BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY

Godliness

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G2150

εὐσέβεια

eusebeia — piety

εὐ-σέβεια, -ας, ἡ (εὐσεβής, which see), [in LXX: Pro.1:7, Isa.33:6 (יִרְאָה), Pro.13:11 (aliter in Heb.), Isa.11:2 (יְהוָֹה יִרְאָה), I Est.1:23, Wis.10:12, Sir.49:3, and very frequently in 4Mac ;] 1. piety, reverence (towards parents and others). 2. piety towards God, godliness: Act.3:12, 1Ti.2:2 4:7-8 6:5-6 6:11, 2Pe.1:3 1:6-7; τὸ τῆς εὐ. μυστήριον, 1Ti.3:16; ἡ κατ᾽ εὐ. διδασκαλία, 1Ti.6:3; ἡ ἀλήθεια ἡ κατ᾽ εὐ., Tit.1:1; μόρφωσις εὐσεβείας, 2Ti.3:5; pl. (see Bl., § 32, 6; Mayor on Jas.2:1), 2Pe.3:11 (on the use of εὐ. and cognates in Past. Epp., see CGT, on 1Ti.2:2; cf. also Cremer, 524).† (AS)

15 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G763

ἀσέβεια

asebeia — ungodlinessness

ἀσέβεια, -ας, ἡ (ἀσεβής), [in LXX for פֶּשַׁע, רֶשַׁע, etc. ;] ungodliness, impiety: Rom.1:18 11:26, 2Ti.2:16, Tit.2:12; ἔργα ἀσεβείας, ungodly deeds, Ju 15; ἐπιθυηίαι τ. ἀσεβειῶν, desires for ungodly things or deeds, Ju 18 (DB, iv, 532; Cremer, 523; MM, see word).† (AS)

6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2317

θεοσέβεια

theosebeia — reverence for God

θεοσέβεια, -ας, ἡ (θεοσεβής), [in LXX Gen.20:11 (אֱלֹהִים יִרְאָה), Job.28:28 (אֲדֹנָי id.), Sir.1:24, Bar.5:4, 4Ma.7:6 4Mac 7:22, א 4Ma.15:28 א 4Ma.17:15 * ;] fear of God, godliness: 1Ti.2:10.† (AS)

1 tagged verse occurrence · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

The whole of practical piety (1 Tim. 4:8; 2 Pet. 1:6). “It supposes knowledge, veneration, affection, dependence, submission, gratitude, and obedience.” In 1 Tim. 3:16 it denotes the substance of revealed religion.

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Godliness in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →