Question 1

What does "Patience" mean in the King James Bible?

Accepted Answer

In the KJV, "Patience" means "waiting calmly." The two Greek words. Makrothymia was having a long fuse -- enduring provocation without retaliating. Hypomone was remaining under crushing pressure without buckling. Neither was passive. Both described active, costly, muscular endurance. 'Tribulation worketh patience' meant suffering built the spiritual muscle of active, unbending, weight-bearing endurance.

Question 2

Why did the word "Patience" disappear from modern English?

Accepted Answer

Greek makrothymia ('long-tempered/having a long fuse/enduring under provocation without retaliating') and hypomone ('remaining under pressure/bearing up under crushing weight') passivized into 'waiting without complaining.' The word was at peak usage around 1611 and declined by still used but passivized (~1900).

Question 3

What modern word replaced "Patience"?

Accepted Answer

"Patience" was replaced by: "waiting" (though this passive time-spending; patience was active endurance under real suffering); "tolerance" (though this accepting what you don't like; patience was bearing crushing weight without collapsing or retaliating); "calm" (though this emotional state; patience was a fierce, determined act of will to endure).

What Does “Patience” Mean in the Bible?

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