Greek word · G4236

πραΰτης

prautēs

gentleness

Mildness, gentleness, a calm and even temper; slowness to anger; considerate, non-harsh treatment of others. In Greek ethics (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 4.5) praotēs is the right middle point concerning anger, between irascibility and spinelessness.

Appears 8 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πρᾳότης, πραότης, see: πραΰτης.

πραΰτης

(Rec. -ότης, exc. Ja, 1Pe, ll. with, where πρᾳύτης), -ητος, ἡ, late form of πραότης, [in LXX: Psalms 45:4 90:10 132:1 (עַנְוָה, עֱנוּת, Esther 5:1, Sirach 6:1-37 * ;]

gentleness, meekness: 1 Corinthians 4:21, 2 Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 5:23 6:1, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12 (see Lft., in l), 2Ti_2:25, Titus 3:2, James 1:21 3:13, 1 Peter 3:15.†

SIN.: ἐπιεικία, q.v

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Corinthians 10:1

Range of meaning

Mildness, gentleness, a calm and even temper; slowness to anger; considerate, non-harsh treatment of others. In Greek ethics (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 4.5) praotēs is the right middle point concerning anger, between irascibility and spinelessness. In Jewish Greek it also carries the biblical sense of the 'anāw, the lowly person who does not grasp at power and trusts God (Num 12:3 LXX, of Moses).

Against the English

KJV, ESV and NASB have 'meekness'; NIV and WEB 'humility'; BSB 'mildness'. Modern English 'meek' often suggests timid, easily pushed around or lacking backbone. The Greek word describes restraint by someone who could be harsh.

How it drifted

From roughly the 18th century, 'meek' in common English slid toward 'submissive, spiritless'. In the KJV era it still meant gentle and patient. The Greek never meant weak.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aristotle treats praotēs as a virtue and the praos man as one who is angry at the right things, to the right degree. Plutarch praises rulers (e.g. Pericles, Caesar) for praotēs alongside epieikeia. LXX Ps 44:5 (45:4) pairs it with truth and righteousness in a royal warrior psalm. Moses is 'very praus' (Num 12:3). Jesus calls himself 'praus and lowly in heart' (Matt 11:29), and Zech 9:9, quoted in Matt 21:5, presents the king who comes 'praus' on a donkey. Paul elsewhere asks: 'Shall I come with a rod, or in love and a spirit of praütēs?' (1 Cor 4:21).

From the study of Colossians 3:12

Range of meaning

Gentleness, mildness, meekness: a calm, non-retaliating temper. Used of a tamed animal, a considerate ruler, or a person who keeps anger under control.

Against the English

KJV, ESV and YLT 'meekness'; BSB, NIV and NASB 'gentleness'; WEB 'humility', which blurs it with the previous word. 'Gentleness' is the better modern English choice.

How it drifted

English 'meek' has slid toward 'timid, spineless, easily pushed around'. In Greek, praÿtēs was a strength.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aristotle (Nicomachean Ethics 4.5) defines praotēs as the virtue that sits between irascibility and a slavish lack of spirit: getting angry at the right things, to the right degree. Xenophon uses the adjective praos of horses that have been gentled. In the Greek Old Testament, Moses is 'very meek' (Num 12:3) and 'the meek shall inherit the land' (Ps 36:11 LXX). Jesus is 'gentle and lowly in heart' (Matt 11:29), and Paul appeals 'by the meekness and gentleness of Christ' (2 Cor 10:1). It is a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:23).

From the study of James 1:21

Range of meaning

Gentleness, mildness, calm strength: the opposite of harshness, irritability and anger. In Greek ethics (Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 4.5) praotēs is the virtue that governs anger, being angry rightly but not quick-tempered. In Jewish usage the related word praus translates Hebrew ʿanav, the lowly person who does not grasp but waits on God (Num 12:3; Ps 37:11 Septuagint 36:11 'the meek shall inherit the land').

Against the English

'Meekness' (KJV, YLT, ESV) now suggests timidity or being a doormat. 'Humility' (WEB, BSB 'humbly', NIV) is close but loses the specific contrast with anger. 'Gentleness' or 'a teachable, unresentful spirit' is nearest.

How it drifted

English 'meek' slid from 'gentle, courteous' toward 'submissive, spiritless'. The Greek word described strength under control.

Used elsewhere in the period

Aristotle, Nicomachean Ethics 4.5; Sirach 3:17; 4:8; Matt 5:5; 11:29 (Jesus 'gentle and lowly'); Gal 5:23; Jas 3:13 ('the gentleness of wisdom').

Similar words

Where it appears

1 Corinthians · 1

  1. 1 Corinthians 4:21 πραΰτητος;¶ of gentleness?

    Which do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod, or in love and with a gentle spirit?

    Here: Gentle, considerate restraint shown by someone who could act harshly but chooses not to. It is not weakness or timidity, and it fits Paul's point that he does have power (4:19–20).

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 10:1 πραΰτητος meekness

    Now by the mildness and gentleness of Christ, I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am humble when face to face with you, but bold when away.

    Here: Even temper: not quick to anger, gentle in how one treats others. It is a virtue of the strong, not the timid. See the study below.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 4:2 πραΰτητος, gentleness,

    with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,

    Here: A calm, controlled gentleness, especially toward people who provoke you. Someone with it does not lash out or force their own way, even when they could. It names a strength held in check, not weakness.

Colossians · 1

  1. Colossians 3:12 πραΰτητα, gentleness,

    Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with hearts of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.

    Here: Mildness that does not lash out. It is strength under control, not timidity, and in Greek ethics it was the right middle ground between hot temper and spinelessness.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 2:25 πραΰτητι gentleness

    He must gently reprove those who oppose him, in the hope that God may grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth.

    Here: This is anger held under control. It is not weakness. The word comes first in the clause for emphasis, so the way the correcting is done matters as much as the fact that it is done.

Titus · 1

  1. Titus 3:2 πραΰτητα humility

    to malign no one, and to be peaceable and gentle, showing full consideration to everyone.

    Here: A calm, mild temper that does not lash out when provoked. It describes a person who could retaliate and chooses not to. It does not mean weakness or timidity.

James · 2

  1. James 1:21 πραΰτητι humility

    Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save your souls.

    Here: A calm, unresentful and teachable temper, the opposite of the anger just condemned in 1:19–20. It is how a person welcomes correction from God instead of arguing back.

  2. James 3:13 πραΰτητι [the] humility

    Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show it by his good conduct, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.

    Here: A gentle, unprovoked, non-domineering temper: the opposite of the bitter rivalry and self-promotion James attacks in the next verse. It is not timidity.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.