,” which is also used of the
sunlight, as well as of other objects in nature. In Luke 1:78 it is used metaphorically of
Christ as “the Dayspring,” the One through whom light came into the world, shining
immediately into Israel, to dispel the darkness which was upon all nations. Cf. Mal. 4:2.
Elsewhere it denotes the “east,” as the quarter of the sun’s rising, Matt. 2:1-2, 9; 8:11;
24:27; Luke 13:29; Rev. 7:2; 16:12; 21:13. The “east” in general stands for that side of
things upon which the rising of the sun gives light. In the heavenly city itself, Rev. 21:13,
the reference to the “east” gate points to the outgoing of the influence of the city
“eastward.” See
DAYSPRING
.¶
EASTER
(
1
, 3957), mistranslated “Easter” in Acts 12:4,
KJV
, denotes the Passover
(
RV
). The phrase “after the Passover” signifies after the whole festival was at an end. The
term “Easter” is not of Christian origin. It is another form of
*
, one of the titles of
the Chaldean goddess, the queen of heaven. The festival of Pasch held by Christians in
post-apostolic times was a continuation of the Jewish feast, but was not instituted by
Christ, nor was it connected with Lent. From this Pasch the pagan festival of “Easter”
was quite distinct and was introduced into the apostate Western religion, as part of the
attempt to adapt pagan festivals to Christianity. See
PASSOVER
.
EASY, EASIER, EASILY
1.
(
$
, 5543) primarily signifies “fit for use, able to be used” (akin to
, “to use”), hence, “good, virtuous, mild, pleasant” (in contrast to what is hard,
harsh, sharp, bitter). It is said (a) of the character of God as “kind, gracious,” Luke 6:35;
1 Pet. 2:3; “good,” Rom. 2:4, where the neuter of the adjective is used as a noun, “the
goodness” (cf. the corresponding noun
, “goodness,” in the same verse); of the
yoke of Christ, Matt. 11:30, “easy” (a suitable rendering would be “kindly”); (c) of
believers, Eph. 4:32; (d) of things, as wine, Luke 5:39,
RV
, “good,” for
KJV
, “better” (cf.
Jer. 24:3, 5, of figs); (e) ethically, of manners, 1 Cor. 15:33. See
GOOD
,
GRACIOUS
,
KIND
.¶
2.
$
(
'
0 $
, 2123), the comparative degree of
$
, “easy, with
easy labor” (
$
, “well,”
, “labor”), hence, of that which is “easier to do,” is found in
the Synoptics only, Matt. 9:5; 19:24; Mark 2:9; 10:25; Luke 5:23; 16:17; 18:25.
Notes:
(1) The adverb “easily” is included in the translation of
$
in Heb.
12:1, “easily beset,” lit., “the easily besetting sin,” probably a figure from a garment,
“easily surrounding,” and therefore easily entangling. See
BESET
. (2) In 1 Cor. 13:5,
KJV
,
“is not easily provoked,” there is no word in the original representing “easily”;
RV
, “is not
provoked.” (3) For “easy to be entreated” see
INTREAT
. For easy to be understood see
UNDERSTAND
.
EAT, EAT WITH, EATING
A. Verbs.