Word Study for G4235 (πρᾷος) | Strong's Concordance

prâios /prah'-os/ Ask about this word

Roota form of πραΰς, used in certain parts

Meaninggentle, i.e. humble

KJV usagemeek.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of prâios — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word prâios, represented by G4235, is defined as gentle, i.e. humble:--meek. It is a very specific term, appearing only 1 time in 1 unique verse in the Bible. Its rarity emphasizes the significance of its singular context.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

The sole use of G4235 is found in a direct statement from Jesus. In Matthew 11:29, He invites his followers to learn from Him, describing His own character: "for I am meek and lowly in heart." In this passage, the quality of meekness is presented as a core attribute of Christ's nature and is directly linked to the promise that his followers will "find rest unto your souls" Matthew 11:29.

Related Words & Concepts

Two key related words appear alongside G4235 in its only biblical context:

G5011 tapeinós: This word is defined as "depressed, i.e. (figuratively) humiliated (in circumstances or disposition):--base, cast down, humble, of low degree (estate), lowly." It is paired directly with meek to describe Jesus' heart, reinforcing the theme of humility Matthew 11:29.
G372 anápausis: Defined as "intermission; by implication, recreation:--rest," this is the promised result for those who learn from Christ's meek and lowly example. It signifies a spiritual recreation found in Him Matthew 11:29.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4235 comes entirely from its specific use by Jesus.

A Portrait of Christ: The word provides a direct self-description of Jesus's heart. He identifies Himself not as powerful or commanding in this instance, but as meek.
The Path to Rest: Meekness is not presented as a passive quality but as an active component of Christ's character that, when learned, leads to spiritual rest (anápausis).
Paired with Humility: Its usage alongside lowly (tapeinós) connects meekness inextricably with a state of humility, establishing them as foundational virtues in Christ's teaching.

Summary

In summary, G4235 is a highly focused term whose importance is derived from its single, profound appearance. It is used by Jesus to define His own nature for those He calls to follow Him. This word illustrates that being meek and lowly in heart is the very path to finding the spiritual rest that He offers to all souls.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a noun and an adjective across 13 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Genitive Singular Feminine 4×
Dative Singular Feminine 3×
Accusative Singular Feminine 2×
Nominative Singular Masculine 2×
Genitive Singular Neuter 1×
Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
Neuter: Neuter grammatical gender.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

1 verse, all in Matthew — and none of the other 26 New Testament books.

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.