Bible Encyclopedia: Meekness

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International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

MEEKNESS

mek'-nes (`anawah; praotes, prautes): "Meekness" in the Old Testament (`anawah, `anwah) is from `anaw, "suffering," "oppressed," "afflicted," denoting the spirit produced under such experiences. The word is sometimes translated "poor" (Job 24:4, the Revised Version margin "meek"; Amos 8:4); "humble" (Psalm 9:12, 18, the Revised Version margin "meek"); "lowly" (Proverbs 3:34; Proverbs 16:19, the Revised Version (British and American) "poor," margin "meek"). It is generally associated with some form of oppression. The "meek" were the special objects of the Divine regard, and to them special blessings are promised (Psalm 22:26, "The meek shall eat and be satisfied"; 25:9, "The meek will he guide in justice; and the meek will he teach his way"; 37:11, "The meek shall inherit the land"; 147:6, "Yahweh upholdeth the meek"; 149:4, "He will beautify the meek with salvation," the Revised Version margin "victory"; compare Isaiah 11:4; 29:19:00; 61:1, "Yahweh hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek," the Revised Version margin "poor"; Zechariah 2:3; Psalm 45:4, "because of (the Revised Version margin "in behalf of") truth and meekness and righteousness"). Of Moses it is said he "was very meek, above all the men that were upon the face of the earth," notwithstanding the Divine revelations given him, and in the face of opposition (Numbers 12:3; compare 2 Corinthians 12:1-6). Meekness is ascribed even to Yahweh Himself (2 Samuel 22:36, "Thy gentleness (`anawah) hath made me great"; compare Psalm 18:36 (`anwah), the Revised Version margin "condescension"); men are exhorted to seek it (Zechariah 2:3, "Seek righteousness, seek meekness"; compare Proverbs 15:1; Proverbs 16:14; Proverbs 25:15 Ecclesiastes 10:4).

In the Apocrypha also "meekness" holds a high place (Ecclesiasticus 1:27, "The fear of the Lord is wisdom and instruction: faith and meekness are his delight," the Revised Version (British and American) "in faith and meekness is his good pleasure"; Ecclesiasticus 3:19, "Mysteries are revealed unto the meek" (the Revised Version (British and American) omits); compare 10:14).

"Meekness" in the New Testament (praotes, prautes) is not merely a natural virtue, but a Christian "grace"; it is one of the "fruits of the Spirit" (Galatians 5:23). The conception of meekness, as it had been defined by Aristotle, was raised by Christianity to a much higher level, and associated with the commonly despised quality of humility (see under the word). It was the spirit of the Saviour Himself (Matthew 11:29): "I am meek (praos) and lowly in heart" (compare 2 Corinthians 10:1, "by the meekness and gentleness of Christ"); it presupposes humility, flows from it, and finds expression in moderation (see under the word). (See Trench, Syn. of New Testament, 145; Westcott and Hort, The New Testament in Greek, New Testament Lexicon, under the word) Christians are exhorted to cherish it and show it in their relations to one another (Ephesians 4:2 Colossians 3:12 1 Timothy 6:11 Titus 3:2, "showing all meekness toward all men"); it ought to characterize Christian teachers or those in authority in "instructing (the Revised Version (British and American) "correcting," margin "instructing") them that oppose themselves" (2 Timothy 2:25); the saving, "implanted" (the Revised Version margin "inborn") word is to be received "with meekness" (James 1:21); a man is to "show by his good life his works in meekness of wisdom" (James 3:13), and to give a reason for the hope that is in him, "with meekness and fear" (1 Peter 3:15).

The interchangeableness of "meek" with "poor," etc., in the Old Testament ought to be specially noted. our Lord's opening of His ministry at Nazareth (Luke 4:18, "He anointed me to preach good tidings to the poor"), and His message to John (Matthew 11:5, "The poor have good tidings preached to them") are in harmony therewith.

W. L. Walker

Greek

4236. praotes -- meekness.
... 4235, 4236. praotes. 4237 . meekness. ... Word Origin variant reading for prautes,
qv. meekness. From praios; gentleness, by implication, humility -- meekness. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4236.htm - 6k

4239. praus -- meekness
... meekness. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: praus Phonetic Spelling:
(prah-ooce') Short Definition: mild, gentle Definition: mild, gentle. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4239.htm - 6k

4239a. praupathia -- meekness
... meekness. Transliteration: praupathia Short Definition: gentleness. Word Origin
from praus and pascho Definition meekness NASB Word Usage gentleness (1). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4239a.htm - 5k

4240. prautes -- gentleness
... Cognate: 4240 (compare 4236 , another feminine noun which is also derived from the
root , emphasizing the divine of the meekness) -- ("gentle strength") which ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4240.htm - 7k

Strong's Hebrew

6037. anvah -- gentleness, meekness
... 6036, 6037. anvah. 6038 . gentleness, meekness. Transliteration: anvah Phonetic
Spelling: (an-vaw') Short Definition: gentleness. ... gentleness, meekness ...
/hebrew/6037.htm - 5k

6038. anavah -- humility
... Word Origin from anah Definition humility NASB Word Usage gentleness (1), help
(1), humility (4), meekness (1). gentleness, humility, meekness. ...
/hebrew/6038.htm - 6k

Library

Of Meekness
... OF MEEKNESS. From this patience there spring meekness and kindliness, for
none can be meek in adversity save the patient man. Meekness ...
/.../john/the adornment of the spritual marriage/chapter xvi of meekness.htm

Fifth Day. Meekness.
... Fifth Day. MEEKNESS. "I am meek and lowly in heart.""Matthew 11:29. There
is often a beautiful blending of majesty and humility ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the mind of jesus/fifth day meekness.htm

Christian Meekness
... 12. Christian meekness. ... Matthew 5:5. We are now got to the third step leading in
the way to blessedness, Christian meekness. Blessed are the meek'. ...
/.../watson/the beatitudes an exposition of matthew 51-12/12 christian meekness.htm

What Meekness is in Itself, and when it is Perfect and when it is ...
... HERE BEGINNETH THE THIRTEENTH CHAPTER What meekness is in itself, and when
it is perfect and when it is imperfect. What meekness ...
/.../anonymous/the cloud of unknowing/here beginneth the thirteenth chapter.htm

Whether Clemency and Meekness are the Greatest virtues?
... OF CLEMENCY AND MEEKNESS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether clemency and meekness
are the greatest virtues? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether clemency and meekness are 2.htm

Whether Both Clemency and Meekness are virtues?
... OF CLEMENCY AND MEEKNESS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether both clemency and meekness are
virtues? ... Therefore neither clemency nor meekness is a virtue. ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether both clemency and meekness.htm

Whether Clemency and Meekness are Absolutely the Same?
... OF CLEMENCY AND MEEKNESS (FOUR ARTICLES) Whether clemency and meekness
are absolutely the same? Objection 1: It would seem that ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether clemency and meekness are.htm

March the Thirtieth the victory of Meekness
... MARCH The Thirtieth THE VICTORY OF MEEKNESS. 1 PETER ii.17-25. Then I may
be not only the betrayer, but the betrayed. In my inner ...
/.../my daily meditation for the circling year/march the thirtieth the victory.htm

The Blessing of Meekness.
... CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LIFE. 349. " The Blessing of Meekness. 349. LM
Scott. The Blessing of Meekness. 1 Happy the meek, whose ...
/.../adams/hymns for christian devotion/349 the blessing of.htm

Of Clemency and Meekness (Four Articles)
... OF CLEMENCY AND MEEKNESS (FOUR ARTICLES). We must next consider clemency
and meekness, and the contrary vices. Concerning the virtues ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/of clemency and meekness four.htm

Easton's Bible Dictionary

A calm temper of mind, not easily provoked (James 3:13). Peculiar promises are made to the meek (Matthew 5:5; Isaiah 66:2). The cultivation of this spirit is enjoined (Colossians 3:12; 1 Timothy 6:11; Zephaniah 2:3), and is exemplified in Christ (Matthew 11:29), Abraham (Genesis 13; 16:5, 6) Moses (Numbers 12:3), David (Zechariah 12:8; 2 Samuel 16:10, 12), and Paul (1 Corinthians 9:19).

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) The quality or state of being meek.

Thesaurus

Meekness (14 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary. (n.) The quality or state of being meek. Int. Standard
Bible Encyclopedia. MEEKNESS. mek'-nes (`anawah; praotes ...
/m/meekness.htm - 16k

Lamb (124 Occurrences)
... In the symbolical language of Scripture the lamb is the type of meekness
and innocence (Isaiah 11:6; 65:25; Luke 10:3; John 21:15). ...
/l/lamb.htm - 50k

Long-suffering (23 Occurrences)
... YLT). Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and meekness, with long-suffering,
bearing with one another in love; (DBY WBS YLT). Colossians ...
/l/long-suffering.htm - 13k

Meek (23 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness
of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward ...
/m/meek.htm - 13k

Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)
... KJV ASV). Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering,
forbearing one another in love; (KJV ASV). Colossians 1 ...
/l/longsuffering.htm - 16k

Zephaniah (11 Occurrences)
... The principal objection to 2:1-3 is the presence in 2:3 of the expressions "meek
of the earth," and "seek meekness." It is claimed that "meek" and "meekness...
/z/zephaniah.htm - 32k

Humbleness (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) The quality of being humble; humility; meekness.
Multi-Version Concordance Humbleness (1 Occurrence). ...
/h/humbleness.htm - 6k

Quarreling (17 Occurrences)
... (See NIV). Titus 3:2 of no one to speak evil, not to be quarrelsome -- gentle,
showing all meekness to all men, (See RSV). Genesis ...
/q/quarreling.htm - 11k

Quiet (167 Occurrences)
... nachath, "quiet," "be set on"). For "them that are quiet in the land", in Psalm
35:20, see MEEKNESS; POOR. For "quiet prince in Jeremiah ...
/q/quiet.htm - 37k

Quarrelsome (9 Occurrences)
... (See NAS RSV). Titus 3:2 of no one to speak evil, not to be quarrelsome --
gentle, showing all meekness to all men, (YLT). Proverbs ...
/q/quarrelsome.htm - 8k

Bible Concordance

Meekness (14 Occurrences)

1 Corinthians 4:21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?
(KJV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Corinthians 10:1 Now I Paul myself beseech you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ, who in presence am base among you, but being absent am bold toward you:
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

Galatians 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Galatians 6:1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted.
(KJV WEY DBY WBS YLT)

Ephesians 4:2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Timothy 6:11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

2 Timothy 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

James 1:21 Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
(KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT)

Psalms 45:4 And in thy majesty ride prosperously because of truth and meekness and righteousness; and thy right hand shall teach thee terrible things.
(KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS)

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD's anger.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Subtopics

Meekness

Meekness of Jesus

Meekness: A Characteristic of Wisdom

Meekness: A Fruit of the Spirit

Meekness: Abraham

Meekness: Blessedness of

Meekness: Christ Set an Example of

Meekness: David

Meekness: General Scriptures Concerning

Meekness: Gideon

Meekness: Hannah