Bible Dictionary: Patience

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

1. (n.) The state or quality of being patient; the power of suffering with fortitude; uncomplaining endurance of evils or wrongs, as toil, pain, poverty, insult, oppression, calamity, etc.

2. (n.) The act or power of calmly or contentedly waiting for something due or hoped for; forbearance.

3. (n.) Constancy in labor or application; perseverance.

4. (n.) Sufferance; permission.

5. (n.) A kind of dock (Rumex Patientia), less common in America than in Europe; monk's rhubarb.

6. (n.) Solitaire.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

PATIENCE

pa'-shens (hupomone, makrothumia): "Patience" implies suffering, enduring or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. As such it is an essential Christian virtue to the exercise of which there are many exhortations. We need to "wait patiently" for God, to endure uncomplainingly the various forms of sufferings, wrongs and evils that we meet with, and to bear patiently injustices which we cannot remedy and provocations we cannot remove.

The word "patience" does not occur in the Old Testament, but we have "patiently" in Psalm 40:1 as the translation of qawah, "to wait," "to expect," which word frequently expresses the idea, especially that of waiting on God; in Psalm 37:7, "patiently" ("wait patiently") is the translation of qul, one of the meanings of which is "to wait" or "to hope for" or "to expect" (of Job 35:14); "patient" occurs (Ecclesiastes 7:8) as the translation of 'erekh ruach, "long of spirit," and (Job 6:11) "that I should be patient" (ha'arikh nephesh). Compare "impatient" (Job 21:4).

"Patience" occurs frequently in the Apocrypha, especially in Ecclesiasticus, e.g. 2:14; 16:13; 17:24; 41:2 (hupomone); 5:11 (makrothumia); 29:8 (makrothumeo, the Revised Version (British and American) "long suffering"); in The Wisdom of Solomon 2:19, the Greek word is anexikakia.

In the New Testament hupomone carries in it the ideas of endurance, continuance (Luke 8:15; Luke 21:19 Romans 5:3, 4, the American Standard Revised Version "stedfastness"; Romans 8:25, etc.).

In all places the American Revised Version margin has "stedfastness," except James 5:11, where it has "endurance"; makrothumia is translated "patience" (Hebrews 6:12 James 5:10); makrothumeo, "to bear long" (Matthew 18:26, 29 James 5:7; See LONGSUFFERING); the same verb is translated "be patient" (1 Thessalonians 5:14, the Revised Version (British and American) "longsuffering"; James 5:7, 8, the King James Version and the Revised Version (British and American) "patient"); makrothumos, "patiently" (Acts 26:3); hupomeno (1 Peter 2:20); anexikakos is translated "patient" (2 Timothy 2:4, the Revised Version (British and American), the King James Version margin, "forbearing"); epieikes, "gentle" (1 Timothy 3:3, the Revised Version (British and American) "gentle"); hupomeno (Romans 12:12, "patient in tribulation"). For "the patient waiting for Christ" (2 Thessalonians 3:5), the Revised Version (British and American) has "the patience of Christ."

Patience is often hard to gain and to maintain, but, in Romans 15:5, God is called "the God of patience" (the American Revised Version margin "stedfastness") as being able to grant that grace to those who look to Him and depend on Him for it. It is in reliance on God and acceptance of His will, with trust in His goodness, wisdom and faithfulness, that we are enabled to endure and to hope stedfastly.

See also GOD.

W. L. Walker

Greek

3115. makrothumia -- patience, long-suffering
... patience, long-suffering. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: makrothumia
Phonetic Spelling: (mak-roth-oo-mee'-ah) Short Definition: patience ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3115.htm - 8k

3114. makrothumeo -- to persevere, to be patient
... patient. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: makrothumeo Phonetic Spelling:
(mak-roth-oo-meh'-o) Short Definition: I suffer long, have patience, am forbearing ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3114.htm - 7k

5281. hupomone -- a remaining behind, a patient enduring
... enduring, patience, steadfast. From hupomeno; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance,
constancy -- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5281.htm - 7k

5278. hupomeno -- to stay behind, to await, endure
... Word Origin from hupo and meno Definition to stay behind, to await, endure NASB
Word Usage endure (3), endure...with patience (1), endured (5), endures (3 ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5278.htm - 8k

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... boast" (). Gal 5:22,23: " 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,.
patience, kindness, goodness, (4102), 23 gentleness,. self ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

5254. hupecho -- to hold or put under, fig. to undergo
... to undergo NASB Word Usage undergoing (1). suffer. From hupo and echo; to hold oneself
under, ie Endure with patience -- suffer. see GREEK hupo. see GREEK echo. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5254.htm - 6k

430. anecho -- to hold up, bear with
... Transliteration: anecho Phonetic Spelling: (an-ekh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I
endure, bear with Definition: I endure, bear with, have patience with, suffer ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/430.htm - 7k

463. anoche -- a delaying, forbearance
... Transliteration: anoche Phonetic Spelling: (an-okh-ay') Short Definition: forbearance
Definition: forbearance, suspense or delay (of punishment), patience. ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/463.htm - 7k

4327. prosdechomai -- to receive to oneself
... dechomai; to admit (to intercourse, hospitality, credence, or (figuratively) endurance);
by implication, to await (with confidence or patience) -- accept, allow ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4327.htm - 8k

Strong's Hebrew

3811. laah -- to be weary or impatient
... or impatient NASB Word Usage become impatient (1), exhausted (1), find difficulty
(1), impatient (1), parched (1), tired (2), try the patience (2), wearied (4 ...
/hebrew/3811.htm - 6k

7663. sabar -- to inspect, examine
... Nehemiah 2:13, Nehemiah 2:15) {shaw-bar'}; a primitive root; to scrutinize; by
implication (of watching) to expect (with hope and patience) -- hope, tarry, view ...
/hebrew/7663.htm - 5k

860. athon -- a female donkey
... she ass. Probably from the same as 'eythan (in the sense of patience); a female
donkey (from its docility) -- (she) ass. see HEBREW 'eythan. 859, 860. ...
/hebrew/860.htm - 6k

750. arek -- long
... Word Origin from arak Definition long NASB Word Usage long (1), patience (2), slow
(10), who is slow (2). longsuffering patient, slow to anger. ...
/hebrew/750.htm - 6k

347. Iyyob -- a patriarch
... Job. From 'ayab; hated (ie Persecuted); Ijob, the patriarch famous for his patience --
Job. see HEBREW 'ayab. 346, 347. Iyyob. 348 . Strong's Numbers.
/hebrew/347.htm - 6k

Library

On Patience
On Patience. <. On Patience St. Augustine. Rev. H. Browne, MA Table
of Contents. Title Page. On Patience. 2. The patience ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/on patience /

Of Patience
Of Patience. <. Of Patience Tertullian. Translated by Rev. S. Thelwall
Table of Contents. Title Page. Chapter I.--Of Patience ...
//christianbookshelf.org/tertullian/of patience/

The Patience of Christ.
... The Patience of Christ. ... They suffered persecutions and were troubled. False alarms
had affected their patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/gaebelein/the lord of glory/the patience of christ.htm

Whether Patience is a virtue?
... OF PATIENCE (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether patience is a virtue? Objection 1: It
seems that patience is not a virtue. For the virtues are ...
/.../aquinas/summa theologica/whether patience is a virtue.htm

Kingdom and Patience
... KINGDOM AND PATIENCE. ... John says, I "am your brother and fellow-partaker
in the tribulation and kingdom and patience with Jesus.". ...
/.../bullinger/commentary on revelation/kingdom and patience.htm

The Angel of Patience.
... THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE. THE ANGEL OF PATIENCE. 13,13,13,13. "Ye have need of
patience.""Heb.10:36. "Es zieht eln stiller Engel darch dieses Erdenland.". ...
/.../borthwick/hymns from the land of luther/the angel of patience.htm

Of Bodily Patience.
Of Patience. <. ... Chapter XIII."Of Bodily Patience. Thus far, finally,
of patience simple and uniform, and as it exists ...
/.../tertullian/of patience/chapter xiii of bodily patience.htm

Patience.
... CHRISTIAN CHARACTER AND LIFE. 345. " Patience. 345. LM Rippon's Coll.
Patience. 1 Patience, O, 't is a grace divine, Sent from ...
//christianbookshelf.org/adams/hymns for christian devotion/345 patience.htm

Whether Patience is a Part of Fortitude?
... OF PATIENCE (FIVE ARTICLES) Whether patience is a part of fortitude? Objection
1: It seems that patience is not a part of fortitude. ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/aquinas/summa theologica/whether patience is a part.htm

Eighteenth Day. Patience.
... Eighteenth Day. PATIENCE. "He was brought as a lamb to the slaughter.""
Isaiah 53, 7. How great was the patience of Jesus! Even ...
//christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the mind of jesus/eighteenth day patience.htm

Thesaurus

Patience (59 Occurrences)
...PATIENCE. pa'-shens (hupomone, makrothumia): "Patience" implies suffering, enduring
or waiting, as a determination of the will and not simply under necessity. ...
/p/patience.htm - 27k

Steadfastness (15 Occurrences)
... Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning,
that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might ...
/s/steadfastness.htm - 10k

Longsuffering (17 Occurrences)
... else is nothing: "Love suffereth long (makrothumei), and is kind" (1 Corinthians
13:4); The verb makrothumeo is sometimes translated by "patience" (Matthew 18 ...
/l/longsuffering.htm - 16k

Perseverance (27 Occurrences)
... Luke 8:15 That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart,
having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience. ...
/p/perseverance.htm - 18k

Long-suffering (23 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked.
2. (n.) Long patience of offense. Multi-Version Concordance ...
/l/long-suffering.htm - 13k

Patient (34 Occurrences)
... Matthew 18:26 The servant then, having fallen down, was bowing to him, saying,
Sir, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all; (See NIV). ...
/p/patient.htm - 16k

Godliness (16 Occurrences)
... 1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after
righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness. ...
/g/godliness.htm - 12k

Forbearance (9 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) Toleration of an offense; patience. 2.
(n.) The quality of being forbearing; indulgence toward ...
/f/forbearance.htm - 10k

Tribulations (11 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing
that tribulation worketh patience; (KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS). ...
/t/tribulations.htm - 9k

Temperance (3 Occurrences)
... 2. (vt) Moderation of passion; patience; calmness; sedateness. 3. (vt) State with
regard to heat or cold; temperature. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. ...
/t/temperance.htm - 12k

Bible Concordance

Patience (59 Occurrences)

Matthew 18:26 The servant therefore fell down and kneeled before him, saying,'Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Matthew 18:29 "So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying,'Have patience with me, and I will repay you!'
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV)

Mark 9:19 "O unbelieving generation!" replied Jesus; "how long must I be with you? how long must I have patience with you? Bring the boy to me."
(WEY)

Luke 8:15 That in the good ground, these are such as in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and bring forth fruit with patience.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Luke 18:7 Won't God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, and yet he exercises patience with them?
(WEB)

Luke 21:19 In your patience possess ye your souls.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Romans 2:4 Or do you despise the riches of his goodness, forbearance, and patience, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 2:7 to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory, honor, and incorruptibility, eternal life;
(WEB ASV RSV)

Romans 5:3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
(KJV WBS)

Romans 5:4 And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
(KJV WBS)

Romans 8:25 But if we hope for that which we don't see, we wait for it with patience.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS RSV)

Romans 9:22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath made for destruction,
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Romans 15:4 For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that through patience and through encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Romans 15:5 Now the God of patience and of encouragement grant you to be of the same mind one with another according to Christ Jesus,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love has long patience, is kind; love is not emulous of others; love is not insolent and rash, is not puffed up,
(DBY)

2 Corinthians 6:4 But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

2 Corinthians 6:6 in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,
(WEB WEY NAS NIV)

2 Corinthians 12:12 Truly the signs of an apostle were worked among you in all patience, in signs and wonders and mighty works.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith,
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Ephesians 4:2 with all lowliness and humility, with patience, bearing with one another in love;
(WEB WEY NAS RSV)

Colossians 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;
(KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Colossians 3:12 Put on therefore, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance;
(See NAS RSV NIV)

1 Thessalonians 1:3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, before our God and Father.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

2 Thessalonians 1:4 so that we ourselves boast about you in the assemblies of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions which you endure.
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS)

2 Thessalonians 3:5 May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.
(WEB WEY ASV DBY)

1 Timothy 1:16 However, for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first, Jesus Christ might display all his patience, for an example of those who were going to believe in him for eternal life.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

1 Timothy 6:11 But you, man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, and gentleness.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

2 Timothy 3:10 But you did follow my teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, love, steadfastness,
(WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV NIV)

2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be urgent in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching.
(WEB WEY NAS RSV NIV)

Titus 2:2 that older men should be temperate, sensible, sober minded, sound in faith, in love, and in patience:
(WEB KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS)

Hebrews 3:9 where your forefathers so sorely tried My patience and saw all that I did during forty years.
(WEY)

Hebrews 6:12 that you won't be sluggish, but imitators of those who through faith and patience inherited the promises.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Hebrews 6:15 and thus, having had long patience, he got the promise.
(DBY)

Hebrews 10:36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.
(KJV ASV WBS YLT)

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore let us also, seeing we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, lay aside every weight and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

James 1:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(KJV ASV WBS)

James 1:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
(KJV ASV WBS)

James 5:7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.
(KJV DBY WBS)

James 5:8 Ye also have patience: stablish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is drawn nigh.
(DBY)

James 5:10 Take, brothers, for an example of suffering and of patience, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
(WEB KJV ASV DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV)

James 5:11 Behold, we call them blessed who endured. You have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the Lord in the outcome, and how the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

1 Peter 2:20 If you do wrong and receive a blow for it, what credit is there in your bearing it patiently? But if when you do right and suffer for it you bear it patiently, this is an acceptable thing with God.
(See NAS)

1 Peter 3:20 who in ancient times had been disobedient, while God's longsuffering was patiently waiting in the days of Noah during the building of the Ark, in which a few persons--eight in number--were brought safely through the water.
(See NAS RSV)

2 Peter 1:6 and in knowledge, self-control; and in self-control patience; and in patience godliness;
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

2 Peter 3:15 Regard the patience of our Lord as salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also, according to the wisdom given to him, wrote to you;
(WEB NAS NIV)

Revelation 1:9 I John, who also am your brother, and companion in tribulation, and in the kingdom and patience of Jesus Christ, was in the isle that is called Patmos, for the word of God, and for the testimony of Jesus Christ.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Revelation 2:2 I know thy works, and thy labour, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars:
(KJV ASV WBS)

Revelation 2:3 And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name's sake hast laboured, and hast not fainted.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Revelation 2:19 I know thy works, and charity, and service, and faith, and thy patience, and thy works; and the last to be more than the first.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Revelation 3:10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.
(KJV ASV DBY WBS)

Revelation 13:10 He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity: he that killeth with the sword must be killed with the sword. Here is the patience and the faith of the saints.
(KJV ASV WBS)

Revelation 14:12 Here is the patience of the saints, those who keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus."
(WEB KJV ASV WBS)

Ezra 4:14 Now, because that the salt of the palace 'is' our salt, and the nakedness of the king we have no patience to see, therefore we have sent and made known to the king;
(YLT)

Job 6:11 What is my strength, that I should hope? and what is mine end, that I should have patience?
(DBY)

Proverbs 19:11 A man's good sense makes him slow to wrath, and the overlooking of wrongdoing is his glory.
(See NIV)

Proverbs 25:15 By patience a ruler is persuaded. A soft tongue breaks the bone.
(WEB RSV NIV)

Ecclesiastes 7:8 Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof; and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.
(See NAS NIV)

Isaiah 7:13 He said, "Listen now, house of David: Is it not enough for you to try the patience of men, that you will try the patience of my God also?
(WEB NAS NIV)

Jeremiah 15:15 Yahweh, you know; remember me, and visit me, and avenge me of my persecutors; don't take me away in your longsuffering: know that for your sake I have suffered reproach.
(See NAS)

Subtopics

Patience

Patience: Abraham

Patience: Christ, an Example of

Patience: Commended

Patience: David

Patience: Enjoined

Patience: Exercise, Towards All

Patience: General Scriptures Concerning

Patience: God, is the God of

Patience: Illustrated

Patience: Isaac Toward the People of Gerar