2317. theosebeia
Strong's Lexicon
theosebeia: Godliness, piety

Original Word: θεοσέβεια
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: theosebeia
Pronunciation: theh-os-eb'-i-ah
Phonetic Spelling: (theh-os-eb'-i-ah)
Definition: Godliness, piety
Meaning: reverence for God, fear of God, godliness, piety.

Word Origin: Derived from θεός (theos, "God") and σέβομαι (sebomai, "to revere" or "to worship")

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often associated with the concept of godliness is יִרְאַת יְהוָה (yirat Yahweh), meaning "fear of the LORD," which conveys a similar sense of reverence and devotion to God. This is seen in passages like Proverbs 1:7, "The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge."

Usage: The term "theosebeia" refers to a devout reverence and respect for God, often translated as "godliness" or "piety" in English. It encompasses a life that is lived in accordance with God's will, characterized by a deep, sincere devotion and a commitment to living out one's faith in practical ways. This concept is central to Christian ethics and spirituality, emphasizing the importance of aligning one's actions and attitudes with the divine nature and commands.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, piety was a significant virtue, often associated with religious observance and moral integrity. For early Christians, theosebeia went beyond mere ritualistic practices, embodying a holistic lifestyle that reflected the teachings of Jesus Christ. It was a counter-cultural stance in a society that often valued external religious displays over genuine spiritual transformation. The early church fathers emphasized theosebeia as essential for Christian maturity and witness.

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 2317 theosébeia – properly, God-fearing (veneration); godly respect, reverence (used only in 1 Tim 2:10). See 2318 (theosebēs).

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from theosebés
Definition
fear of God
NASB Translation
godliness (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2317: θεοσέβεια

θεοσέβεια, θεοσεβείας, (θεοσεβής), reverence toward God, godliness: 1 Timothy 2:10. (Xenophon, an. 2, 6, 26; Plato, epin., p. 985 d.; the Sept. Genesis 20:11; Job 28:28; Baruch 5:4; Sir. 1:25 (); 4 Macc. 1:9 (Fritzsche); (variant).)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
godliness.

From theosebes; devoutness, i.e. Piety -- godliness.

see GREEK theosebes

Forms and Transliterations
θεοσέβεια θεοσεβειαν θεοσέβειαν theosebeian theosébeian
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
1 Timothy 2:10 N-AFS
GRK: γυναιξὶν ἐπαγγελλομέναις θεοσέβειαν δι' ἔργων
NAS: for women making a claim to godliness.
KJV: women professing godliness) with good
INT: to women professing [the] fear of God by works

Strong's Greek 2317
1 Occurrence


θεοσέβειαν — 1 Occ.

















2316
Top of Page
Top of Page