πραΰτης (prautēs)
prautēs
gentleness
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun prautēs describes a quiet strength of character, typically translated as gentleness or meekness. It is not weakness, but rather a controlled disposition that refuses to assert itself aggressively when provoked. In the New Testament, this virtue appears in key lists of Christian fruit and moral duties, most notably in Galatians 5:23 where it stands alongside love and self-control.
Its root lies in the adjective praus, which originally described a horse that was trained and obedient rather than wild. This imagery suggests that prautēs is the result of disciplined submission to God’s will. The term carries significant weight in ethical instructions, such as Paul’s appeal for gentle correction in 2 Timothy 2:25 or James’ command to receive the word with meekness in James 1:21.
Translators often struggle to capture its full nuance because English words like "meekness" can imply timidity. However, the biblical concept points to a confident humility that trusts God’s justice enough to refrain from retaliation. It represents a spirit that is soft toward others yet firm in truth, reflecting the character of Christ who described himself as gentle in heart.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Gentleness is often misunderstood as weakness, but it is actually a quiet strength. It comes from being trained and obedient, much like a horse that trusts its rider instead of running wild. This virtue shows up when we choose to control our anger and respond with calm grace, even when provoked. It reflects the character of Christ, who was gentle in heart yet firm in truth.
In your daily life, this means handling mistakes—your own or others’—with care rather than harshness. When you face conflict, you can choose to restore relationships gently, trusting God’s justice instead of seeking revenge. This approach protects your heart from bitterness and keeps your focus on love.
As you grow in faith, ask God to cultivate this spirit within you. It is a sign of maturity that brings peace to those around you and honors Him in every interaction.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- of gentleness1×
- gentleness,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πραΰτητος1×
- πραΰτης,1×
Key Verses
-
Galatians 5:23
gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
This verse places gentleness alongside self-control as essential fruit of the Spirit, showing it is a supernatural quality rather than mere personality trait.
-
Galatians 6:1
Brothers, even if a man is caught in some fault, you who are spiritual must restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, looking to yourself so that you also aren’t tempted.
Here gentleness is the required attitude for restoring someone caught in sin, ensuring correction does not become condemnation or pride.