Weak or Meek?

What does it mean that the meek shall inherit the Earth? 

WRITTEN BY DREW MATZ

“Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.”

Matthew 5:5

One of the most notorious words that are conjured up in discussions about Jesus is meekness. While certainly a Biblical word, it’s not exactly at the forefront of most of our modern lexicon. In fact, as much as we hear the word associated with Jesus we really don’t use it enough in contemporary language to truly understand what the scriptures mean when the speak of it. Is it just another word for gentleness? Does it mean we should always be passive and spineless and shy away from conflict?  Should we all be pacifists? These are all enduring questions that warrant our attention and further reflection if we are to understand Jesus’ teaching about meekness. 

What Meekness Isn’t

What is interesting about how the Bible uses this term is the difficulty of translating the Greek into English. Like many words in the New Testament, translators have been confronted with the challenge of translating the original Greek scriptures into English. It entails understanding the subtle nuances and cultural implications of the authors of the New Testament and how we can best express it in a way that honors the intent of the spirit. The word we translate as “meek” is no different. Any lexicon will highlight this difficulty of the Greek word praus. While many might be tempted to translate the word as simply weakness or timidity, most scholars have long recognized the inadequacy of such a translation. 

What Meekness Is

Interestingly, the ancients had a very different understanding of this word. For them, meekness or praus in Greek, referred to breaking in of wild horses. It was a taming of something that was naturally very raw and dangerous, but could be channeled for good – a balancing of extremes. We might better understand Jesus’ description of meekness not so much as a general demeanor of being weak, but of one’s overall attitude before God and before others. We might think of it as expressing God’s strength under our own subdued control, knowing the power that is given us but utilizing it for the benefit of my neighbor and the glorification of God. It is a display of God’s power before others but expressed in humility, patience, and gentleness as opposed to becoming harsh or tyrannical with the gifts we have been given. This is at odds with the milquetoast picture we tend to conjure when we think of someone as meek, but it is a crucial difference in the way we understand Jesus’ use of the word. 

Application

We might think of ourselves then, as soldiers – understanding the power that has been given us but only using this toward a common end according to commands that have been handed down to us. The meek shall inherit the Earth, because Jesus is the perfect picture of meekness, and we inherit the Earth in him. In our meekness, God is at work to bring all things together for his glory (Romans 8:28) – sending us all out as spiritual warriors , bringing all things visible and invisible under his feet (Eph. 1:22). 

Article written by Drew Matz

A native of Southeastern Ohio, Drew moved to Fort Wayne, Indiana where he earned an MA in Theology from Concordia Theological Seminary, cultivating a love for Historical Theology and Biblical Languages. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Healthcare Management from Franklin University. Being from the Appalachian Foothills, Drew is passionate about the outdoors and the natural wonder it inspires. Drew currently resides in Fort Wayne with his wife and daughter.