Greek word · G2272
ἡσύχιος
hēsychios
quiet
Quiet, tranquil, calm, peaceable, undisturbed. The related words mean 'to be at rest, keep calm, live quietly' (ἡσυχάζω) and 'quietness, calm, sometimes silence' (ἡσυχία). The adjective describes a settled state, not mainly the absence of speech.
Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·
What it means
ἡσύχιος, -α, -ον
(= the more frequently ἥσυχος; cf. Wisdom of Solomon 18:14, Sirach 25:20), [in LXX: Isaiah 66:2 (רוּחַ נָכֶה)* ;]
quiet, tranquil: 1 Timothy 2:2, 1 Peter 3:4.†
SYN.: ἤρεμος, of tranquillity arising from without; ἡ., from within (see Ellic. on 1Ti, l.with; but also see CGT, ib.).† (AS)
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
Quiet, tranquil, calm, peaceable, undisturbed. The related words mean 'to be at rest, keep calm, live quietly' (ἡσυχάζω) and 'quietness, calm, sometimes silence' (ἡσυχία). The adjective describes a settled state, not mainly the absence of speech.
- Against the English
All the major English versions say 'quiet', which is accurate. Modern hearers, though, tend to take 'quiet' to mean soft-spoken, reserved or introverted, which is a personality type rather than a settled disposition.
- How it drifted
The modern sense of 'quiet' as about volume or temperament replaces the older sense of calm, untroubled stability.
- Used elsewhere in the period
Isaiah 66:2 LXX: 'On whom will I look, but on the humble and quiet (ἡσύχιον) and the one who trembles at my words?' The quiet one is the one God looks on. This is a close parallel to 'precious before God' here, and 1 Clement 13:4 quotes it. Paul urges all believers toward 'a tranquil and quiet (ἡσύχιον) life' (1 Timothy 2:2) and to 'aspire to live quietly' (1 Thessalonians 4:11).
From the study of 1 Timothy 2:2
- Range of meaning
Ēremos means quiet, still, undisturbed (rare; only here in the NT). Hēsuchios means quiet, calm, peaceable, settled in temperament. The hēsuch- family (hēsuchia, hēsuchazō) is about calm, rest and not making trouble. It does not mainly mean silence; silence is only one possible application.
- Against the English
'Tranquil and quiet' (BSB, WEB) and 'quiet and peaceable' (KJV) are fair. Modern ears can hear 'quiet' as silent, withdrawn or private. The Greek is about being undisturbed and peaceable, not about saying nothing.
- How it drifted
Some older synonym studies (e.g. Trench) say ēremos means calm from outside and hēsuchios calm from within. That is a reasonable tendency, but the two words are mainly paired to reinforce each other.
- Used elsewhere in the period
1 Thessalonians 4:11 urges believers to 'aspire to live quietly' (hēsuchazein) and mind their own affairs. 1 Peter 3:4 speaks of a 'gentle and quiet (hēsuchiou) spirit'. In Greek moral writing the quiet, untroubled life was a widely admired ideal.
Similar words
Where it appears
1 Timothy · 1
-
1 Timothy 2:2 ἡσύχιον quiet
for kings and all those in authority—so that we may lead tranquil and quiet lives in all godliness and dignity.
Here: Calm, settled, peaceable. It describes a life and a temperament that do not stir up trouble. This is the same word-family used for the 'quietness' asked of women in 2:11–12.
1 Peter · 1
-
1 Peter 3:4 ἡσυχίου quiet
but from the inner disposition of your heart, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is precious in God’s sight.
Here: Settled, calm, at peace, not agitated or contentious. It describes an inner steadiness, not how loud someone's voice is or what their personality type is.
Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.