📖 Biblical Definition
Biblical meekness is not weakness — it is power under God's control. The Greek prautes describes the disposition of one who has surrendered his strength to God's authority. Moses was called "very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth" (Numbers 12:3), yet he confronted Pharaoh, shattered the golden calf, and led a nation through the wilderness. Jesus described Himself as "gentle and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29), yet He drove moneychangers from the temple with a whip. Meekness is not passivity but submission to God that produces restraint, patience, and gentleness toward others — even when one possesses the power to retaliate.
📜 Webster 1828 Definition
Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness; forbearance under injuries and provocations.
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MEEK'NESS, n. 1. Softness of temper; mildness; gentleness. 2. Forbearance under injuries and provocations. 3. In an evangelical sense, humility; resignation; submission to the divine will, without murmuring or peevishness. Note: Webster correctly identifies the evangelical sense as submission to God's will — not spineless capitulation to man's demands.
📖 Key Scripture
• Matthew 5:5 — "Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth."
• Numbers 12:3 — "Now the man Moses was very meek, more than all people who were on the face of the earth."
• Matthew 11:29 — "Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart."
• Galatians 5:23 — "Gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
• Psalm 37:11 — "The meek shall inherit the land and delight themselves in abundant peace."
⚠️ Modern Corruption
Meekness has been redefined as weakness, timidity, and passive compliance.
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The modern world despises meekness because it confuses it with weakness. To call someone "meek" today is an insult — it implies spinelessness, cowardice, and inability to stand up for oneself. This is the exact opposite of the biblical meaning. Biblical meekness is the warrior who sheathes his sword because God has commanded restraint, not because he lacks the strength to fight. It is Jesus silent before Pilate — not because He could not call twelve legions of angels, but because He chose obedience to the Father over self-defense. The church has also corrupted meekness by using it to silence legitimate dissent, telling believers to be "meek" when they should be contending earnestly for the faith.
Usage
• "Biblical meekness is a war horse under the rider's rein — immense power, completely submitted to its master's direction."
• "Moses was the meekest man alive and also the one who shattered the golden calf — meekness does not mean tolerating idolatry."