ἐπιείκεια G1932
gentleness, graciousness, or clemency; fairness that goes beyond strict justice; reasonableness and kindness
This noun denotes a quality of gentle reasonableness that tempers strict justice with mercy. In Acts 24:4, Felix is asked to hear Paul's case 'with clemency' or gracious patience. In 2 Corinthians 10:1, Paul appeals to the Corinthians 'by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ.' The Spanish 'clemencia' (clemency) and French 'équité' (equity, fairness) both capture the idea of fairness that transcends rigid legalism. Classical usage contrasted this virtue with harsh adherence to the letter of the law, emphasizing humane reasonableness.
Sentidos
1. sense 1 — Spanish 'clemencia' (clemency) and German 'Gottesfurcht' show translators struggled with this nuanced virtue—it's more than mercy but different from reverence. In Acts 24:4, Paul's lawyer asks Felix to hear them 'with clemency' (εὐλαβείᾳ in some manuscripts, but the context suggests graciousness). In 2 Corinthians 10:1, Paul appeals 'by the gentleness and graciousness of Christ'—a quality demonstrated in Jesus' patient, merciful dealings with people. Classical philosophy praised this as equity: the fairness that softens strict law with reasonable kindness, going beyond what's legally required to what's humanly right. 2×
AR["بِلُطْفِكَ", "حِلمِ"]·ben["মৃদুতা", "মৃদুতায়"]·DE["ἐπιεικείας", "ἐπιεικείᾳ"]·EN["gentleness", "graciousness"]·FR["équité"]·heb["חֶסֶד", "סַבְלָנוּת"]·HI["कोमलता-के", "क्षमासे।"]·ID["kelembutan.", "kerendahan-hati"]·IT["gentilezza"]·jav["kasabaran", "kesabaranan."]·KO["관용으로", "관용의"]·PT["benignidade"]·RU["снисходительность", "снисходительностью"]·ES["clemencia"]·SW["upole", "ustahimilivu"]·TR["hoşgörünle", "şefkatinin"]·urd["نرمی", "نرمی-میں"]
Sentidos Relacionados
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
Referencia BDB / Léxico
ἐπιείκεια, ἡ, reasonableness, Refs 5th c.BC+. __2. equity, opposed to strict law, Refs 5th c.BC+ __3. of persons, reasonableness, fairness, NT+5th c.BC+; also, goodness, virtuousness, Refs 5th c.BC+ __II. personified, Refs 1st c.AD+