εὐσεβ-ής G2152
devout, godly, pious; characterized by reverence and religious devotion
This adjective describes those marked by piety, religious devotion, and reverence toward God. Classical usage emphasized fulfilling sacred duties and showing proper respect to the divine. In the New Testament it characterizes individuals known for genuine godliness—Cornelius and his household (Acts 10:2, 7) and the faithful whom God delivers (2 Peter 2:9). The term marks visible, active devotion rather than mere profession.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Translations consistently use piety language: Spanish piadoso/piadosos ('pious, devout'), French pieux ('pious'), German fromm ('devout'). Acts 10:2 introduces Cornelius as 'a devout man who feared God with all his household,' establishing his character before his conversion. Acts 10:7 describes one of his soldiers as 'a devout soldier from among those who attended him.' 2 Peter 2:9 assures that 'the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials.' The term marks observable religious commitment and reverence toward God. 3×
AR["الأتقياءَ", "تَقِيًّا", "تَقِيٌّ"]·ben["ধার্মিক", "ভক্ত"]·DE["fromm", "εὐσεβὴς", "εὐσεβῆ"]·EN["devout", "godly"]·FR["pieux", "εὐσεβεῖς"]·heb["יְרֵא-אֱלֹהִים", "יִרְאֵי-אֱלֹהִים"]·HI["धर्मनिष्ठ", "भक्तों-को"]·ID["saleh"]·IT["eusebeis", "pio"]·jav["mursid"]·KO["경건한", "경건한-자들을"]·PT["os-piedosos"]·RU["благочестивого", "благочестивый", "благочестивых"]·ES["piadoso", "piadosos"]·SW["mcha-Mungu", "watauwa"]·TR["dindar", "tanrı-korkanları"]·urd["دیندار", "دینداروں-کو"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
εὐσεβ-ής, ές (dative plural - σεβέοις Refs, (σέβω) pious, religious, opposed to δυσσεβής (which see), Refs 6th c.BC+: not common in early Prose, Refs 5th c.BC+; dutiful, especially discharging sacred duties, πρός or ἔς τινα, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀνὴρ εὐ. (variant{εὐλαβής}) κατὰ τὸν νόμον NT more righteous in act, Refs 5th c.BC+; ὁ τῶν εὐσεβῶν χῶρος, of a place in the nether world, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἐν…