Dictionaries :: Forbear, Forbearance

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Forbear, Forbearance:

"to hold up" (ana, "up," echo, "to have or hold"), is used in the Middle Voice in the NT, signifying "to bear with, endure;" it is rendered "forbearing (one another)" in Eph 4:2; Col 3:13.
See BEAR. Cp. B, No. 1, below.

Forbear, Forbearance:

lit., "to send up or back" (ana, "up," hiemi, "to send"), hence, "to relax, loosen," or, metaphorically, "to desist from," is translated "forbearing" (threatening) in Eph 6:9 ("giving up your threatening," T.K. Abbott).
See LEAVE, LOOSE.

Forbear, Forbearance:

"to spare" (its usual meaning), "to refrain from doing something," is rendered "I forbear" in 2Cr 12:6.
See SPARE.

Forbear, Forbearance:

properly denotes "to protect by covering;" then, "to conceal;" then, by covering, "to bear up under;" it is translated "forbear" in 1Th 3:1, 5.
See BEAR.

Note: In 1Cr 9:6, the verb ergazomai, "to work," is used in the present infinitive, with a; negative, and translated "to forbear working" (lit., "not working").

Forbear, Forbearance:

"a holding back" (akin to A, No. 1), denotes "forbearance," a delay of punishment, Rom 2:4; 3:25, in both places of God's "forbearance" with men; in the latter passage His "forbearance" is the ground, not of His forgiveness, but of His praetermission of sins, His withholding punishment. In Rom 2:4 it represents a suspense of wrath which must eventually be exercised unless the sinner accepts God's conditions; in Rom 3:25 it is connected with the passing over of sins in times past, previous to the atoning work of Christ.

Note: Cp. the noun epieikeia, Act 24:4, "clemency;" 2Cr 10:1, "gentleness." Synonymous with this are makrothumia, "longsuffering," and hupomone, "patience" (see Col 1:11). Anoche and makrothumia are used together in Rom 2:4. See also Eph 4:2 (where A, No. 1, is used in this combination). Trench (Syn.) and Abbott-Smith (Lex.) state that huponone expresses patience with regard to adverse things, makrothumia patience with regard to antagonistic persons. It must be observed, however, that in Hbr 6:15 the verb makrothumeo is used of Abraham's patience under the pressure of trying circumstances (cp. also Jam 5:7, 8). Makrothumia and hupomone are often found together, e.g., 2Cr 6:4, 6; 2Ti 3:10.

"Longsuffering is that quality of self-restraint in the face of provocation which does not hastily retaliate or promptly punish; it is the opposite of anger and is associated with mercy, and is used of God, Exd 34:6, Sept., Rom 2:4; 1Pe 3:20. Patience is the quality that does not surrender to circumstances or succumb under trial; it is the opposite of despondency and is associated with hope, in 1Th 1:3; it is not used of God." *
[* From Notes on Thessalonians, by Hogg and Vine, pp. 183, 184.]

Forbear, Forbearance:

denotes "patiently forbearing evil," lit., "patient of wrong," (from anecho, A, No. 1 and kakos, "evil"), "enduring;" it is rendered "forbearing" in 2Ti 2:24.

Forbear, Forbearance:

an adjective (from epi, used intensively, and eikos, "reasonable"), is used as a noun with the article in Phl 4:5, and translated "forbearance" in the RV; AV, "moderation," RV, marg., "gentleness," "sweet reasonableness" (Matthew Arnold).
See GENTLE.