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Selected Verse: Matthew 5:5 - Strong Concordance

Verse	Translation	Text
Mt 5:5	Strong Concordance	Blessed [3107] are the meek [4239]: for [3754] they [846] shall inherit [2816] the earth [1093].
	King James	Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

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A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]
Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth--This promise to the meek is but a repetition of Psa 37:11; only the word which our Evangelist renders "the meek," after the Septuagint, is the same which we have found so often translated "the poor," showing how closely allied these two features of character are. It is impossible, indeed, that "the poor in spirit" and "the mourners" in Zion should not at the same time be "meek"; that is to say, persons of a lowly and gentle carriage. How fitting, at least, it is that they should be so, may be seen by the following touching appeal: "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men: FOR WE OURSELVES WERE ONCE FOOLISH, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures . . . But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared . . . : according to His mercy He saved us," &c. (Tit 3:1-7). But He who had no such affecting reasons for manifesting this beautiful carriage, said, nevertheless, of Himself, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Mat 11:29); and the apostle besought one of the churches by "the meekness and gentleness of Christ" (Co2 10:1). In what esteem this is held by Him who seeth not as man seeth, we may learn from Pe1 3:4, where the true adorning is said to be that of "a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price." Towards men this disposition is the opposite of high-mindedness, and a quarrelsome and revengeful spirit; it "rather takes wrong, and suffers itself to be defrauded" (Co1 6:7); it "avenges not itself, but rather gives place unto wrath" (Rom 12:19); like the meek One, "when reviled, it reviles not again; when it suffers, it threatens not: but commits itself to Him that judgeth righteously" (Pe1 2:19-22). "The earth" which the meek are to inherit might be rendered "the land"--bringing out the more immediate reference to Canaan as the promised land, the secure possession of which was to the Old Testament saints the evidence and manifestation of God's favor resting on them, and the ideal of all true and abiding blessedness. Even in the Psalm from which these words are taken the promise to the meek is not held forth as an arbitrary reward, but as having a kind of natural fulfilment. When they delight themselves in the Lord, He gives them the desires of their heart: when they commit their way to Him, He brings it to pass; bringing forth their righteousness as the light, and their judgment as the noonday: the little that they have, even when despoiled of their rights, is better than the riches of many wicked (Psa. 37:1-24). All things, in short, are theirs--in the possession of that favor which is life, and of those rights which belong to them as the children of God--whether the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are theirs (Co1 3:21-22); and at length, overcoming, they "inherit all things" (Rev 21:7). Thus are the meek the only rightful occupants of a foot of ground or a crust of bread here, and heirs of all coming things.

A Commentary, Critical, Practical, and Explanatory on the Old and New Testaments, by Robert Jamieson, A.R. Fausset and David Brown [1882]

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth--This promise to the meek is but a repetition of Psa 37:11; only the word which our Evangelist renders "the meek," after the Septuagint, is the same which we have found so often translated "the poor," showing how closely allied these two features of character are. It is impossible, indeed, that "the poor in spirit" and "the mourners" in Zion should not at the same time be "meek"; that is to say, persons of a lowly and gentle carriage. How fitting, at least, it is that they should be so, may be seen by the following touching appeal: "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, to speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, showing all meekness unto all men: FOR WE OURSELVES WERE ONCE FOOLISH, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures . . . But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared . . . : according to His mercy He saved us," &c. (Tit 3:1-7). But He who had no such affecting reasons for manifesting this beautiful carriage, said, nevertheless, of Himself, "Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls" (Mat 11:29); and the apostle besought one of the churches by "the meekness and gentleness of Christ" (Co2 10:1). In what esteem this is held by Him who seeth not as man seeth, we may learn from Pe1 3:4, where the true adorning is said to be that of "a meek and quiet spirit, which in the sight of God is of great price." Towards men this disposition is the opposite of high-mindedness, and a quarrelsome and revengeful spirit; it "rather takes wrong, and suffers itself to be defrauded" (Co1 6:7); it "avenges not itself, but rather gives place unto wrath" (Rom 12:19); like the meek One, "when reviled, it reviles not again; when it suffers, it threatens not: but commits itself to Him that judgeth righteously" (Pe1 2:19-22). "The earth" which the meek are to inherit might be rendered "the land"--bringing out the more immediate reference to Canaan as the promised land, the secure possession of which was to the Old Testament saints the evidence and manifestation of God's favor resting on them, and the ideal of all true and abiding blessedness. Even in the Psalm from which these words are taken the promise to the meek is not held forth as an arbitrary reward, but as having a kind of natural fulfilment. When they delight themselves in the Lord, He gives them the desires of their heart: when they commit their way to Him, He brings it to pass; bringing forth their righteousness as the light, and their judgment as the noonday: the little that they have, even when despoiled of their rights, is better than the riches of many wicked (Psa. 37:1-24). All things, in short, are theirs--in the possession of that favor which is life, and of those rights which belong to them as the children of God--whether the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are theirs (Co1 3:21-22); and at length, overcoming, they "inherit all things" (Rev 21:7). Thus are the meek the only rightful occupants of a foot of ground or a crust of bread here, and heirs of all coming things.

Notes on the Bible, by Albert Barnes, [1834]
The meek - Meekness is patience in the reception of injuries. It is neither meanness nor a surrender of our rights, nor cowardice; but it is the opposite of sudden anger, of malice, of long-harbored vengeance. Christ insisted on his right when he said, "If I have done evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?" Joh 18:23. Paul asserted his right when he said, "They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves, and fetch us out," Act 16:37. And yet Christ was the very model of meekness. It was one of his characteristics, "I am meek," Mat 11:29. So of Paul. No man endured more wrong, or endured it more patiently than he. Yet the Saviour and the apostle were not passionate. They bore all patiently. They did not press their rights through thick and thin, or trample down the rights of others to secure their own. Meekness is the reception of injuries with a belief that God will vindicate us. "Vengeance is his; he will repay," Rom 12:19. It little becomes us to take his place, and to do what he has promised to do. Meekness produces peace. It is proof of true greatness of soul. It comes from a heart too great to be moved by little insults. It looks upon those who offer them with pity. He that is constantly ruffled; that suffers every little insult or injury to throw him off his guard and to raise a storm of passion within, is at the mercy of every mortal that chooses to disturb him. He is like "the troubled sea that cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt." They shall inherit the earth - This might have been translated the land. It is probable that here is a reference to the manner in which the Jews commonly expressed themselves to denote any great blessing. It was promised to them that they should inherit the land of Canaan. For a long time the patriarchs looked forward to this, Gen 15:7-8; Exo 32:13. They regarded it as a great blessing. It was so spoken of in the journey in the wilderness, and their hopes were crowned when they took possession of the promised land, Deu 1:38; Deu 16:20. In the time of our Saviour they were in the constant habit of using the Old Testament, where this promise perpetually occurs, and they used it "as a proverbial expression to denote any great blessing, perhaps as the sum of all blessings," Psa 37:20; Isa 60:21. Our Saviour used it in this sense, and meant to say, not that the meek would own great property or have many lands, but that they would possess special blessings. The Jews also considered the land of Canaan as a type of heaven, and of the blessings under the Messiah. To inherit the land became, therefore, an expression denoting those blessings. When our Saviour uses this language here, he means that the meek shall be received into his kingdom, and partake of its blessings here, and of the glories of the heavenly Canaan hereafter. The value of meekness, even in regard to worldly property and success in life, is often exhibited in the Scriptures, Pro 22:24-25; Pro 15:1; Pro 25:8, Pro 25:15. It is also seen in common life that a meek, patient, mild man is the most prospered. An impatient and quarrelsome man raises up enemies; often loses property in lawsuits; spends his time in disputes and broils rather than in sober, honest industry; and is harassed, vexed, and unsuccessful in all that he does. "Godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come," Ti1 4:8. Compare Ti1 6:3-6.

Vincent's Word Studies, by Marvin R. Vincent [1886]
The meek (οἱ πραεῖς) Another word which, though never used in a bad sense, Christianity has lifted to a higher plane, and made the symbol of a higher good. Its primary meaning is mild, gentle. It was applied to inanimate things, as light, wind, sound, sickness. It was used of a horse; gentle. As a human attribute, Aristotle defines it as the mean between stubborn anger and that negativeness of character which is inescapable of even righteous indignation: according to which it is tantamount to equanimity. Plato opposes it to fierceness or cruelty, and uses it of humanity to the condemned; but also of the conciliatory demeanor of a demagogue seeking popularity and power. Pindar applies it to a king, mild or kind to the citizens, and Herodotus uses it as opposed to anger. These pre-Christian meanings of the word exhibit two general characteristics. 1. They express outward conduct merely. 2. They contemplate relations to men only. The Christian word, on the contrary, describes an inward quality, and that as related primarily to God. The equanimity, mildness, kindness, represented by the classical word, are founded in self-control or in natural disposition. The Christian meekness is based on humility, which is not a natural quality but an outgrowth of a renewed nature. To the pagan the word often implied condescension, to the Christian it implies submission. The Christian quality, in its manifestation, reveals all that was best in the heathen virtue - mildness, gentleness, equanimity - but these manifestations toward men are emphasized as outgrowths of a spiritual relation to God. The mildness or kindness of Plato or Pindar imply no sense of inferiority in those who exhibit them; sometimes the contrary. Plato's demagogue is kindly from self-interest and as a means to tyranny. Pindar's king is condescendingly kind. The meekness of the Christian springs from a sense of the inferiority of the creature to the Creator, and especially of the sinful creature to the holy God. While, therefore, the pagan quality is redolent of self-assertion, the Christian quality carries the flavor of self-abasement. As toward God, therefore, meekness accepts his dealings without murmur or resistance as absolutely good and wise. As toward man, it accepts opposition, insult, and provocation, as God's permitted ministers of a chastening demanded by the infirmity and corruption of sin; while, under this sense of his own sinfulness, the meek bears patiently "the contradiction of sinners against himself," forgiving and restoring the erring in a spirit of meekness, considering himself, lest he also be tempted (see Gal 6:1-5). The ideas of forgiveness and restoration nowhere attach to the classical word. They belong exclusively to Christian meekness, which thus shows itself allied to love. As ascribed by our Lord to himself, see Mat 11:29. Wyc. renders "Blessed be mild men."

Explanatory Notes on the Whole Bible, by John Wesley [1754-65]
Happy are the meek - They that hold all their passions and affections evenly balanced. They shall inherit the earth - They shall have all things really necessary for life and godliness. They shall enjoy whatever portion God hath given them here, and shall hereafter possess the new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.

Adam Clarke Commentary on the Whole Bible - Published 1810-1826
Blessed are the meek - Happy, οι πραεις, from ῥαος, easy, those who are of a quiet, gentle spirit, in opposition to the proud and supercilious Scribes and Pharisees and their disciples. We have a compound word in English, which once fully expressed the meaning of the original, viz. gentleman; but it has now almost wholly lost its original signification. Our word meek comes from the old Anglo-saxon meca, or meccea, a companion or equal, because he who is of a meek or gentle spirit, is ever ready to associate with the meanest of those who fear God, feeling himself superior to none; and well knowing that he has nothing of spiritual or temporal good but what he has received from the mere bounty of God, having never deserved any favor from his hand. For they shall inherit the earth - Or, την γην, the land. Under this expression, which was commonly used by the prophets to signify the land of Canaan, in which all temporal good abounded, Jdg 18:9, Jdg 18:10, Jesus Christ points out that abundance of spiritual good, which was provided for men in the Gospel. Besides, Canaan was a type of the kingdom of God; and who is so likely to inherit glory as the man in whom the meekness and gentleness of Jesus dwell? In some good MSS. and several ancient versions, the fourth and fifth verses are transposed: see the authorities in the various readings in Professor Griesbach's edition. The present arrangement certainly is most natural: 1. Poverty, to which the promise of the kingdom is made. 2. Mourning or distress, on account of this impoverished state, to which consolation is promised. And 3. Meekness established in the heart by the consolations received.

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⁷ He that overcometh [3528] shall inherit [2816] all things [3956]; and [2532] I will be [2071] his [846] God [2316], and [2532] he [846] shall be [2071] my [3427] son [5207].

²¹ Therefore [5620] let [2744] no man [3367] glory [2744] in [1722] men [444]. For [1063] all things [3956] are [2076] yours [5216];
²² Whether [1535] Paul [3972], or [1535] Apollos [625], or [1535] Cephas [2786], or [1535] the world [2889], or [1535] life [2222], or [1535] death [2288], or [1535] things present [1764], or [1535] things to come [3195]; all [3956] are [2076] yours [5216];

¹⁹ For [1063] this [5124] is thankworthy [5485], if [1487] a man [5100] for [1223] conscience [4893] toward God [2316] endure [5297] grief [3077], suffering [3958] wrongfully [95].
²⁰ For [1063] what [4169] glory [2811] is it, if [1487], when [2532] ye be buffeted [2852] for your faults [264], ye shall take it patiently [5278]? but [235] if [1487], when ye do well [15], and [2532] suffer [3958] for it, ye take it patiently [5278], this [5124] is acceptable [5485] with [3844] God [2316].
²¹ For [1063] even [1519] hereunto [5124] were ye called [2564]: because [3754] Christ [5547] also [2532] suffered [3958] for [5228] us [2257], leaving [5277] us [2254] an example [5261], that [2443] ye should follow [1872] his [846] steps [2487]:
²² Who [3739] did [4160] no [3756] sin [266], neither [3761] was guile [1388] found [2147] in [1722] his [846] mouth [4750]:

¹⁹ Dearly beloved [27], avenge [1556] not [3361] yourselves [1438], but [235] rather give [1325] place [5117] unto wrath [3709]: for [1063] it is written [1125], Vengeance [1557] is mine [1698]; I [1473] will repay [467], saith [3004] the Lord [2962].

⁷ Now [2235] therefore [3303] [3767] there is [2076] utterly [3654] a fault [2275] among [1722] you [5213], because [3754] ye go [2192] to law [2917] one with [3326] another [1438]. Why [1302] do ye [91] not [3780] rather [3123] take wrong [91]? why [1302] do ye [650] not [3780] rather [3123] suffer yourselves to be defrauded [650]?

⁴ But [235] let it be the hidden [2927] man [444] of the heart [2588], in [1722] that which is not corruptible [862], even the ornament of a meek [4239] and [2532] quiet [2272] spirit [4151], which [3739] is [2076] in the sight [1799] of God [2316] of great price [4185].

¹ Now [1161] I [1473] Paul [3972] myself [846] beseech [3870] you [5209] by [1223] the meekness [4236] and [2532] gentleness [1932] of Christ [5547], who [3739] in [2596] presence [4383] am base [3303] [5011] among [1722] you [5213], but [1161] being absent [548] am bold [2292] toward [1519] you [5209]:

²⁹ Take [142] my [3450] yoke [2218] upon [1909] you [5209], and [2532] learn [3129] of [575] me [1700]; for [3754] I am [1510] meek [4235] and [2532] lowly [5011] in heart [2588]: and [2532] ye shall find [2147] rest [372] unto your [5216] souls [5590].

¹ Put [5279] them [846] in mind [5279] to be subject [5293] to principalities [746] and [2532] powers [1849], to obey magistrates [3980], to be [1511] ready [2092] to [4314] every [3956] good [18] work [2041],
² To speak evil of [987] no man [3367], to be [1511] no brawlers [269], but gentle [1933], shewing [1731] all [3956] meekness [4236] unto [4314] all [3956] men [444].
³ For [1063] we ourselves [2249] also [2532] were [2258] [453] sometimes [4218] foolish [453], disobedient [545], deceived [4105], serving [1398] divers [4164] lusts [1939] and [2532] pleasures [2237], living [1236] in [1722] malice [2549] and [2532] envy [5355], hateful [4767], and hating [3404] one another [240].
⁴ But [1161] after [3753] that the kindness [5544] and [2532] love [5363] of God [2316] our [2257] Saviour [4990] toward man [5363] appeared [2014],
⁵ Not [3756] by [1537] works [2041] of [1722] righteousness [1343] which [3739] we [2249] have done [4160], but [235] according to [2596] his [846] mercy [1656] he saved [4982] us [2248], by [1223] the washing [3067] of regeneration [3824], and [2532] renewing [342] of the Holy [40] Ghost [4151];
⁶ Which [3739] he shed [1632] on [1909] us [2248] abundantly [4146] through [1223] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547] our [2257] Saviour [4990];
⁷ That [2443] being justified by [1344] his [1565] grace [5485], we should be made [1096] heirs [2818] according to [2596] the hope [1680] of eternal [166] life [2222].

¹¹ But the meek [06035] shall inherit [03423] the earth [0776]; and shall delight [06026] themselves in the abundance [07230] of peace [07965].

³ If any man [1536] teach otherwise [2085], and [2532] consent [4334] not [3361] to wholesome [5198] words [3056], even the words of our [2257] Lord [2962] Jesus [2424] Christ [5547], and [2532] to the doctrine [1319] which is according [2596] to godliness [2150];
⁴ He is proud [5187], knowing [1987] nothing [3367], but [235] doting [3552] about [4012] questions [2214] and [2532] strifes of words [3055], whereof [1537] [3739] cometh [1096] envy [5355], strife [2054], railings [988], evil [4190] surmisings [5283],
⁵ Perverse disputings [3859] of men [444] of corrupt [1311] minds [3563], and [2532] destitute [650] of the truth [225], supposing [3543] that gain [4200] is [1511] godliness [2150]: from [575] such [5108] withdraw thyself [868].
⁶ But [1161] godliness [2150] with [3326] contentment [841] is [2076] great [3173] gain [4200].

⁸ For [1063] bodily [4984] exercise [1129] profiteth [2076] little [4314] [3641]: but [1161] godliness [2150] is [2076] profitable unto [4314] all things [3956], having [2192] promise [1860] of the life [2222] that now is [3568], and [2532] of that which is to come [3195].

¹⁵ By long [0753] forbearing [0639] is a prince [07101] persuaded [06601], and a soft [07390] tongue [03956] breaketh [07665] the bone [01634].

⁸ Go not forth [03318] hastily [04118] to strive [07378], lest thou know not what to do [06213] in the end [0319] thereof, when thy neighbour [07453] hath put thee to shame [03637].

¹ A soft [07390] answer [04617] turneth [07725] away wrath [02534]: but grievous [06089] words [01697] stir up [05927] anger [0639].

²⁴ Make no friendship [07462] with an angry [0639] man [01167]; and with a furious [02534] man [0376] thou shalt not go [0935]:
²⁵ Lest thou learn [0502] his ways [0734], and get [03947] a snare [04170] to thy soul [05315].

²¹ Thy people [05971] also shall be all righteous [06662]: they shall inherit [03423] the land [0776] for ever [05769], the branch [05342] of my planting [04302], the work [04639] of my hands [03027], that I may be glorified [06286].

²⁰ But the wicked [07563] shall perish [06], and the enemies [0341] of the LORD [03068] shall be as the fat [03368] of lambs [03733]: they shall consume [03615]; into smoke [06227] shall they consume away [03615].

²⁰ That which is altogether [06664] just [06664] shalt thou follow [07291], that thou mayest live [02421], and inherit [03423] the land [0776] which the LORD [03068] thy God [0430] giveth [05414] thee.

³⁸ But Joshua [03091] the son [01121] of Nun [05126], which standeth [05975] before [06440] thee, he shall go in [0935] thither: encourage [02388] him: for he shall cause Israel [03478] to inherit [05157] it.

¹³ Remember [02142] Abraham [085], Isaac [03327], and Israel [03478], thy servants [05650], to whom thou swarest [07650] by thine own self, and saidst [01696] unto them, I will multiply [07235] your seed [02233] as the stars [03556] of heaven [08064], and all this land [0776] that I have spoken [0559] of will I give [05414] unto your seed [02233], and they shall inherit [05157] it for ever [05769].

⁷ And he said [0559] unto him, I am the LORD [03068] that brought thee out [03318] of Ur [0218] of the Chaldees [03778], to give [05414] thee this land [0776] to inherit [03423] it.
⁸ And he said [0559], Lord [0136] GOD [03069], whereby [04100] shall I know [03045] that I shall inherit it [03423]?

³⁷ But [1161] Paul [3972] said [5346] unto [4314] them [846], They have beaten [1194] us [2248] openly [1219] uncondemned [178], being [5225] Romans [4514] [444], and have cast [906] us into [1519] prison [5438]; and [2532] now [3568] do they thrust [1544] us [2248] out [1544] privily [2977]? nay [3756] verily [1063]; but [235] let them come [2064] themselves [846] and fetch [1806] us [2248] out [1806].

²³ Jesus [2424] answered [611] him [846], If [1487] I have spoken [2980] evil [2560], bear witness [3140] of [4012] the evil [2556]: but [1161] if [1487] well [2573], why [5101] smitest [1194] thou me [3165]?

¹ Brethren [80], if [1437] [2532] a man [444] be overtaken [4301] in [1722] a [5100] fault [3900], ye [5210] which [3588] are spiritual [4152], restore [2675] such an one [5108] in [1722] the spirit [4151] of meekness [4236]; considering [4648] thyself [4572], lest [3361] thou [4771] also [2532] be tempted [3985].
² Bear ye [941] one another's [240] burdens [922], and [2532] so [3779] fulfil [378] the law [3551] of Christ [5547].
³ For [1063] if a man [1536] think himself [1380] to be [1511] something [5100], when he is [5607] nothing [3367], he deceiveth [5422] himself [1438].
⁴ But [1161] let [1381] every man [1538] prove [1381] his own [1438] work [2041], and [2532] then [5119] shall he have [2192] rejoicing [2745] in [1519] himself [1438] alone [3441], and [2532] not [3756] in [1519] another [2087].
⁵ For [1063] every man [1538] shall bear [941] his own [2398] burden [5413].

¹⁰ When ye go [0935], ye shall come [0935] unto a people [05971] secure [0982], and to a large [07342] land [0776]: for God [0430] hath given [05414] it into your hands [03027]; a place [04725] where there is no want [04270] of any thing [01697] that is in the earth [0776].

⁹ And they said [0559], Arise [06965], that we may go up [05927] against them: for we have seen [07200] the land [0776], and, behold, it is very [03966] good [02896]: and are ye still [02814]? be not slothful [06101] to go [03212], and to enter [0935] to possess [03423] the land [0776].