Forbear, Forbearance

"to hold up" (ana, "up," echo, "to have or hold"), is used in the Middle Voice in the NT, signifying "to bear with, endure;" it is rendered "forbearing (one another)" in Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13 . See BEAR. Cp. B, No. 1, below.

lit., "to send up or back" (ana, "up," hiemi, "to send"), hence, "to relax, loosen," or, metaphorically, "to desist from," is translated "forbearing" (threatening) in Ephesians 6:9 ("giving up your threatening," T.K. Abbott). See LEAVE , LOOSE.

"to spare" (its usual meaning), "to refrain from doing something," is rendered "I forbear" in 2—Corinthians 12:6 . See SPARE.

properly denotes "to protect by covering;" then, "to conceal;" then, by covering, "to bear up under;" it is translated "forbear" in 1—Thessalonians 3:1,5 . See BEAR.

"a holding back" (akin to A, No. 1), denotes "forbearance," a delay of punishment, Romans 2:4; 3:25 , in both places of God's "forbearance" with men; in the latter passage His "forbearance" is the ground, not of His forgiveness, but of His pretermission of sins, His withholding punishment. In Romans 2:4 it represents a suspense of wrath which must eventually be exercised unless the sinner accepts God's conditions; in Romans 3:25 it is connected with the passing over of sins in times past, previous to the atoning work of Christ.

denotes "patiently forbearing evil," lit., "patient of wrong," (from anecho, A, No. 1 and kakos, "evil"), "enduring;" it is rendered "forbearing" in 2—Timothy 2:24 .

an adjective (from epi, used intensively, and eikos, "reasonable"), is used as a noun with the article in Philippians 4:5 , and translated "forbearance" in the RV; AV, "moderation," RV, marg., "gentleness," "sweet reasonableness" (Matthew Arnold). See GENTLE.