Gentleness

VIEW:33 DATA:01-04-2020

GENTLENESS.—The word ‘gentle’ occurs five times in NT (AV [Note: Authorized Version.] ). In 1Th_2:7 and 2Ti_2:24 it corresponds to Gr. çpios; it is the character proper to a nurse among trying children, or a teacher with refractory pupils. In Tit_3:2, Jam_3:17, 1Pe_2:18 ‘gentle’ is the AV [Note: Authorized Version.] tr. [Note: translate or translation.] of epieikçs, which is uniformly so rendered in RV [Note: Revised Version.] . The general idea of the Gr. word is that which is suggested by equity as opposed to strict legal justice; it expresses the quality of considerateness, of readiness to look humanely and reasonably at the facts of a case. There is a good discussion of it in Trench, Syn. § xliii.; he thinks there are no words in English which answer exactly to it, the ideas of equity and fairness, which are essential to its import, usually getting less than justice in the proposed equivalents.
In 2Sa_22:36 = Psa_18:35 (‘Thy gentleness hath made me great’) RV [Note: Revised Version.] keeps ‘gentleness’ in the text, but gives ‘condescension’ in the margin, which is much better. The key to the meaning is found in comparing such passages as Psa_113:5 f., Isa_57:15, Zec_9:9, Mat_11:29.
Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible
Edited by James Hastings, D.D. Published in 1909

See HUMILITY; MEEKNESS.
Bridgeway Bible Dictionary by Don Fleming
PRINTER 1990.

jen?t'l-nes (ענה, ‛ānāh; ἐπιείκεια, epieı́keia, χρηστότης, chrēstótēs): In 2Sa_22:36 ‛ānāh, ?to bend low,? ?to condescend,? is translated ?gentleness,? ?Thy gentleness hath made me great,? the Revised Version, margin ?or condescension?; so also Psa_18:35, where the word is ‛anwāh ?humility,? ?gentleness,? or ?condescension.? In the New Testament epieikeia (?fairness,? ?moderation,? in Act_24:4 translated ?clemency?) is in 2Co_10:1 translated ?gentleness,? ?the meekness and gentleness of Christ? (2 Macc 2:22 ?favour,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?forbearance?); chrēstotēs, ?kindness,? ?usefulness,? is translated ?gentleness? in Gal_5:22 the King James Version, the Revised Version (British and American) ?kindness?; chrēstós is the word translated ?kind? (to the unthankful and evil, Luk_6:35), and chrēstotēs seems to carry in it a similar idea of active kindness.
Gentle occurs in the Old Testament only in the Revised Version (British and American) of Jer_11:19, ?I was like a gentle lamb? (kebhes). In the New Testament it is the translation of ḗpios, ?mild,? ?gentle? (1Th_2:7; 2Ti_2:24), and of epieikḗs, ?fitting? ?proper,? etc. (1Ti_3:3 the Revised Version (British and American); Tit_3:2; Jam_3:17; 1Pe_2:18); also, with article, Phi_4:5 (the King James Version ?moderation,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?forbearance?). In 2 Macc 15:12 Onias is said (the King James Version) to be ?gentle (práos) in condition,? the Revised Version (British and American) ?in manner.?

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
PRINTER 1915.

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