Greek word · G1518
εἰρηνοποιός
eirēnopoios
peacemaker
'Peace-making; a peacemaker', from eirēnē + poieō. In Greek writers it describes those who negotiate an end to war between states or settle disputes. It is also a title of praise for rulers and, in Philo, for God. The Septuagint uses it in Prov 10:10 ('he who reproves boldly makes peace').
Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).
In depth
- Range of meaning
'Peace-making; a peacemaker', from eirēnē + poieō. In Greek writers it describes those who negotiate an end to war between states or settle disputes. It is also a title of praise for rulers and, in Philo, for God. The related verb eirēnopoieō ('to make peace') appears in Col 1:20 for God reconciling all things 'by making peace through the blood of his cross'. The Septuagint uses it in Prov 10:10 ('he who reproves boldly makes peace').
- Against the English
'Peacemakers' (BSB, KJV, WEB, YLT) is an exact word-for-word equivalent. The NLT's 'those who work for peace' keeps the active sense. The risk lies in how readers hear it: as 'peaceable', 'calm', or 'avoiding conflict'.
- How it drifted
The Latin Vulgate's pacifici meant 'peace-makers' (pacem facere, 'to make peace'). But Wycliffe's English Bible (1380s) rendered it 'pesible men' ('peaceable men'), and English 'pacific' and 'pacifist' later moved toward a passive or political sense. Tyndale (1526) restored the active idea with 'maynteyners of peace', and the Geneva Bible gave 'peace makers'.
- Used elsewhere in the period
BDAG cites Xenophon, Plutarch, and Philo. Philo (Special Laws 2.192) calls God the eirēnopoios who ends war in the cosmos. Jewish tradition praises Aaron as one who 'loved peace and pursued peace' (Hillel in Mishnah Avot 1:12), and the Mishnah lists 'bringing peace between a person and his neighbour' among the deeds rewarded in this age and the next (m. Peah 1:1). These rabbinic texts were written down around 200 CE but preserve older ideals. James 3:18 speaks of 'those who make peace' (tois poiousin eirēnēn).
Similar words
Where it appears
Matthew · 1
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Matthew 5:9 εἰρηνοποιοί, peacemakers,
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Here: A compound of eirēnē (peace) and poieō (to make or do). It means people who actively bring about peace and reconcile those at odds. It does not just mean people who are peaceful by temperament. This is the word's only appearance in the New Testament.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.