What Does It Really Mean to Be “Meek”?

Let’s be honest—when we hear the word meek, most of us think of someone timid, passive, or afraid to speak up. It almost sounds like a compliment wrapped in an insult. In our culture, being “meek” doesn’t exactly scream power or confidence. But in the Bible? It means something completely different—and way more powerful.

Take Matthew 5:5 (NLT):
“God blesses those who are humble, for they will inherit the whole earth.”

Most translations say “meek” instead of “humble.” Either way, Jesus is making a radical statement: the people who are going to “inherit the earth” are not the loudest, strongest, or richest. They’re the ones who know how to stay grounded, stay gentle, and trust God to fight their battles.

In the biblical context, meekness is actually strength under control. Think of it like a wild stallion that’s been trained—not broken, just harnessed. The Greek word used in Matthew 5:5 is praus, which was often used to describe a powerful animal like a war horse that had been tamed. That’s the kind of person God calls “blessed.” Not someone who’s weak and passive, but someone who could act out in anger or power—but chooses instead to be calm, kind, and self-controlled. That’s meekness.

And look at how this plays out in other parts of Scripture. Moses is described in Numbers 12:3 (KJV) as “very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth.” Moses wasn’t a pushover. He stood up to Pharaoh, led a nation through a desert, and faced down rebellions. But he did it with a spirit of dependence on God, not ego or personal ambition.

Even Jesus, the King of Kings, said in Matthew 11:29 (NLT):
“Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

Jesus was meek—but He flipped tables, stood up to the Pharisees, and carried a cross for the sins of the world. Meekness didn’t make Him less—it made Him more.

In a world obsessed with dominance, self-promotion, and winning at all costs, Jesus calls us to something higher: to be strong and surrendered, courageous and kind. Meekness isn’t weakness. It’s power under God’s authority.

Sources:

The Holy Bible, New Living Translation. Carol Stream: Tyndale House Publishers, 2015.

Grudem, Wayne. Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1994.

Vine, W.E. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1985.

MacArthur, John. The MacArthur New Testament Commentary: Matthew 1–7. Chicago: Moody Press, 1985.

Carson, D.A. The Sermon on the Mount: An Evangelical Exposition of Matthew 5–7. Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 1982.

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