Dictionaries :: Devout

International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

Devout:

de-vout' (eulabes, eusebes, sebomai, "pious," "dutiful," "reverential"): The word is peculiar to Luke. Applied to Simeon (Lu 2:25), Cornelius (Ac 10:2,7), Ananias (Ac 22:12). "Devout proselytes" (Ac 13:43, the King James Version "religious proselytes"), with possible reference to the proselytes of righteousness as distinguished from the proselytes of the gate (see PROSELYTE). "Devout women of honorable estate" (Ac 13:50), proselytes to Judaism and wives of the men in high position among the heathen (see Josephus, BJ, II, xx, 2). "Devout Greeks" (Ac 17:4), probably, though not necessarily, proselytes of the gate, heathen by birth, who attended the synagogue services and worshipped God. "Devout persons" (Ac 17:17), proselytes of the gate.

Written by M. O. Evans

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Devout:

lit., "taking hold well" (eu, "well," lambano, "to take hold"), primarily, "cautious," signifies in the NT, "careful as to the realization of the presence and claims of God, reverencing God, pious, devout;" in Luk 2:25 it is said of Simeon; in Act 2:5, of certain Jews; in Act 8:2, of those who bore Stephen's body to burial; of Ananias, 22:12 (see No. 2). "In that mingled fear and love which, combined, constitute the piety of man toward God, the Old Testament placed its emphasis on the fear, the New places it on the love (though there was love in the fear of God's saints then, as there must be fear in their love now)," Trench, Syn, xlviii.

Note: Cp. the noun eulabeia, "reverence," and the verb eulabeomai, "to reverence."

Devout:

from eu, "well," sebomai, "to reverence," the root seb-- signifying "sacred awe," describes "reverence" exhibited especially in actions, reverence or awe well directed. Among the Greeks it was used, e.g., of practical piety towards parents. In the NT it is used of a pious attitude towards God, Act 10:2, 7; (in some mss. in Act 22:12); "godly," in 2Pe 2:9.
See GODLY. In the Sept., Pro 12:12; Isa 24:16; 26:7; 32:8; Mic 7:2.

Notes:

(1) While eulabes especially suggests the piety which characterizes the inner being, the soul, in its attitude towards God, eusebes directs us rather to the energy which, directed by holy awe of God, finds expression in devoted activity.

(2) Cp. theosebeia, and theosebes, which, by their very formation (theos, "God," and sebomai), express "reverence" towards God. See Trench (xlviii).

Devout:

"to feel awe," whether before God or man, "to worship," is translated "devout," in Act 13:43, RV (AV, "religious"); 13:50; 17:4, 17.
See WORSHIP.