μακροθυμία (makrothumia)
makrothumia
patience
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun makrothumia describes a steadfast patience that refuses to react quickly with anger or vengeance. Literally meaning "long-tempered," it captures the quality of holding back immediate retaliation in favor of enduring provocation. While often translated simply as "patience," this word carries a specific weight regarding emotional restraint and forbearance when wronged.
Scripture applies this term to both human character and divine nature. In passages like Colossians 1:11, believers are encouraged to exhibit this endurance through trials. More significantly, it defines God’s character in Romans 2:4, where His patience is shown as a deliberate delay in judgment, offering time for repentance rather than instant punishment.
This concept differs from general perseverance by focusing on the relational aspect of waiting out offense. It is not merely enduring hardship, but actively choosing not to exact revenge despite having the power to do so. This makes it a central attribute of God’s mercy and a key virtue for Christian community life.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we face provocation or delay, it is easy to react with immediate anger or frustration. This Greek word describes a deliberate choice to hold back that reaction. It is not passive waiting, but an active restraint of the impulse to retaliate when wronged. In our daily interactions, this quality allows us to maintain peace and offer grace even when we have good reason to be upset.
Scripture presents this patience as a defining characteristic of God Himself. He does not rush to judge but offers time for repentance and healing. This reveals that His delay is an act of mercy, not indifference. When we experience this same forbearance from Him, it invites us to extend similar grace to others in our lives.
As believers, we are called to reflect this divine nature. It strengthens our relationships by breaking cycles of offense and revenge. This steadfastness helps us endure trials with joy and bear with one another in love. May you find comfort in knowing that God’s patience is a gift meant to lead us toward repentance and deeper trust in His timing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- patience7×
- patience,4×
- of patience1×
- longsuffering1×
- [and] patience;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μακροθυμίας3×
- μακροθυμίαν3×
- μακροθυμίᾳ,2×
- μακροθυμίᾳ2×
- μακροθυμίας,1×
- μακροθυμίαν·1×
- μακροθυμία,1×
- μακροθυμία1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 2:4
Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
This verse defines the purpose of divine patience as a deliberate delay in judgment intended to lead people toward repentance.
-
II Peter 3:15
Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you,
Peter explicitly links the Lord's patience to salvation, showing that waiting is an opportunity for grace rather than a sign of absence.
-
Ephesians 4:2
with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
The text connects this patience directly to bearing with other people in love, highlighting its essential role in Christian community life.
-
I Timothy 1:16
However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.
Paul describes his own experience of receiving mercy as a specific example for others to see God's patience in action.