πραΰς

From the study of Matthew 5:5

Range of meaning

In ordinary Greek: mild, gentle, calm, not harsh. It was used of soothing words, mild weather and tamed animals. In moral writing it is the opposite of being quick-tempered or brutal: Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics 4.5) treats praotēs, 'gentleness', as the right middle ground regarding anger, angry at the right things but not vengeful. In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint) the word mostly translates the Hebrew 'anaw/'ani: the lowly, humble, afflicted, the poor who have no power and look to God for justice. Its range therefore covers both an inner disposition (gentle, unretaliating, humble before God) and a social position (the lowly, the pushed-down).

Against the English

'Meek' (KJV, BSB, ESV, NIV) was a good match in Tyndale's and King James's day, when it meant gentle, kind and humble. Today it mostly means timid, submissive, easily pushed around. 'Gentle' (WEB, NASB) captures the temper but loses the 'lowly, oppressed' side. 'Humble' (NLT) captures the lowliness but loses the gentleness and non-retaliation.

How it drifted

Over the last few centuries English 'meek' slid from 'gentle, mild' toward 'spiritless, weak' (compare the idiom 'meek as a lamb' and the 'meek and mild' stereotype). The Greek word carries no sense of cowardice or lack of nerve.

Used elsewhere in the period

Moses is called praus sphodra, 'very meek/humble', above everyone on earth (Num 12:3 LXX), and he was no weakling; the point is that he did not defend himself against Miriam and Aaron and left it to God. Zechariah 9:9 LXX has the king coming praus on a donkey (Hebrew 'ani, lowly), which Matthew quotes at 21:5. Jesus calls himself praus kai tapeinos tē kardia, 'gentle and lowly in heart' (Matt 11:29). Psalm 36:11 LXX (= 37:11), hoi de praeis klēronomēsousin gēn, is the direct source of this beatitude. The Dead Sea Scrolls commentary on Psalm 37 (4Q171) reads 'the meek' as 'the congregation of the poor', a persecuted community that will possess the land.

From the study of Matthew 11:29

Range of meaning

Gentle, mild, considerate, not harsh or quick-tempered. In Greek writers it describes a calm person and also a gentle, well-trained animal (Xenophon uses it of horses). In the Greek Old Testament it often translates Hebrew ʿanav/ʿani, 'humble, afflicted, lowly', the poor who rely on God.

Against the English

KJV and YLT say 'meek'. In modern English 'meek' suggests timid, spineless or easily pushed around, which praÿs does not mean. 'Gentle' (BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV, NASB) is closer.

How it drifted

In older English 'meek' meant gentle and patient under provocation. Over time it came to suggest weakness and passivity ('meek as a lamb', 'meek and mild').

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Num 12:3: Moses was 'very meek (πραῢς σφόδρα), more than all people on the earth'. Zech 9:9, quoted in Matt 21:5: 'your king comes to you, gentle (πραΰς), and mounted on a donkey'. Ps 37:11 (36:11 LXX): 'the gentle will inherit the land', echoed in Matt 5:5. Aristotle treats πραότης as the right middle point between being irascible and being spineless (Nicomachean Ethics 4.5).

From the study of Matthew 21:5

Range of meaning

Gentle, mild, not harsh, calm and kind. Greek writers used it of tame animals, mild speech and a ruler's leniency. In the Septuagint it often renders the Hebrew ʿānāw or ʿānî, words for the lowly, poor, afflicted or humble person who depends on God (e.g. Psalm 37:11 / LXX 36:11; Numbers 12:3 of Moses).

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'meek'; WEB 'humble'; BSB, NIV and NASB 'gentle'. 'Meek' is etymologically fine, but in modern English it suggests timid and spineless. 'Humble' is closer to the Hebrew of Zechariah, and 'gentle' is closer to the ordinary Greek sense.

How it drifted

In early modern English, 'meek' described patient, gentle strength (Tyndale and the KJV used it for Moses). Over time it slid toward 'submissive, easily pushed around'. The Greek word never meant weakness. Greek writers praised it as a virtue in powerful people.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrew Zechariah 9:9 has ʿānî, 'poor, afflicted, lowly'. The Septuagint renders it πραΰς, and Matthew follows the Septuagint here. Elsewhere in Matthew: 5:5 ('Blessed are the gentle'), 11:29 ('I am gentle and lowly in heart'). Classical authors such as Plato and Xenophon used πρᾷος of rulers who are mild toward their subjects. Per BDAG, the sense is 'not overly impressed by a sense of one's self-importance, gentle, humble, considerate'.