A hard look at soft ideas

A device is a piece of hardware. Originally, hardware was hard to change. Today, hardware is easy to change (the price of hardware keep decreasing).
Software in the form of programs are the instructions that allow a computer to push it's own buttons. Originally, software was easy to change (i.e., as in molded). Today, software is hard to change (once millions of people start using that software).

Hardware is "hard" because it is difficult to change. Software was originally called "soft" because it was easy to change. ... this notion that software is easy to change has become one of the most pernicious ideas in software development. ... requirements changes - attempts to take advantage of software's supposed softness ... can destabilize a product to such a degree that it can't be finished at all.

After the gold rush: creating a true profession of software engineering

Phrases and saying:

soft/hard on crime
soft/hard touch, sounds, job, etc.
hard on the outside but soft on the inside
soft/hard ball (baseball, etc.)
software/hardware
go soft

Genesis 35:17 And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. [kjv]

εγενετο δε εν τω σκληρως αυτην τικτειν ειπεν αυτη η μαια θαρσει και γαρ ουτος σοι εστιν υιος [lxx]

… difficultatem … [v]

… hart … [lu]

The English word "hard" is related to the German word "hart" ≈ "hard, severe, unyielding" and is related to the ancient Greek word "κρατύς" ≈ "strong" and is the source of the end of English word "democracy".

The ancient Greek word "σκληρός" ≈ "hard, harsh" as in a "hard" heart and is the source of the English word "arteriosclerosis" as a "hardening of the arteries".

*G4642 *5 σκληρός (sklay-ros') : from the base of G4628; dry, i.e. hard or tough (figuratively, harsh, severe):--fierce, hard.

Usage

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σκληρος *2

Matthew 25:24 ... that thou art an hard man, reaping where ...
John 6:60 ... This is an hard saying; who can ...

σκληρων *2

James 3:4 ... and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with ...
Jude 1:15 ... and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners ...

σκληρον

Acts 26:14 ... why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

*G4642 *5 σκληρός (sklay-ros') : from the base of G4628; dry, i.e. hard or tough (figuratively, harsh, severe):--fierce, hard.

Words: σκληρον σκληρος=2 σκληρων=2

The ancient Greek word "σκληρός" ≈ "hard, harsh" as in a "hard" heart and is the source of the English word "arteriosclerosis" as a "hardening of the arteries".

Genesis 35:17

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KJV: And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also.

Hebrew: ויהי בהקשתה בלדתה ותאמר לה המילדת אל תיראי כי גם זה לך בן׃

Greek: εγενετο δε εν τω σκληρως αυτην τικτειν ειπεν αυτη η μαια θαρσει και γαρ ουτος σοι εστιν υιος

Latin: ob difficultatem partus periclitari coepit dixitque ei obsetrix noli timere quia et hunc habebis filium

Luther: Und es kam sie hart an über der Geburt. Da es ihr aber so sauer ward in der Geburt, sprach die Wehmutter zu ihr: Fürchte dich nicht, denn diesen Sohn wirst du auch haben.

Matthew 11:30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. [kjv]

ο γαρ ζυγος μου χρηστος και το φορτιον μου ελαφρον εστιν [gnt]

… suave … [v]

… winsum … [wes]

… softe… [wy]

… easy … [ty]

… sanft… [lu]

The English word "soft" is related to the German word "sanft" ≈ "soft, yielding". The Old English word "winsum" ≈ "beautiful, pleasing".

The ancient Greek word "χρηστός" ≈ "useful, good" and is sometimes used in the GNT (Greek New Testament) as a play on words with"χριστός" ≈ "anointed one, Christ" as in the English word "christen".

The Latin word "suavis" ≈ "sweet, pleasant, delicious" and is the source of the English word "suave" and related "sweet".

More: Romans 16 A belly-ache pun on useful Christ-like words

More: Punishment by punny puns

More: Matthew 11:20-30 Upgraded baby yokes revealed

The temptations of Jesus by Satan form most of chapter 4 of Matthew. Jesus acquires some disciples, starts to preach the gospel of the kingdom, heal the sick and diseased, etc.

Matthew 4:23 And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. [kjv]

και περιηγεν εν ολη τη γαλιλαια διδασκων εν ταις συναγωγαις αυτων και κηρυσσων το ευαγγελιον της βασιλειας και θεραπευων πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν εν τω λαω [gnt]

… sanans … languorem … infirmitatem … [v]

The ancient Greek word "μαλακός" ≈ "soft, tender, gentle, mild". Of persons, in a bad sense, it means "faint-hearted", "effeminate", "cowardly", "incapable of bearing pain". It can mean "effeminate" and, for sexual partners, the "passive" or "receptive" side of such a relationship.

This word is used in the GNT and LXX (Septuagint) is translated in various and interesting ways. What is the range of meanings for this Greek word? Aristotle to the rescue!

Aristotle use the example of "indivisibles", not using the "atomic" word of Democritus, to refer to "indivisibles" (implied) in terms of "hard" and "soft".

English: Again, if an indivisible can be hard it can also be soft; and the soft is always so-called because it can be acted upon; for that which yields to pressure is soft. (Loeb#400, p. 245)

Greek: Ἀλλὰ μὴν εἰ σκληρόν, καὶ μαλακόν.Τὸ δὲ μαλακὸν ἤδη τῷ πάσχειν τι λέγεται· τὸ γὰρ ὑπεικτικὸν μαλακόν. [Aristotle: On coming to be and passing away [326a]

Applying this to people, people who are "soft" would "yield to pressure" and not be "firm" or "hard" in certain ways.

More: Aristotle

English: For the soft is that which can be pressed in upon itself, and the hard is that which cannot; and anything which can be pressed in is divisible. (Loeb#338, p. 265)

Greek: ... Μαλακὸν μὲν γὰρ τὸ εἰς ἑαυτὸ ὑπεῖκον, σκληρὸν δὲ τὸ μὴ ὑπεῖκον· τὸ δὲ ὑπεῖκον διαιρετόν. Aristotle: On the heavens [299b]

English: for the dense and the rare under that aspect are the causes of movement, whereas under their aspect of hard and soft they are the cause of readiness or unreadiness to yield, an so of qualitative modification rather than of local movement. (Loeb#228, p. 371)

Greek: τὸ γὰρ πυκνὸν καὶ τὸ μανὸν κατὰ ταύτην τὴν ἐναντίωσιν φορᾶς ποιητικά, κατὰ δὲ τὸ σκληρὸν καὶ μαλακὸν πάθους καὶ ἀπαθείας, καὶ οὐ φορᾶς ἀλλ' ἑτεροιώσεως μᾶλλον. Aristotle: Physics [217b]

More: Aristotle

Aristotle goes though a long discussion to conclude that "hard" and "soft" can be absolute or relative to some standard and that relative standard is based on the sensation of "touch".

English: Things which posses these characteristics without qualification are hard and soft absolutely; things which possess them in relation to something else are hard and soft relatively . ... (Loeb#397, p. 315)

Greek: ἁπλῶς μὲν οὖν σκληρὸν ἢ μαλακὸν τὸ ἁπλῶς τοιοῦτον, πρὸς ἕτερον δὲ τὸ πρὸς ἐκεῖνο τοιοῦτον. ... Aristotle: Meteorologica [382a]

English: … it is clear that both hard and soft are defined absolutely with reference to touch, which we use as a mean saying that what exceeds it is hard and what falls short of it is soft. (Loeb#397, p. 315)

Greek: … δῆλον ὅτι καὶ τὸ σκληρὸν καὶ τὸ μαλακὸν ἁπλῶς πρὸς τὴν ἁφὴν ὡρίκαμεν, ὡς μεσότητι χρώμενοι τῇ ἁφῇ· διὸ τὸ μὲν ὑπερβάλλον αὐτὴν σκληρόν, τὸ δ' ἐλλεῖπον μαλακὸν εἶναί φαμεν. Aristotle: Meteorologica [382a.13]

More: Aristotle

English: We call men good boxers or runners not in virtue of some disposition but owing to a natural capacity to do this or that thing with ease. When we speak of the healthy, we mean that such people have powers of resistance, ready, innate, constitutional, against all the commoner ills; when we speak of sickness, we mean those who seem to posses no such powers. [Loeb#325, p. 67]

Greek: [9a.10] οἷον πυκτικοὶ ἢ δρομικοὶ λέγονται οὐ τῷ διακεῖσθαί πως ἀλλὰ τῷ δύναμιν ἔχειν φυσικὴν τοῦ ποιῆσαί τι ῥᾳδίως, ὑγιεινοὶ δὲ λέγονται τῷ δύναμιν ἔχειν φυσικὴν τοῦ μηδὲν πάσχειν ὑπὸ τῶν τυχόντων ῥᾳδίως, νοσώδεις δὲ τῷ ἀδυναμίαν ἔχειν τοῦ μηδὲν πάσχειν. Aristotle: Categories, [9a]

In his opening work called Categories, Aristotle uses "health" and "disease" or "sickness" as a setup for defining "hardness" and "softness".

More: Aristotle

English: It is thus, too, with hardness and softness. We predicate hardness of that which resists disintegration and softness of that which does not. [Loeb#325, p. 67]

Greek: ὁμοίως δὲ τούτοις καὶ τὸ σκληρὸν καὶ τὸ μαλακὸν ἔχει· τὸ μὲν γὰρ σκληρὸν λέγεται τῷ δύναμιν ἔχειν τοῦ μὴ ῥᾳδίως διαιρεῖσθαι, τὸ δὲ μαλακὸν τῷ ἀδυναμίαν ἔχειν τοῦ αὐτοῦ τούτου. Aristotle: Categories, [9a]

Relative opposites
hardness	softness
whiteness	blackness
coldness	warmth
sweetness	bitterness/sourness
moistness	dryness

Thus, "hardness" and "softness" are, in a sense, relative opposites where there is not a clear dividing line between the two extremes. Aristotle goes on to list other such relative opposites which are sometimes translated as "alterations".

More: Aristotle

Given the background on "hard" and "soft" from Aristotle, let us look at some verses in the GNT, some early church fathers, and the LXX. In many cases, the translation is "disease" but that appears to be a specific instance of the general idea of "soft"

… sanans … languorem … infirmitatem … [v]

9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. [kjv]

και περιηγεν ο ιησους τας πολεις πασας και τας κωμας διδασκων εν ταις συναγωγαις αυτων και κηρυσσων το ευαγγελιον της βασιλειας και θεραπευων πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν [gnt]

… curans … languorem … infirmitatem [v]

10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. [kjv]

και προσκαλεσαμενος τους δωδεκα μαθητας αυτου εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν πνευματων ακαθαρτων ωστε εκβαλλειν αυτα και θεραπευειν πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν [gnt]

Matthew 4:23

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KJV: And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.

Greek: και περιηγεν ολην την γαλιλαιαν ο ιησους εν ολη τη γαλιλαια διδασκων εν ταις συναγωγαις αυτων και κηρυσσων το ευαγγελιον της βασιλειας και θεραπευων πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν εν τω λαω

Latin: et circumibat Iesus totam Galilaeam docens in synagogis eorum et praedicans evangelium regni et sanans omnem languorem et omnem infirmitatem in populo

Matthew 9:35

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KJV: And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Greek: και περιηγεν ο ιησους τας πολεις πασας και τας κωμας διδασκων εν ταις συναγωγαις αυτων και κηρυσσων το ευαγγελιον της βασιλειας και θεραπευων πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν εν τω λαω

Latin: et circumibat Iesus civitates omnes et castella docens in synagogis eorum et praedicans evangelium regni et curans omnem languorem et omnem infirmitatem

Matthew 10:1

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KJV: And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

Greek: και προσκαλεσαμενος τους δωδεκα μαθητας αυτου εδωκεν αυτοις εξουσιαν πνευματων ακαθαρτων ωστε εκβαλλειν αυτα και θεραπευειν πασαν νοσον και πασαν μαλακιαν

Latin: et convocatis duodecim discipulis suis dedit illis potestatem spirituum inmundorum ut eicerent eos et curarent omnem languorem et omnem infirmitatem

Matthew 10:1 And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. [kjv]

Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. [kjv]

συγκαλεσαμενος δε τους δωδεκα εδωκεν αυτοις δυναμιν και εξουσιαν επι παντα τα δαιμονια και νοσους θεραπευειν [gnt]

For some reason, Luke leaves out the ancient Greek word "μαλακία" ≈ "softness, effeminacy, unmanliness, feebleness, faint-hardheartedness". Why might this word have been omitted?

Luke does use the word in connection with those in palaces so the word was in the vocabulary used by Luke.

Luke 9:1

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KJV: Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.

Greek: συγκαλεσαμενος δε τους δωδεκα μαθητας αυτου εδωκεν αυτοις δυναμιν και εξουσιαν επι παντα τα δαιμονια και νοσους θεραπευειν

Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. [kjv]

δυνοντος δε του ηλιου απαντες οσοι ειχον ασθενουντας νοσοις ποικιλαις ηγαγον αυτους προς αυτον ο δε ενι εκαστω αυτων τας χειρας επιτιθεις εθεραπευεν αυτους [gnt]

5:15 But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. [kjv]

διηρχετο δε μαλλον ο λογος περι αυτου και συνηρχοντο οχλοι πολλοι ακουειν και θεραπευεσθαι απο των ασθενειων αυτων [gnt]

For some reason, Luke leaves out the ancient Greek word "μαλακία" ≈ "softness, effeminacy, unmanliness, feebleness, faint-hardheartedness". Why might this word have been omitted?

In Luke 5:15, the word translated by the KJV (King James Version) as "fame" is the ancient Greek word "λόγος" ≈ "rational explanation, word" is in "In the beginning was the word" (John 1:1)

Luke 4:40

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KJV: Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

Greek: δυνοντος δε του ηλιου παντες απαντες οσοι ειχον ασθενουντας νοσοις ποικιλαις ηγαγον αυτους προς αυτον ο δε ενι εκαστω αυτων τας χειρας επιθεις εθεραπευσεν επιτιθεις εθεραπευεν αυτους

Luke 5:15

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KJV: But so much the more went there a fame abroad of him: and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities.

Greek: διηρχετο δε μαλλον ο λογος περι αυτου και συνηρχοντο οχλοι πολλοι ακουειν και θεραπευεσθαι υπ αυτου απο των ασθενειων αυτων

Matthew 9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. [kjv]

Matthew uses similar phrases and words three times. Twice Jesus does the actions. Then Jesus gives the disciples power to do this as he sends them out. Let us look at three words, one at a time, in the one phrase near the end.

Some of the words do not use the primary meaning and some of the words have been translated over time using a meaning found nowhere else than in the GNT.

In many cases, the Latin translation four centuries later established the Bible meaning going forward of these words.

1 2 3 + - ▶

The Bible dictionary used by pastors, etc. is often explained away as being a different Greek, the Koine Greek, that the people spoke, with special idioms of Greek. Changes are often attributed to:

A problem arises when ancient, medieval and modern Greek, as one continuous language, have the same meaning for the same word but the Koine Greek definition is different and matches the Latin word used to translate that Greek word in the 4th century. This happens with many important words but not so much with less important words. Suspicion arises when the common Greek meaning makes more sense in the Bible text than the English word based on the Latin word.

[Amplified Bible, Berean Bible, Bible Hub]
[language ambiguity, preciseness of Greek language fallacy]

More: An introduction to Bible truth

Words: εθεραπευεν εθεραπευθη=3 εθεραπευθησαν εθεραπευον εθεραπευοντο=3 εθεραπευσεν=13 θεραπευει=2 θεραπευειν=2 θεραπευεσθαι θεραπευεσθε θεραπευεται θεραπευετε=2 θεραπευθηναι θεραπευοντες θεραπευσαι=3 θεραπευσον θεραπευσω θεραπευων=2 τεθεραπευμεναι τεθεραπευμενον τεθεραπευμενω

*G2323 *43 θεραπεύω (ther-ap-yoo'-o) : from the same as G2324; to wait upon menially, i.e. (figuratively) to adore (God), or (specially) to relieve (of disease):--cure, heal, worship.

The ancient Greek word "θεραπεύω" ≈ "wait on, obey, flatter consult, cure, heal" and is the source of the English word "therapy". The primary meaning is that of attending to or waiting on and not of curing or healing.

… sanans … languorem … infirmitatem … [v]

9:35 And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. [kjv]

… curans … languorem … infirmitatem [v]

The Latin word "sano" ≈ "heal, cure, restore" and is the source of the English word "sanatorium" as an institution to treat chronic diseases. The Latin word "curans" ≈ "arrange, attend, heal, cure" and is the source of the English word "cure".

Interestingly, both the Greek and the Latin word (used most often in these verses) have the primary idea of attending to and not of healing.

It is not clear why verses that are almost the same have two different Latin words for the Greek word translated as "healing" but which has the primary meaning of "attending to"

*G3554 *11 νόσος (nos'-os) : of uncertain affinity; a malady (rarely figuratively, of moral disability):--disease, infirmity, sickness.

Usage

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νοσον *3

Matthew 4:23 ... and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease ...
Matthew 9:35 ... and healing every sickness and every disease ...
Matthew 10:1 ... and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease.

νοσοις *3

Matthew 4:24 ... sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and ...
Mark 1:34 ... that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many ...
Luke 4:40 ... had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto ...

νοσους *3

Matthew 8:17 ... infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
Luke 9:1 ... devils, and to cure diseases.
Acts 19:12 ... or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, ...

νοσων *2

Luke 6:17 ... to be healed of their diseases;
Luke 7:21 ... he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and ...

Words: νοσοις=3 νοσον=3 νοσους=3 νοσων=2

*G3554 *11 νόσος (nos'-os) : of uncertain affinity; a malady (rarely figuratively, of moral disability):--disease, infirmity, sickness.

The ancient Greek word "νόσος" ≈ "sickness, disease, distress".

… sanans … languorem … infirmitatem … [v]

The Latin word "languor" ≈ "faintness, feebleness, apathy" and is the source of the English word "languor". The English word "languish" is, through French, from the Latin word "languere" ≈ "be faint, unwell".

The ancient Greek word "νόσος" ≈ "sickness, disease, distress".

*G3119 *3 μαλακία (mal-ak-ee'-ah) : from G3120 μαλακός; softness, i.e. enervation (debility):--disease.

Usage

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μαλακιαν *3

Matthew 4:23 ... sickness and all manner of disease among the people.
Matthew 9:35 ... sickness and every disease among the people.
Matthew 10:1 ... sickness and all manner of disease.

*G3120 *4 μαλακός (mal-ak-os') : of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite:--effeminate, soft.

Usage

All

μαλακοις *2

Matthew 11:8 ... clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in ...
Luke 7:25 ... A man clothed in soft raiment? Behold, they which ...

μαλακα

Matthew 11:8 ... clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in ...

μαλακοι

1 Corinthians 6:9 ... nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,

… curans … languorem … infirmitatem [v]

Here the meaning does not match well with the ancient Greek definitions.

The English, from the Latin, appears to repeat the similar meaning of "sickness" as "disease". The Latin word "infirmus" ≈ "week, feeble, unhealthy" and is the source of the English word "infirm" and "infirmity".

Words: μαλακα μαλακιαν=3 μαλακοι μαλακοις=2

*G3119 *3 μαλακία (mal-ak-ee'-ah) : from G3120; softness, i.e. enervation (debility):--disease.

*G3120 *4 μαλακός (mal-ak-os') : of uncertain affinity; soft, i.e. fine (clothing); figuratively, a catamite:--effeminate, soft.

From the Cambridge Greek Lexicon (volume 2), the ancient Greek word "μαλακία" ≈ "softness, effeminacy, unmanliness, feebleness, faint-hardheartedness". Only in the GNT is the meaning "infirmity" or "sickness".
What type of "softness" or "effeminacy" or "unmanliness" might Jesus, and here the disciples, have been healing?

More: CGL: Cambridge Greek Lexicon

Although the words appear to sound similar, the Greek word for "softness" does not appear to be related to the Hebrew word for "angel".

Zechariah 3:6 And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying, [kjv]

… מלאך … [he]

και διεμαρτυρατο ο αγγελος κυριου προς ιησουν λεγων [lxx]

… angelus … [v]

The Hebrew word "מלאך" (mal-ak) ≈ "angel". This word is the root word for the prophet name "Malachi".

The English word "angel" comes from the Latin word "angelus" ≈ "angel" which comes from the ancient Greek word "ἄγγελος" ≈ "messenger, one that announces" and which comes from the Persian. Thus, in Matthew 5:41: if someone compels you to be a messenger one mile, go with him/it two.

More: Matthew 5:41 Walk a mile for a camel

More: Touched by an angelic messenger

Zechariah 3:6

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KJV: And the angel of the LORD protested unto Joshua, saying,

Hebrew: ויעד מלאך יהוה ביהושע לאמר׃

Greek: και διεμαρτυρατο ο αγγελος κυριου προς ιησουν λεγων

Latin: et contestabatur angelus Domini Iesum dicens