BIBLE DICTIONARY + WORD STUDY
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 · G3156
Matthaios — Matthew
Μαθθαῖος (Rec. Ματθ-, see WH, App., 159; Bl., § 3, 11; on the Semitic form, see Dalman, Words, 51; Gr., 142), -ου, ὁ, Matthew: Mt title., Mat.9:9 10:3, Mrk.3:18, Luk.6:15, Act.1:13 (cf. Λευεί).† (AS)
5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G1933
epieikēs — gentle
ἐπιεικής, -ές (εἰκός, likely), [in LXX: Psa.86:5 (סַלָּח), Est.8:13 * ;] 1. seemly, fitting (Hom.). 2. equitable, fair, moderate: 1Ti.3:3, Tit.3:2, 1Pe.2:18, Jas.3:17; τὸ ἐ. (Thuc., i, 76), Php.4:5 (cf. Mayor, Ja, l.with, and see: ἐπιεικία).† ἐπιείκεια see: ἐπιεικία ἐπιεικία (Rec. -είκεια), -ας, ἡ (ἐπιεικής), [in LXX: Wis.2:19 12:18 Bar.2:27, from LXX Bar.4:24, TH (3:42), 2Ma.2:22 2Mac 10:4, 3Ma.3:15 3Mac 7:6 * ;] fairness, moderation, gentleness ("sweet reasonableness," Matthew Arnold): Act.24:4; with πραΰτης, 2Co.10:1.† SYN.: πραΰτης (see Tr., Syn., § xliii) (AS)
5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →GREEK · G1932
epieikeia — gentleness
ἐπιεικία (Rec. -είκεια), -ας, ἡ (ἐπιεικής), [in LXX: Wis.2:19 12:18 Bar.2:27, from LXX Bar.4:24, TH (3:42), 2Ma.2:22 2Mac 10:4, 3Ma.3:15 3Mac 7:6 * ;] fairness, moderation, gentleness ("sweet reasonableness," Matthew Arnold): Act.24:4; with πραΰτης, 2Co.10:1.† SYN.: πραΰτης (see Tr., Syn., § xliii) (AS)
2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →Gift of God, a common Jewish name after the Exile. He was the son of Alphaeus, and was a publican or tax-gatherer at Capernaum. On one occasion Jesus, coming up from the side of the lake, passed the custom-house where Matthew was seated, and said to him, “Follow me.” Matthew arose and followed him, and became his disciple (Matt. 9:9). Formerly the name by which he was known was Levi (Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27); he now changed it, possibly in grateful memory of his call, to Matthew. The same day on which Jesus called him he made a “great feast” (Luke 5:29), a farewell feast, to which he invited Jesus and his disciples, and probably also many of old associates. He was afterwards selected as one of the twelve (6:15). His name does not occur again in the Gospel history except in the lists of the apostles. The last notice of him is in Acts 1:13. The time and manner of his death are unknown.
Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.
