μετριο-πᾰθέω G3356
to deal gently or moderately with someone, bearing patiently with their weakness or ignorance
This compound verb combines the ideas of measured response and emotional restraint. In Hebrews 5:2, it describes the essential qualification of a high priest: the ability to bear gently with the ignorant and wayward. The cross-linguistic evidence (Spanish ser moderado, French user de patience, German Nachsicht üben) emphasizes both moderation and patience. Classical usage indicates a deliberate middle ground between excessive sympathy and harsh judgment—the priest can sympathize because he too is beset by weakness.
Senses
1. sense 1 — In Hebrews 5:2, this verb defines the high priest's pastoral disposition toward those who err from ignorance or are led astray. The multilingual glosses capture the nuanced balance: moderation (Spanish), patience (French), and forbearance (German). The context emphasizes that such gentle dealing stems from the priest's own experience of weakness, enabling him to respond with measured compassion rather than harsh condemnation to those who stumble. 1×
AR["أَنْ-يَتَرَفَّقَ"]·ben["সংযম-করতে-পারেন"]·DE["Nachsicht-ueben"]·EN["to-deal-gently"]·FR["user-de-patience"]·heb["לְהִתְנַהֵג-בְּרַחֲמִים"]·HI["सहानुभूति-करने"]·ID["bersikap-lembut"]·IT["metriopathein"]·jav["saged-welasan"]·KO["관용할-수-있는"]·PT["podendo-ser-moderado"]·RU["снисходить"]·ES["ser-moderado"]·SW["kuweza-kustahamili"]·TR["ölçülü-davranabilen"]·urd["نرمی-کر"]
Related Senses
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×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μετριο-πᾰθέω, feel moderately, bear reasonably with, τοῖς ἀγνοοῦσι καὶ πλανωμένοις NT+1st c.AD+