θεοσέβεια (theosebeia)
theosebeia
reverence for God
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun theosebeia describes a profound reverence for God, combining the roots for "God" and "reverence." In the New Testament, it appears only once, in 1 Timothy 2:10, where it is linked to good works as a sign of genuine piety. This usage suggests that true respect for the divine is not merely an internal feeling but is demonstrated through outward actions.
Its presence in the Septuagint connects it to the Hebrew concept of fearing the Lord, such as in Genesis 20:11 and Job 28:28. Here, the term bridges the gap between awe and ethical living. It implies a life oriented toward God’s goodness, where reverence shapes daily conduct rather than remaining an abstract theological idea.
Translators often render it as "godliness" or "piety," though these English words can sometimes sound formal or distant. The Greek term carries more weight, pointing to a holistic attitude of respect that influences how a person lives. It remains a rare but potent word for describing faith expressed through behavior.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word theosebeia points to a reverence that moves beyond private feeling into visible action. In 1 Timothy 2:10, this respect for God is shown through good works. It suggests that true piety is not just an internal attitude but something lived out in daily conduct.
This rare term bridges awe and ethics. It implies a life oriented toward God’s goodness, where reverence shapes how we treat others. Rather than remaining an abstract idea, it becomes a practical guide for living with integrity and care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- [the] fear of God,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- θεοσέβειαν,1×
Key Verses
-
I Timothy 2:10
but with good works, which is appropriate for women professing godliness.
This verse uniquely links theosebeia directly to good works, showing that reverence for God is demonstrated through outward actions rather than internal feelings alone.