ἐπιεικ-ής G1933
Gentle, yielding, forbearing; describing a fair and reasonable disposition that does not insist on strict rights.
Denotes a quality of character that is gentle, patient, and willing to yield rather than demand strict justice. The Greek concept stands in deliberate contrast to rigid legalism: an epieikes person exercises gracious reasonableness. Paul urges believers in Philippi to let this gentleness be known to all (Phil 4:5), and it appears as a required trait for overseers (1 Tim 3:3) and as a mark of heavenly wisdom (Jas 3:17). The Spanish 'amable' and English 'gentle' both capture the warmth of this term, though neither fully conveys its nuance of yielding one's rightful claims for peace.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Gentle, yielding, forbearing — a disposition marked by gracious reasonableness and willingness to waive strict rights. The multilingual evidence clusters tightly: English 'gentle,' Spanish 'amable/gentil,' and German 'sanftmuetig' all point to the same core quality. In Phil 4:5 it characterizes the public demeanor of Christians; in Jas 3:17 it is a mark of wisdom from above; in 1 Pet 2:18 it describes fair-minded masters. The word is not mere softness but a principled choice to be equitable rather than harsh. 5×
AR["اللُّطَفاءِ", "حَليماً", "حِلْمُ", "لَطيفَةٌ", "لُطَفاءَ"]·ben["নম্র,", "মৃদু", "মৃদুতা", "সদয়দের"]·DE["sanftmuetig"]·EN["gentle", "gentleness"]·FR["ἐπιεικέσιν", "ἐπιεικής", "ἐπιεικεῖς", "ἐπιεικὲς", "ἐπιεικῆ"]·heb["נְדִיבוּת", "נוֹחַ", "סַבְלָנִית", "סוֹבְלָנִים", "עֲדִינִים"]·HI["कोमल", "नअम्रत", "नम्र", "नरम", "नरम,"]·ID["kelembutanmu", "lemah-lembut", "lembut,", "ramah,", "yang-lemah-lembut"]·IT["gentile"]·jav["kalembutanipun", "sa-pantesipun,", "sareh,", "sarèh,"]·KO["관대한-이에게만", "관용이", "관용하고,", "관용하는-자들", "온유한,"]·PT["moderada", "moderado", "moderados,", "moderação"]·RU["кротким,", "кротость", "снисходительна,", "снисходительным", "снисходительными"]·ES["amable", "amables", "gentil"]·SW["mpole", "upole", "wapole", "ya-pole"]·TR["nazik", "naziklere", "uysalliginiz", "uyumlu", "yumusak,"]·urd["نرم", "نرم-دل،", "نرم٬", "نرمی"]
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπιεικ-ής, ές, fitting, meet, suitable, τύμβον οὐ μάλα πολλὸν.., ἀλλ᾽ ἐπιεικέα τοῖον not very large but meet in size, Refs 8th c.BC+ a fair recompense for them, Refs 8th c.BC+ as is meet, Refs 8th c.BC+: or c.infinitive, ὅν κ᾽ ἐπιεικὲς ἀκουέμεν whom it may be meet for you to hear, Refs 8th c.BC+ such as is meet they should be, Refs 8th c.BC+ __II. after Refs 8th c.BC+ __II.1. of statements,…