ἀγαθωσύνη G0019
Goodness, uprightness, moral excellence; an active benevolence that goes beyond mere kindness
Agathosyne denotes a robust moral goodness—not passive innocence but an active, generous uprightness that shapes how a person lives and relates to others. Paul lists it among the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22) and as a component of the Spirit's light (Eph 5:9), pairing it with righteousness and truth. In Romans 15:14, he affirms that the Roman believers are 'full of goodness,' and in 2 Thessalonians 1:11, he prays that God would fulfill every desire for goodness. It is virtue with agency.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Active moral goodness, generous uprightness—a quality that goes beyond passive decency to express benevolent character in action. All four NT occurrences are Pauline: listed as a fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22), paired with righteousness and truth as the 'fruit of light' (Eph 5:9), affirmed as a quality of mature believers (Rom 15:14), and prayed for as a divine gift (2 Thess 1:11). Spanish 'bondad,' French 'bonté,' German 'Güte,' and English 'goodness' all converge, yet the Pauline contexts push beyond generic niceness toward a Spirit-empowered moral vitality. 4×
AR["الصَّلاحُ", "الصَّلاحِ", "صَلاحٍ", "صَلَاحٍ"]·ben["ভালোত্ব,", "ভালোত্বের,", "মঙ্গলতা", "মঙ্গলে"]·DE["Guete"]·EN["goodness", "of-goodness"]·FR["bonté"]·heb["טוֹבָה", "טוּב", "נְדִיבוּת"]·HI["भलाई-से", "भलै", "भलै,", "भलै-कि"]·ID["kebaikan", "kebaikan,"]·IT["agathōsunē", "agathōsunēs", "bonta"]·jav["kabecikin,", "kasaean,", "kasaenan,"]·KO["선함,", "선함-과", "선함-으로", "선함의"]·PT["bondade", "bondade,", "de-bondade", "de-bondade,"]·RU["благости", "благости,", "доброта", "доброты"]·ES["bondad", "de-bondad"]·SW["fadhili", "la-wema", "wema,", "wote"]·TR["cömertlik", "iyilikle", "iyilikte", "iyiliğin"]·urd["بھلائی", "بھلائی-سے", "نیکی", "نیکی-کی"]
Related Senses
H2896a 1. good (quality or moral) (305×)H7563 1. wicked person (259×)H7451c 1. moral evil or wickedness (234×)H5771 1. iniquity, sin, wrongdoing (222×)H6662 1. righteous person (substantive) (195×)G0266 1. sin, failure, transgression (173×)H2403b 1. sin, transgression (170×)H2617a 1. Covenant faithfulness, steadfast love (167×)H2398 1. Qal: to sin, commit sin (165×)H6666 1. righteousness, moral uprightness (145×)G5485 1. grace, divine favor (141×)H7451a 1. morally evil, wicked (129×)H2403b 2. sin-offering, sacrifice for sin (120×)G2570 1. good, right, excellent (98×)H6588 1. transgression, offense against God (88×)G0018 1. good (moral quality) (85×)H2896b 1. good, what is good (85×)H7451b 1. evil, wickedness (moral) (83×)H7451a 2. evil, harm, calamity (80×)G1342 1. righteous, upright (of persons) (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀγαθωσύνη, ἡ, goodness, kindness, LXX+NT