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Old 10-28-2009, 08:56 AM
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Meek, Gentle, Humble - praus (πραυς)


Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.

Matthew 21:5 "Say to the daughter of Zion, 'Behold, your King is coming to you, humble, and sitting on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey.' "

1 Peter 3:3-4 Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

This is one of those odd words for which we have no exact equivalent in English, so translators are stuck with using approximations. Part of the meaning of the word does contain the idea of "gentle," but that is not all it means. The actual idea is that the person who is "praus" has tremendous power, strength, intellect, or force of will, but has themselves so completely under control that they do no harm to anyone around them, even when provoked, hurt or insulted.

So a person who is "praus" is not being gentle because they are weak, or because their personality is one of meekness, but rather, they are being gentle because the CHOOSE to be, because they have the capability of being very forceful, powerful or strong. The best description might be "power under control," but that would be very awkward in a translation.

In Roman culture, this word was used of the Roman war horses. They were huge, powerful beasts who in a battle would stomp, kick, bite and trample any enemy in their path. They would run full speed into a wall of flame without hesitation, and were so inclinded to stomp and trample those in their path that it was not unheard of for the horse to kill more enemies than the rider. These SAME horses were so well trained and so well controlled that when the army came into a city, children could pet them, and give them treats without fear of harm.

War horses who were that dangerous and powerful in combat, yet so completely under control that children need not fear being harmed in peaceful situations were called "praus." They were gentle because they had their great power under complete control, NOT because they were weak, shy, retiring, or had a nature that was just naturally one of gentleness.

Thus it is in these verses above. They are references to individuals who are very powerful (the "strength" or "power" could be physcial, emotional, social, political, spiritual, or whatever), but CHOOSE to use that power with great control, with great gentleness, so that their entire lives become forces for healing, nurturing, and tenderness rather than for disruption, destruction, or pain.

These are the people who are powerful enough to break you in half, yet CHOOSE to turn the other cheek when you strike them. These are the people who are smart enough to rip you to shreds with their intellect, yet CHOOSE to respond with gentle and kind words when they are taunted or insulted. These are the people who have the political or social connections to utterly dismantle or destroy your life, yet CHOOSE to use those connections only for good, no matter how much you try to hurt or slander them.

When we give grace to those who deserve to be slapped, forgive those who only want to hurt us, and show kindness to those who only show us hatefulness, we are being "praus." When we return a kind word for an insult, when we are simply nice to those who vehemently disagree with us, when we see through all of that to the valuable, precious person underneath, and treat them accordingly no matter how they act, we are being "praus."

May the grace of God shine through each of you so that you are always "praus."

Grace and peace to you all,

Rhomphaia
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