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μακροθυμέω

makrothyméō

G3114 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To endure for a long period without giving way to anger or resentment; to exercise self-restraint in face of provocation or difficulty. The primary meaning involves exercising patience, particularly in the sense of restraining one's impulse to anger, retaliation, or hasty action. In varied contexts, it expresses a disposition of long-suffering, tolerance, or forbearance toward people or circumstances.

Semantic Range

to be patient, to bear long with others, to be slow in avenging wrongs, to exercise forbearance, to restrain anger, to endure provocation, to wait calmly in the face of difficulty

Root / Etymology

From the compound of μακρός ('long, far') and θυμός ('passion, anger, spirit'); essentially, 'to be long in spirit or anger,' i.e., to defer or restrain anger for a long period.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μακροθυμέω is rare but found in the Hellenistic period, notably in moral and philosophical literature, with the sense of bearing slights or injuries with self-restraint. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it frequently describes both human and divine qualities: humans are exhorted to remain patient with one another or amid suffering, while God is described as 'slow to anger' (μακροθυμία). The English 'long-suffering' or 'forbear' sometimes captures part of the nuance, but modern translations often merge its meaning with more general terms for patience or endurance. Unlike ὑπομένω ('to endure, persevere'), which focuses on enduring circumstances, μακροθυμέω often has a relational or interpersonal emphasis—restraint in responding to the provocations or failings of others. In ethical lists (e.g. Galatians 5:22), it is paired with virtues of self-mastery. It is not an anachronistic call to passivity but denotes an active choice of restraint. The term reflects a virtue valued in Greco-Roman moral discourse, but it is given particular prominence in the context of communal and theological ethics of the Second Temple and New Testament periods.

Translation Consistency

primary "endure" 3 occurrences

Makrothyméō primarily means to bear or wait long without giving way to anger — to exercise long-suffering or forbearance. "Endure" is a natural, common single-word verb that captures the sense of long-lasting patience, restraint from retaliation, and bearing provocation, and so fits the typical uses across contexts better than rarer alternatives like "forbear."

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"patient" (3x) "exercise long restraint" (2x) "show patience" (1x) "having exercised long restraint" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the same as μακροθυμώς; to be long-spirited, i.e. (objectively) forbearing or (subjectively) patient:--bear (suffer) long, be longsuffering, have (long) patience, be patient, patiently endure.

Root Family

μακροθυμέω (makrothumeō) — to be long-spirited, to exercise restraint, to delay anger

Root μακροθυμ- to be long-spirited, to exercise restraint, to delay anger

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3114-01 μακροθυμεῖ makrothumei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is patient is long-spirited is patiently enduring 3
G3114-04 μακροθυμήσατε makrothumesate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL be patient Exercise long restraint Exercise long restraint 2
G3114-05 μακροθύμησον makrothumeson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG be patient Restrain your anger be patient 2
G3114-02 μακροθυμεῖτε makrothumeite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL be patient Keep restraining your anger be patient 1
G3114-06 μακροθυμῶν makrothumon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG being patient being long-spirited being patient 1
G3114-03 μακροθυμήσας makrothumesas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having patiently waited having exercised long restraint having exercised long restraint 1

Occurrences in Scripture

10 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3114-05 Matthew 18:26 μακροθύμησον makrothumeson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG have patience Restrain your anger be patient
G3114-05 Matthew 18:29 μακροθύμησον makrothumeson V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG be patient Restrain your anger show patience
G3114-01 Luke 18:7 μακροθυμεῖ makrothumei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG bear long is long-spirited is patiently enduring
G3114-01 1 Corinthians 13:4 μακροθυμεῖ makrothumei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is patient is long-spirited is patiently enduring
G3114-02 1 Thessalonians 5:14 μακροθυμεῖτε makrothumeite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL be patient Keep restraining your anger be patient
G3114-03 Hebrews 6:15 μακροθυμήσας makrothumesas V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG having patiently waited having exercised long restraint having exercised long restraint
G3114-04 James 5:7 μακροθυμήσατε makrothumesate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL Be patient Exercise long restraint Exercise long restraint
G3114-06 James 5:7 μακροθυμῶν makrothumon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG being patient being long-spirited being patient
G3114-04 James 5:8 μακροθυμήσατε makrothumesate V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL be patient Exercise long restraint Exercise long restraint
G3114-01 2 Peter 3:9 μακροθυμεῖ makrothumei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is patient is long-spirited is patiently enduring
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