What does the Bible say

What Does the Bible Say About Meekness?

Meekness in the Bible is not timidity but power submitted to God, a quiet, teachable, humble strength. Jesus calls the meek blessed and promises they will inherit the earth, and he describes his own heart as meek. Scripture holds meekness up as beautiful in God's sight and as the soil in which wisdom grows.

What Scripture says

Here are real verses on meekness, each in the King James Version, with a word on what it means.

Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.Matthew 5:5 (KJV)

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

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.Matthew 11:29 (KJV)

Jesus says, I am meek and lowly in heart; learn of me and find rest.

Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.Galatians 5:23 (KJV)

Meekness is listed among the fruit of the Spirit.

But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.1 Peter 3:4 (KJV)

A meek and quiet spirit is, in the sight of God, of great price.

(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.)Numbers 12:3 (KJV)

Moses was very meek, above all the men on the face of the earth, yet a mighty leader.

Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.James 1:21 (KJV)

Receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.

What this means for you today

Meekness is often misunderstood as weakness, but Moses, one of history's great leaders, is called the meekest man of his time. It is strength that bows willingly to God and does not need to grasp for its own way.

The meek can afford to be gentle and teachable because they trust God to defend and provide for them. That is why Jesus says they will inherit the earth: they have stopped fighting to seize what God intends to give.

The deepest answer is Jesus

Jesus, the mightiest of all, called himself meek and lowly, and he gives his Spirit to grow that same beautiful strength in us.

Every one of these Scriptures points beyond itself to a Person. The deepest answer the Bible gives to any human need is not a rule or a technique but Jesus Christ, who came, lived, died, and rose again so that you could be forgiven and brought home to God. He said, Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Whatever you are carrying, you do not have to carry it alone, and you do not have to make yourself clean first. You can come to him today, just as you are.

This is the good news the whole Bible is telling. We were made for God, we have all turned from him and gone our own way, and none of us can fix that on our own. But God did not leave us there. Out of love he sent his Son to take our place, bearing our wrong on the cross and rising again to open the way back to the Father. Everyone who turns to Jesus and trusts him is forgiven, given new life, and welcomed as a beloved child of God, held by a love that will never let go. That is why the Bible's answer to every topic on this page finally leads here. You can respond right now, in your own words, simply telling God you need him and asking Jesus to be your Saviour and Lord. He hears the honest prayer of anyone who comes.

Related: Integrity · Compassion · Gentleness · Selfishness · Complaining · All topics