Ash Wednesday and Lent (and more) from the Bible

The Presidents Day holiday started in 1879 to honor George Washington on his birthday on February 22. Today it is a federal holiday celebrated on the third Monday of February. In 2026 this is Monday, February 16.
Many include Abraham Lincoln in this holiday as his birthday is on February 12. Many include all Presidents in the holiday.

Mount Rushmore, located in south-west South Dakota, is a 60 foot high sculpture of the Presidents Washington, Jefferson, Roosevelt and Lincoln. It was sculpted by Gulzon Borglum (and son) between 1927 and 1941. The original Lakota name of the mountain is Tȟuŋkášila Šákpe which means "Six Grandfathers".

How magnificent was the view of Mount Rushmore before the sculpture was started?

The magnificence of the view was unprecedented.

More: Months

Lent begins after Fastnacht Tuesday on Ash Wednesday and ends at Easter.

The "ashes" in Ash Wednesday represent "dust".
The term "Fastnacht" literally means the "night before the fast".
The French word "Mardi Gras" ≈ "Mardi Gras" as "Fat Tuesday".

Lent is noticeable for daylight hours lengthening.

The Old English word "lencten" ≈ "spring".
The (older) German word "Lenz" ≈ "spring".

The Old English word "lencten" and the German word "Lenz" ≈ "spring" (dated) may be related to the word for "long" or "lengthen" as in the lengthening of days in the Spring time.

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends about six weeks later, right before Easter Sunday.

The Latin "quadragesima" ≈ "fortieth"
The modern Greek word "Σαρακοστή" (Sa-ra-ko-STEE) ≈ "Lent" where prefix the "τέσσερα" (TEHS-seh-ra) ≈ "four" has been dropped over the years.

Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; [kjv]

τα ανθη ωφθη εν τη γη καιρος της τομης εφθακεν φωνη του τρυγονος ηκουσθη εν τη γη ημων [lxx]

… Blumen … hervorkommen … Lande… Lenz … herbeikommen… Turteltaube … hören … Lande… [lu]

The Luther German uses the word "Lenz" for "spring" which is related to the word "Lent" as the time before Easter when the daylight hours of each day are lengthening. [Hebrew parallelism]
What are you giving up for Lent?

More: Turtle doves are not turtles

Song of Solomon 2:12 The flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; [kjv]

τα ανθη ωφθη εν τη γη καιρος της τομης εφθακεν φωνη του τρυγονος ηκουσθη εν τη γη ημων [lxx]

flores apparuerunt … tempus putationis advenit … turturis audita … terra nostra [v]

Flouris apperiden … tyme … schridyng … vois … turtle … herd … lond, [wy]

… Blumen … hervorkommen … Lande… Lenz … herbeikommen… Turteltaube … hören … Lande… [lu]

From the LXX (Septuagint), the "turtle" is a "turtle dove" or "turtle pigeon" that makes the sound "tur, tur" as in "turtle".

More: Turtle doves are not turtles

The number 40 is used often in the Bible. Jesus fasted for 40 days.

Counting back 40 days from Easter Sunday, not including Sunday, is a Wednesday, Ash Wednesday.

Imagine jokes raining down for 40 days and 40 nights! How about reining in jokes?

Counting back 40 days from Easter to Lent requires "fortitude", at least "for" some (egg-citing) days about to break.

To sum it up, many children these days have sum trouble with multiplication. There is a difference of opinion, but times are tough. And their troubles are multiplying. Does that add up? What does the remainder say about what is left over?

6 weeks is 42 days, but 36 days if Sundays are not counted.
4 days need to be added to the 6 weeks, which are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
Thus, Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent.

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [kjv]

… ואל … [he]

εν ιδρωτι του προσωπου σου φαγη τον αρτον σου εως του αποστρεψαι σε εις την γην εξ ης ελημφθης οτι γη ει και εις γην απελευση [lxx]

in sudore vultus tui vesceris pane donec revertaris in terram de qua sumptus es quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris [v]

The ashes in Ash Wednesday represent "dust". The LXX does not use the Greek word for "dust".
The LXX uses the Greek word "γη" ≈ "earth" and from which come the English words "geometry", "geology", etc. Gee, in Greek it's "γη" ≈ "earth, land". A popular college major is geography - where it's at.

Genesis 3:19

All

KJV: In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return.

Hebrew: בזעת אפיך תאכל לחם עד שובך אל האדמה כי ממנה לקחת כי עפר אתה ואל עפר תשוב׃

Greek: εν ιδρωτι του προσωπου σου φαγη τον αρτον σου εως του αποστρεψαι σε εις την γην εξ ης ελημφθης οτι γη ει και εις γην απελευση

Latin: in sudore vultus tui vesceris pane donec revertaris in terram de qua sumptus es quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris

Some claim that the word "deacon" comes from the idea of a "go for" or "gopher" in that the person would go through the dust, from "dia" (through, as in "diameter") and "kone" (as in "dust") in doing their duties. This may be a folk etymology but helps in remembering the word.

The Go programming languages use the Go Gopher as a mascot. See https://go.dev/blog/gopher (as of 2022-06-14)

More: Deacon as an administration gopher

Genesis 3:19 In the sweat of thy face shalt thou eat bread, till thou return unto the ground; for out of it wast thou taken: for dust thou art, and unto dust shalt thou return. [kjv]

… ואל … [he]

in sudore vultus tui vesceris pane donec revertaris in terram de qua sumptus es quia pulvis es et in pulverem reverteris [v]

The Latin word "pulvis" ≈ "dust" and from which comes the English word "pulverize".

The modern Greek word "στακτή" (sta-KTEE) ≈ "ash".

Job 42:6 Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes. [kjv]

… עפרואפר [he]

διο εφαυλισα εμαυτον και ετακην ηγημαι δε εμαυτον γην και σποδον [lxx]

… favilla … cinere [v]

… sparcle … aische. [wy]

… Staub … Asche. [lu]

The LXX uses the word for "earth" as "dust". The German word "Staub" ≈ "dust". Wycliffe has "sparcle" - dust in the air can "sparkle" in a sense when the sun shines on it.

The Latin word "cinera" ≈ "ashes" and is the source of the English words "cinder", "incinerate", etc., and the basis for the fairy tail character "Cinderella", from Italian as a "little cinder girl" as a young girl whose work with ashes.

Job 42:6

All

KJV: Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.

Hebrew: על כן אמאס ונחמתי על עפר ואפר׃

Greek: διο εφαυλισα εμαυτον και ετακην ηγημαι δε εμαυτον γην και σποδον

Latin: idcirco ipse me reprehendo et ago paenitentiam in favilla et cinere

Wycliffe: Therfor Y repreue me, and do penaunce in deed sparcle and aische.

Luther: Darum schuldige ich mich und tue Buße in Staub und Asche.

Ezekiel 16:4 And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all. [kjv]

και η γενεσις σου εν η ημερα ετεχθης ουκ εδησαν τους μαστους σου και εν υδατι ουκ ελουσθης ουδε αλι ηλισθης και σπαργανοις ουκ εσπαργανωθης [lxx]

The English word "sparkle" comes from the root prefix "spark" which comes from the Old English word "spearca" ≈ "spark" which is related to the Latin word "spargo" ≈ "to scatter, spread" and to the modern Greek word "σπαργάω" (spar-GA-o) ≈ "to swell".

Ezekiel 16:4

All

KJV: And as for thy nativity, in the day thou wast born thy navel was not cut, neither wast thou washed in water to supple thee; thou wast not salted at all, nor swaddled at all.

Hebrew: ומולדותיך ביום הולדת אתך לא כרת שרך ובמים לא רחצת למשעי והמלח לא המלחת והחתל לא חתלת׃

Greek: και η γενεσις σου εν η ημερα ετεχθης ουκ εδησαν τους μαστους σου και εν υδατι ουκ ελουσθης ουδε αλι ηλισθης και σπαργανοις ουκ εσπαργανωθης

Latin: et quando nata es in die ortus tui non est praecisus umbilicus tuus et in aqua non es lota in salutem nec sale salita nec involuta pannis

Luther: Deine Geburt ist also gewesen: Dein Nabel, da du geboren wurdest, ist nicht verschnitten; so hat man dich auch mit Wasser nicht gebadet, daß du sauber würdest, noch mit Salz gerieben, noch in Windeln gewickelt.

Spanish: Y en cuanto a tu nacimiento, el día que naciste no fue cortado tu ombligo, ni fuiste lavada con aguas para atemperarte, ni salada con sal, ni fuiste envuelta con fajas.

Psalms 147:16 He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes. [kjv]

του διδοντος χιονα ωσει εριον ομιχλην ωσει σποδον πασσοντος [lxx]

… pruinas … cinerem spargit [v]

… streuet Reif … Asche. [lu]

Psalms 147:16

All

KJV: He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.

Hebrew: הנתן שלג כצמר כפור כאפר יפזר׃

Greek: του διδοντος χιονα ωσει εριον ομιχλην ωσει σποδον πασσοντος

Latin: qui dat nivem quasi lanam pruinas quasi cinerem spargit

Luther: Er gibt Schnee wie Wolle, er streuet Reif wie Asche.

Gray hair is often associated with being old and, in some cases, a reason for respect.

The term "hoarfrost" means gray as in "gray hair" and is related to the German word "Herr" ≈ "Mister" and is a term of respect for older males.

Can something "new", as in "young", be considered "old" is in aged and respected?

In 19th Century Prussia (later part of Germany) the "Junkers" were a young aristocratic and powerful group. They got their name from each being "Young Herr" where the German word "Jung" ≈ "young" .

More: Some words on ancient old ages

Lamentations 4:8

All

KJV: Their visage is blacker than a coal; they are not known in the streets: their skin cleaveth to their bones; it is withered, it is become like a stick.

Hebrew: חשך משחור תארם לא נכרו בחוצות צפד עורם על עצמם יבש היה כעץ׃

Greek: εσκοτασεν υπερ ασβολην το ειδος αυτων ουκ επεγνωσθησαν εν ταις εξοδοις επαγη δερμα αυτων επι τα οστεα αυτων εξηρανθησαν εγενηθησαν ωσπερ ξυλον

Matthew 17:21

All

KJV: Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.

Greek: τουτο δε το γενος ουκ εκπορευεται ει μη εν προσευχη και νηστεια

Latin: hoc autem genus non eicitur nisi per orationem et ieiunium

Wessex: Soðlice þis kyn ne beoð ut-adrifen buten þurh gebed & faesten.

Tyndale: How be it this kynde goeth not oute but by prayer and fastinge.

Luther: Aber diese Art fährt nicht aus denn durch Beten und Fasten.

Russian: сей же род изгоняется только молитвою и постом.

The last day before Lent (fasting) is a special day.

The French word "gras" ≈ "fat".
The French word "Mardi Gras" ≈ "Mardi Gras" is, literally, "Fat Tuesday".

The day "Mardi Gras" is the last day of a longer festival that ends the day before Lent begins.

The most famous "Mardi Gras" is in New Orleans, home of the NFL (National Football League) team the New Orleans Saints. The French word "fleurdelis" ≈ "lily" and has important meanings throughout French history.

The Unicode character for the Fleur-de-lis is #9884 displayed as "⚜".

2 Samuel 11:1 And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem. [kjv]

και εγενετο επιστρεψαντος του ενιαυτου εις τον καιρον της εξοδιας των βασιλεων και απεστειλεν δαυιδ τον ιωαβ και τους παιδας αυτου μετ αυτου και τον παντα ισραηλ και διεφθειραν τους υιους αμμων και διεκαθισαν επι ραββαθ και δαυιδ εκαθισεν εν ιερουσαλημ [lxx]

March is the first month of the year in the old Roman calendar. The French word "Mardi" ≈ "Tuesday" from the Latin "dies Martis" ≈ "day of Mars" where Mars is the God of War and the basis for the month name of "March" - the time when ancient folk would go to war. Many modern English versions use "Spring time" for "after the year was expired".

After this verse, David takes an interest in Bathsheba.

March 14: Pi day

More: Months

Roman calendars (and other groups) started the year in what is called March, the month of Spring and the month of war. Later, the Romans moved the start of the year to January, which is why the names September (for seventh month) through December (the tenth month) still reflect that older start of the year in March.

2 Samuel 11:1

All

KJV: And it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel; and they destroyed the children of Ammon, and besieged Rabbah. But David tarried still at Jerusalem.

Hebrew: ויהי לתשובת השנה לעת צאת המלאכים וישלח דוד את יואב ואת עבדיו עמו ואת כל ישראל וישחתו את בני עמון ויצרו על רבה ודוד יושב בירושלם׃

Greek: και εγενετο επιστρεψαντος του ενιαυτου εις τον καιρον της εξοδιας των βασιλεων και απεστειλεν δαυιδ τον ιωαβ και τους παιδας αυτου μετ αυτου και τον παντα ισραηλ και διεφθειραν τους υιους αμμων και διεκαθισαν επι ραββαθ και δαυιδ εκαθισεν εν ιερουσαλημ

Latin: factum est ergo vertente anno eo tempore quo solent reges ad bella procedere misit David Ioab et servos suos cum eo et universum Israhel et vastaverunt filios Ammon et obsederunt Rabba David autem remansit in Hierusalem

Wycliffe: Forsothe it was doon, whanne the yeer turnede ayen in that tyme wherynne kyngis ben wont to go forth to batels, Dauid sente Joab, and with hym hise seruauntis, and al Israel; and thei distrieden the sones of Amon, and bisegiden Rabath; forsothe Dauid dwellide in Jerusalem.

Luther: Und da das Jahr um kam, zur Zeit wenn die Könige pflegen auszuziehen, sandte David Joab und seine Knechte mit ihm und das ganze Israel, daß sie die Kinder Ammon verderbeten und belegten Rabba, David aber blieb zu Jerusalem.

A Pennsylvania Dutch custom, called "Fastnacht Day", or "Faasenacht Day", is a tradition to eat well before the start of Lent.

The German word "Fast" ≈ "fast".
The German word "Nacht" ≈ "night".

Thus the name is, literally, a "fast" "night" "day".
Compare the English place name "Pendle Hill" as meaning, literally, going back in time, "Hill Hill Hill" or "Neanderthal valley" as "Neander Valley valley".

More: Genesis 1: Evening and morning

The word for "night" is related among many PIE (Proto Indo-European) languages.

The Latin word "nox" ≈ "night".
The Latin word "noctis" ≈ "night"
The modern Greek word "νύχτα" (NEEKH-ta) ≈ "night"
The Russian word "ночь" (noch') ≈ "night"

The word "shrove" comes from the word "shrive" which means to "absolve", as in a priest hearing a confession and "prescribing" penance and/or granting absolution.

The Old English word "scrifan" ≈ "assign, prescribe".
The German word "schreiben" ≈ "write, draw".
The Latin word "scribere" ≈ "write".
"*skribh" ≈ "to cut"

Pancake Tuesday is the day before Lent, for the same reason as Fastnacht Day. The flip side is that that is the flat truth.

The Pennsylvania Dutch term for a "doughnut" is a "Fastnacht", from the German word for "fast" and "night". Donut worry. It wall all pan out by fry day.
From Wikipedia: The last person up on Shrove Tuesday was called the "Fastnacht" and kidded all day long for being late for this wonderful breakfast. In the same way, the last person up on Ash Wednesday was also teased, and called the "Ashepuddle", whose chore for the day was to carry the ashes in the stoves and ovens outside to the ash pile.

A fat cake is like a donut today but the filling could be meat, pudding filling (sugar-based), etc.

Later minutes read: "On Sept. 21 it was unanimously agreed that the Building Committee should apply for a charter". Building operations began in March 1903. The women continued to sell doughnuts (fat cakes). So many were sold that jestingly the townsfolk said, "That U. B. church will never stand for the foundation is built on fat cakes".

Matthew 7:26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: [kjv]

και πας ο ακουων μου τους λογους τουτους και μη ποιων αυτους ομοιωθησεται ανδρι μωρω οστις ωκοδομησεν αυτου την οικιαν επι την αμμον [gnt]

[houses on rock and sand]

More: St. Paul's UB and EUB history

What fast food does Jesus give to you?

1. The bread of life. 2. Sweat peas.

The English word "bistro" comes from the French word "bistro" ≈ "fast food". The folk etymology is that the word comes from the Russian word " бы́стро" (bee-stro) ≈ "quickly" from the (brief) Russian occupation after the Napoleonic Wars (e.g., in 1914, a year before the Battle of Waterloo) where the troops wanted something "quickly". There may be a connection but it is not clear.

More: Matthew 6:16-18 The appearance of fast food disappearing

Matthew 6:16 Moreover when ye fast, be not, as the hypocrites, of a sad countenance: for they disfigure their faces, that they may appear unto men to fast. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward. [kjv]

6:17 But thou, when thou fastest, anoint thine head, and wash thy face; [kjv]

6:18 That thou appear not unto men to fast, but unto thy Father which is in secret: and thy Father, which seeth in secret, shall reward thee openly. [kjv]

Are we to "fast"? Does "when" mean that we are supposed to do what is part of the "when"?
The word translated "reward" in verse 16 is a different Greek word than the one translated the same way in verse 18.

More: Matthew 6:16-18 The appearance of fast food disappearing

Lent is a time of fasting, self-denial, etc.

What are you giving up for Lent?

I was going to give up procrastination, but I decided to wait until next year.

What is a fast? What is a slow.

We fast every night. When we break the fast, it is called "breakfast".

Where does the idea of "fasting" for Lent originate?
[noon at the ninth hour]

Matthew 27:45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour. [kjv]

απο δε εκτης ωρας σκοτος εγενετο επι πασαν την γην εως ωρας ενατης [gnt]

27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? [kjv]

περι δε την ενατην ωραν εβοησεν ανεβοησεν ο ιησους φωνη μεγαλη λεγων ελωι ελωι ηλι ηλι λεμα λεμα σαβαχθανει τουτ εστιν θεε μου θεε μου ινα τι με εγκατελιπες [gnt]

In the Roman time system, the "ninth" hour is in mid-afternoon in what we would call 3 o'clock.
In the Middle Ages, monks tired of waiting until the Roman ninth hour from sunrise to "noones" or 3:00 P.M. to eat. So the "noones" was moved to midday and that time become known as "noon".

More: The ninth hour: finished at noon

Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. [kjv]

… feste feortig daeges … feortig nihta… ongan … hingrian. [wes]

… vierzig Tage … vierzig Nächte gefastet … hungerte … [lu]

The term "Fastnacht" literally means the "night" before the "fast" (of Lent). Ingredients such as butter and lard that were not to be used during the Lent fast were consumed during this celebration.

The German word "Fastenzeit" ≈ "Lent" which is, literally, the "time of fasting".
The German word "fasten" ≈ "to fast".
The German word "Zeit" ≈ "time" which is related to the Old English word "tide" ≈ "time" and from which we get the English word "tide" (ocean current).

More: Genesis 1: Evening and morning

Matthew 4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. [kjv]

και νηστευσας ημερας τεσσερακοντα και νυκτας τεσσερακοντα υστερον επεινασεν [gnt]

et cum ieiunasset quadraginta diebus et quadraginta noctibus postea esuriit [v]

The idea of a forty day fast before Easter goes back to the time Jesus spent in the wilderness.

The Latin word for Lent is "Quadragesima" ≈ "Fortieth" as the forty days of fasting and preparation before Easter.

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. [kjv]

τοτε ο ιησους ανηχθη εις την ερημον υπο του πνευματος πειρασθηναι υπο του διαβολου [gnt]

4:2 And when he had fasted forty days and forty nights, he was afterward an hungred. [kjv]

και νηστευσας ημερας τεσσερακοντα και νυκτας τεσσερακοντα υστερον επεινασεν [gnt]

English translations are influenced by the Latin word "tempto" ≈ "test, try".

Some people do not believe that the "devil" or "Satan" exist.

Details are left as a future topic.

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

On page 2, Schreiber elaborates on "peirastic" reasoning as distinguished by Aristotle.

... he (Aristotle) distinguishes another type of reasoning called "peirastic" (πειραστικός) or examinational reasoning. Peirastic proceeds from some belief of the person being examined. ... (1) it must be believed by the person being examined ... and (2) it need not be an endoxon (i.e., it may be an entirely idiosyncratic belief) ...

Aristotle's clarification of the word fits the "temptations" of Jesus in the Gospels. The ancient Greek word "πειράζω" ≈ "examine" and is often translated in the KJV (King James Version) as "tempt". The modern idea of the Greek "temptation" is that of an interview where one examines someone about things they know or believe they know.

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

More: Do not mention temptations nor attempt to be a pirate

More: Book: Aristotle on False Reasoning

The ancient Greek word "πειρατής" ≈ "pirate" comes from the base the ancient Greek word "πεῖρα" ≈ "trial, experiment, attempt".

A "pirate" is someone who steals something that belongs to someone else. They are tempted by getting something easy without working for it at the expense of others - often using trickery.

Change the friendly flag to the pirate flag right before the attack.

Have you ever been tempted to be a pirate? Have you ever attempted to be a pirate? Don't mention it (it does not tempt me). Those ideas and concepts are related.

More: Do not mention temptations nor attempt to be a pirate

Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread. [kjv]

και προσελθων ο πειραζων ειπεν αυτω ει υιος ει του θεου ινα οι λιθοι ουτοι αρτοι γενωνται [gnt]

7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? [kjv]

η τις εξ υμων ανθρωπος ον αιτησει ο υιος αυτου αρτον μη λιθον επιδωσει αυτω [gnt]

Would false leaders as "birds" give their children "stones" [oblivion] (human infrastructure of "sand" like a "tree") in place of "bread" [something worthy]?

[good not-eating or fasting tree]

More: Selective evidence fallacy: Cherry picking

More: Matthew 7:7-10 Ask and seek and knock gifts to children

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

Matthew 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. [kjv]

ο δε αποκριθεις ειπεν γεγραπται ουκ επ αρτω μονω ζησεται ο ανθρωπος αλλ επι παντι ρηματι εκπορευομενω δια στοματος θεου [gnt]

Does your pastor speak words out of the mouth of God (opinion, glory)? Some speak out of their own mouth (opinion, glory).

The devil quotes scripture. Jesus detects the deception and quotes back scripture in context. Context is important!
Observation: The only people who get upset at false teaching are those that understand what is being said.

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

One Greek word for "evil" in the GNT (Greek New Testament) is the ancient Greek word "πονηρός" ≈ "oppressed by toils" and comes from the ancient Greek word "πονέω" ≈ "to toil, labor".

The ancient Greek word "πόνος" ≈ "work, toil". The ancient Greek word "πονηρός" ≈ "enduring toil or suffering" and, in religion it means a somewhat nebulous "evil" (as that is the meaning theologians have given it).

The modern Greek word "πόνος" (PO-nos) ≈ "pain ache".
The modern Greek word "παράπονο" (pa-RA-po-no) ≈ "complaint, grievance" and is, literally, that which goes "beyond the pain".
The modern Greek word "πονηρός" (po-nee-ROS) ≈ "tricky, cunning".

More: Overly burdened in the cares and concerns of evil

One can be oppressed by others. One can oppress oneself.
Discuss:

Does the modern idea of slaving away to earn the money needed to get things we want (or covet) oppress us in toils?
How might an attitude closer to what Jesus portrays help minimize that enslavement?
Would the world that is using you to take advantage of that coveting not appreciate you not being beholden to that behavior?

Discuss: Do you own the land you bought? Do you rent that land? (e.g., via property taxes, etc.) What about eminent domain?

More: Overly burdened in the cares and concerns of evil

1 2 3 4 + - ▶

Discuss: Why does the world "hate" Christians?

Provide examples of "evil" that do not involve "oppression".
Provide examples of "good" that do involve "oppression".
Can you justify using "oppression" to remove/fight "oppression"? How about from the Bible?
Can you justify "self-defense" to defend against "oppression"? How about from the Bible?
Your body has built-in mechanisms to fight infection, etc. Is this "good" or "bad"?

More: Overly burdened in the cares and concerns of evil

Matthew 4:1 Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. [kjv]

τοτε ο ιησους ανηχθη εις την ερημον υπο του πνευματος πειρασθηναι υπο του διαβολου [gnt]

6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: … [kjv]

και μη εισενεγκης ημας εις πειρασμον αλλα ρυσαι ημας απο του πονηρου [gnt]

Paraphrase: Do not be deceived by ideas/beliefs that you already think you understand. Help us move/flow from being oppressed by others or oppressing others or oppressing ourselves with toils (based on those deceptions).

Avoid confirmation bias (deciding what it says before investigation).
Ask deep questions.
Do fundamental research on meanings and ideas.
When there are differences, which makes more sense?

More: Matthew 4:1-11 Examining evil temptations

Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [kjv]

και εν τω σπειρειν αυτον α μεν επεσεν παρα την οδον και ελθοντα τα πετεινα κατεφαγεν αυτα [gnt]

13:19 When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart. This is he which received seed by the way side. [kjv]

παντος ακουοντος τον λογον της βασιλειας και μη συνιεντος ερχεται ο πονηρος και αρπαζει το εσπαρμενον εν τη καρδια αυτου ουτος εστιν ο παρα την οδον σπαρεις [gnt]

Jesus relates "devour" as in "eating" to "catcheth away" which is related to the word for "rapture". The KJV translates as "evil" or "wicked" the Greek word that means "oppression" or "oppressor".

More: Matthew 6:25-27 The missing part worked out for the birds

More: Matthew 10: 28-31 Taking care of the sparrows

More: Crying wolf for the search and seizure of the rapture

More: Overly burdened in the cares and concerns of evil

More: Evil training is toilsome work: no pain no gain

More: Matthew 13:3-23 KP1 Parable of the sower

Matthew 13:4 And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: [kjv]

The Greek for "snatch away" is the word used for "rapture" and the source of the English word "harpoon". It is also used as "ravenous" in terms of "wolves".

Saying: You'll be birdseed. The "seed" that was "snatched away" in parable 1 appears to have been deposited (by the "birds") in parable 2 as "weeds" and then grows into a "tree" in parable 3 so that those "birds" have a place to make their "nests".

More: Matthew 12:29 Snatching the raptured goods from the strong man

More: Exodus 18: Hierarchy as a man-made tree structure

More: Matthew 13:3-23 KP1 Parable of the sower