Return to 3rd Quarter 2025 articles.
What do you understand “meek” to mean? For many in our culture, being meek is thought of as being a nerd or a pushover, someone who stands for nothing. The Bible explains the difference between meekness and weakness.
The Greek word translated as “meek” is prajos, meaning power under control, like a soothing medicine or a gentle breeze. Nelson’s Bible Dictionary defines meekness as “an attitude of humility toward God and gentleness toward man, springing from a recognition that God is in control. It is strength and courage under control, combined with kindness.”
The truth is, modern men are often too weak to truly embody meekness. Most church congregations have a surplus of women and children and too few men. Any weakling can live selfishly, but it takes real strength to feed the hungry, bring water to the thirsty, give clothing to those in need, provide medicine to the sick, or visit prisoners.
Galatians 5:22-23 shows that meekness is about love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The same chapter describes the behaviors of the weak in Galatians 5:19-21: adultery, fornication (pornography), uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envy, murder, drunkenness, and reveling. The Bible records men who had the strength to do what was right (meekness) — including Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, and Jesus. There are also weak men, like Saul, Lot, Felix, Pilate, Agrippa, and Herod.
Being a Christian means understanding the difference between meekness and weakness. Because many men are weak, women tend to dominate modern Christianity, doing the work outlined in Matthew 25:31-40. The declining numbers of active churches and the rise of “Nones” in our society are clear signs of this.
Picture credits:
© Kotenko/Bigstock.com
Scripture links/references are from BibleGateway.com. Unhighlighted scriptures can be looked up at their website.