Replies

However, that is not what the original bible (untranslated) meant. The word we translated into 'meek' really was closer to meaning 'learned', which makes more sense. If you have ever taken Latin, Greek, or other ancient language, you will understand that many words are not perfectly translated into English.

I don't know where you got the idea that praeis (translated "meek" in the KJV of Matthew 5:5) means 'learned.' Strong's marks it as 'gentleness of disposition, gentleness.' According to the word study W.E. Sangster did in his hagiography The Pure In Heart, it can be translated as 'gentleness,' 'forebearance,' and even 'kindness.' He also says, "Aristotle uses it as the mean between irascibility on the one hand and lack of anger on the other--thought it is clearly nearer to the latter than the former. 'Equanimity' is the central meaning Aristotle has in mind." My Intermediate Greek-English Lexicon from Oxford Press says that it means, 'Mild, soft, gentle, meek.' Nowhere does it mean 'learned.'

As far as the meaning of the Beatitude, "Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth," the common Christian understanding is that the gentle of disposition will inherit "the land" (thn ghn), which Adam Clarke and others say is "commonly used by the prophets to signify the land of Canaan, in which all temporal good abounded, #Jud 18:9, 10," and that "Jesus Christ points out that abundance of spiritual good, which was provided for men in the Gospel. Besides, Canaan was a type of the kingdom of God; and who is so likely to inherit glory as the man in whom the meekness and gentleness of Jesus dwell?"

' Nowhere does it mean 'learned.'

Learned in the sense of 'knowing and understanding God's ways', or 'following God's wishes', if you will. Having knowledge of God, not what we think of as knowledge today. Read the following passages with the above in mind.

Psalms 25:9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way.

Psalms 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

Psalms 76:9 When God arose to judgment, to save all the meek of the earth. Selah.

Psalms 149:4 For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

Psalms 147:6 The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.

Zephaniah 2:3 Seek ye the LORD, all ye meek of the earth, which have wrought his judgment; seek righteousness, seek meekness: it may be ye shall be hid in the day of the LORD'S anger.

I guess we all have our theories, but this one makes the most sense to me.

Meek -> virtuous -> embracing the Lord and his teachings -> "learned" [enlightened]