Brief Overview of πραότης (Strong’s G4236: praotēs)

Strong’s G4236: A feminine noun denoting gentleness, meekness, and considerateness. Derived from praus (gentle), it represents a strong but controlled disposition that remains teachable before God and considerate toward others, exemplifying strength under control rather than weakness.

U- Unveiling the Word

πραότης represents a virtue that combines strength with gentleness, often misunderstood in modern contexts. While contemporary English tends to associate meekness with weakness, the biblical concept conveys the idea of power under perfect control. This word pictures a wild horse that has been tamed – not broken in spirit, but brought under submission to be useful. In the New Testament context, πραότης signifies a divine quality that Jesus himself exemplified when he described himself as “gentle and humble in heart” in Matthew 11:29. Early church fathers like Clement of Alexandria emphasized this quality as essential for Christian leadership and discipleship, understanding it as strength that serves rather than dominates.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πραότης, praotēs, prah-ot-ace
• Detailed Pronunciation: prah (as in ‘father’) + o (as in ‘go’) + tace (rhymes with ‘grace’)
• Part of Speech: Feminine Noun

Etymology:

• Root: πραΰς (praus) – gentle, mild
• Suffix: -της (-tēs) – forms abstract nouns denoting a quality or state
• The combination creates a noun expressing the quality or state of gentleness

D – Defining Meanings

• Power under control
• Gentleness with strength
• Considerate humility

For compound words:
Not a compound word, but the suffix -της transforms the adjective πραΰς into an abstract noun denoting the quality itself.

Translation Options:

1. Gentleness – Best captures the active nature of the quality
2. Meekness – Traditional translation, though often misunderstood
3. Controlled strength – More dynamic equivalent capturing the concept

E – Exploring Similar Words

• ἐπιείκεια (epieikeia) [ep-ee-i-ki-a] – reasonableness, more focused on fairness
• χρηστότης (chrēstotēs) [kray-stot-ace] – kindness, emphasizing moral goodness
• See G4236

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Case: Various forms
• Nominative: πραότης
• Genitive: πραότητος
• Dative: πραότητι
• Accusative: πραότητα
• Number: Singular (abstract concept)
• Gender: Feminine
• Declension: Third declension

The word follows regular third declension patterns for feminine nouns ending in -της. These morphological features affect how the word functions in sentences, showing its relationship to other words.

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG defines πραότης as the quality of not being overly impressed by a sense of one’s self-importance. Thayer’s emphasizes it as mildness of disposition. LSJ connects it to classical usage meaning “mildness” or “gentleness.” Vine’s notably distinguishes it from mere natural gentleness, describing it as an inwrought grace of the soul. Moulton and Milligan provide papyri evidence showing its use in legal contexts where it denoted reasonable dealing, as opposed to strict justice.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of [πραότης] gentleness?” 1 Corinthians 4:21

Additional References:
2 Corinthians 10:1, Galatians 5:23, Galatians 6:1, Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:12, 2 Timothy 2:25

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

πραότης embodies the paradoxical strength of the gospel – power expressed through gentleness. This quality, perfectly displayed in Jesus, shows us that true strength lies not in domination but in controlled, purposeful gentleness. It proclaims the good news by demonstrating that in God’s kingdom, true power serves others and strength is displayed through gentleness. This reflects the heart of King Jesus, who could command legions of angels but chose to wear a crown of thorns.

D – Did You Know?

1. πραότης was used in ancient horse training manuals to describe the ideal temperament of a well-trained war horse.
2. Early Christian martyrs were often described using this term, highlighting their quiet strength in face of persecution.
3. Medieval manuscripts sometimes used this word to describe the ideal qualities of Christian rulers.

Strong’s G4236: A feminine noun denoting gentleness, meekness, and considerateness. Derived from praus (gentle), it represents a strong but controlled disposition that remains teachable before God and considerate toward others, exemplifying strength under control rather than weakness.

Part of speech: Feminine Noun

Tags: gentleness, meekness, fruit of the Spirit, Christian virtues, character, discipleship, Jesus’ teachings, spiritual formation, Christian ethics, New Testament Greek, biblical keywords​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​