τολμητής (tolmētēs)
tolmētēs
bold man
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun tolmētēs refers to a person who acts with boldness or audacity, essentially describing a "bold man." Derived from the verb tolmēō, which means to dare or venture forth, this term carries a strong sense of daring action. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in 2 Peter 2:10, where it describes those who are insolent and arrogant toward spiritual authorities.
Its usage here highlights a specific kind of reckless confidence. The text portrays these individuals as not fearing to slander glorious beings, suggesting their boldness is rooted in arrogance rather than righteous courage. This aligns with the classical Greek usage found in authors like Thucydides, where it denotes a daring or adventurous character, but Peter applies it to condemn spiritual rebellion.
Because the word occurs so rarely, its meaning is tightly bound to this single context of insolent defiance. It captures the attitude of those who feel empowered to mock what they do not understand, standing in stark contrast to the humility expected of believers. The term serves as a sharp critique of those who let their boldness override reverence.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tolmētēs describes a boldness that is reckless rather than courageous. In 2 Peter 2:10, it characterizes those who despise spiritual authority and slander dignitaries without fear. This is not the brave confidence of faith, but an arrogant defiance that rejects reverence for what is holy.
Our calling is to walk with humility, respecting the structures God has established. When we face difficult leaders or confusing situations, we are invited to trust God’s sovereignty rather than reacting with insolent criticism. True strength lies in quiet respect and a heart that honors God above our own opinions.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- Bold,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τολμηταί,1×
Key Verses
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II Peter 2:10
but chiefly those who walk after the flesh in the lust of defilement and despise authority. Daring, self-willed, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignitaries,
This verse uses tolmētēs to condemn those who actively slander spiritual authorities out of arrogance.