📖 Biblical Definition
Hebrew 'anavah, biblical humility or meekness. The virtue is rooted in the verbal stem 'anah, to be bowed down, afflicted, humbled — not as an externally imposed degradation but as the internal posture of one who knows his place before God. 'Anavah appears in the great wisdom-affirmations: before honour is humility (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12); by humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life (Proverbs 22:4); the reward of humility and the fear of the LORD is riches, and honour, and life. The supreme OT example is Moses, of whom Numbers 12:3 records: Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth. Moses's 'anavah is not weakness; it is the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God's purposes, the leader who could have personally enriched himself but did not, who could have struck down Korah and Dathan privately but appealed to the LORD. The fulfilment of the OT pattern is in the Lord Jesus Christ, who is meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29, Greek tapeinos) and who said, Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. The patriarchal-Reformed reader recovers 'anavah as the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God, the opposite of both arrogant pride and weak self-deprecation.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Hebrew 'anavah (H6038), humility / meekness; the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God; supreme OT example: Moses (Numbers 12:3); fulfilment in Christ (Matthew 11:29).
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ANAVAH, Hebrew noun (H6038; humility, meekness) From 'anah (H6031), to be bowed down, afflicted, humbled. The internal posture of one who knows his place before God; not externally imposed degradation but deliberate self-effacement of a strong man before His purposes. Supreme OT example: Moses (Numbers 12:3, very meek above all the men upon the face of the earth). Wisdom-affirmations: Proverbs 15:33; 18:12; 22:4. Fulfilment in Christ: Matthew 11:29 (meek and lowly in heart). Distinguished from both arrogant pride and weak self-deprecation.
📖 Key Scripture
Numbers 12:3 — "Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth."
Proverbs 15:33 — "The fear of the LORD is the instruction of wisdom; and before honour is humility."
Proverbs 22:4 — "By humility and the fear of the LORD are riches, and honour, and life."
Matthew 11:29 — "Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Modern misreadings caricature biblical humility as weakness or low self-esteem; the biblical 'anavah is the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God.
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The principal modern corruption of biblical humility is its reduction to weakness, low self-esteem, or self-deprecation. The biblical 'anavah is the opposite: the strong man's deliberate self-effacement before God. Moses, the meek man of Numbers 12:3, was anything but weak; he confronted Pharaoh, smashed the golden calf, executed three thousand Levites in the wilderness purge, interceded for the people through forty days and nights, and led Israel for forty years. His 'anavah was the strength of the man whose self-confidence rested in the LORD's calling, not in personal advancement. The patriarchal-Reformed recovery is the integrated biblical virtue: strong courage anchored in deliberate self-effacement before God.
🔗 Greek & Hebrew Roots
H6038; from 'anah (H6031); biblical humility as the strong man's self-effacement before God; Moses; Christ.
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['Hebrew', 'H6038', "'anavah", 'humility, meekness']
['Hebrew', 'H6031', "'anah", 'to be bowed down, afflicted (verbal root)']
['Greek', 'G5012', 'tapeinophrosune', 'humility, lowliness of mind (NT equivalent)']
Usage
"'Anavah is biblical humility as the strong man's self-effacement before God."
"Supreme OT example: Moses (Numbers 12:3, meek above all men)."
"Fulfilment in Christ: meek and lowly in heart (Matthew 11:29)."