Meekness

Matthew 5:5 NIV: “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.”

Somewhere along the way, the word meek became synonymous with weakness. That may have come from the simile, as meek as a lamb or as meek as a mouse. Both animals conjure up images of being docile (in the case of the lamb) or timid (in the case of the mouse). The Greek word for meek is praus which is defined as gentle strength, or power without harshness. It is, in fact, the opposite of being weak. Someone meek has the strength of restraint and self-control. There is a quiet force in meekness that works without violence or cruelty while staying resilient to outside forces.

With such steadfast, gentle power comes the promise of this verse that such a person will inherit or receive the earth. Literally, this word means the land, ground, world, etc. Let us recall, though, what inheriting land means in the context of the Bible. From the earliest chapters, God promised the Israelites that they would inherit the promised land if they remained faithful to God. The inherited earth symbolizes a spiritual inheritance of restored intimacy with God and human flourishing.

This, to me, wraps up what is fortunate or blessed about being meek. I don’t necessarily care about being gifted “the earth” or “land,” but I do desire the gift of intimacy and wholeness. It is mine if I practice meekness. I must use quiet strength in the face of injustices (imagined in my art as heavy metal boxes depicted with unbalanced scales), not violence or unbridled rage like the group in the back.