Boldness
παρρησίαStrong’s G3954parrēsia
Appears in 31 verses of the New Testament
In short
Parrēsia is the Greek word usually translated “boldness”, “confidence” and “publicly”. It appears in 31 verses of the New Testament.
“For they that have used the office of a deacon well purchase to themselves a good degree, and great boldness in the faith which is in Christ Jesus.”
Meaning
Usually translated “boldness”, “confidence” and “publicly”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- boldness 13
- confidence 6
- publicly 3
- plainly 3
- openly 2
- public 2
- openness 1
- freedom 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- John 9
- Acts 5
- Hebrews 4
- 1 John 4
- 2 Corinthians 2
- Ephesians 2
11 books in all.
Related words
Explore in Scripture
- Philemon 1:8In contextWherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
- Mark 8:32And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him.
- John 7:4For there is no man that doeth any thing in secret, and he himself seeketh to be known openly. If thou do these things, shew thyself to the world.
- John 7:13Howbeit no man spake openly of him for fear of the Jews.
- John 7:26But, lo, he speaketh boldly, and they say nothing unto him. Do the rulers know indeed that this is the very Christ?
- John 10:24Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly.
Greek dictionary
παρρησία parrēsia · boldness
παρρησία, -ας, ἡ (πᾶς + ῥῆσις, speech) [in LXX; Lev.26:13 (μετὰ π., קוֺמְמִיּוּת קוֹמְמִיּוּת), Pro.1:20 10:10, Wis.5:1, al. ;] 1. freedom of speech, plainness, openness, freedom in speaking (Eur., Plat., al.) : Act.4:13, 2Co.3:12; παρρησίᾳ, adverbially, freely, openly, plainly, Mrk.8:32, Jhn.7:13, 26 10:24 11:14 16:29 18:20; opposite to ἐν παροιμίαις, Jhn.16:25; ἐν π., Eph.6:19; μετὰ π., Act.2:29 4:29, 31 28:31 …
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “boldness” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
BOLDNESS, noun
Courage; bravery; intrepidity; spirit; fearlessness. I cannot, with Johnson, interpret this word by fortitude or magnanimity. boldness does not, I think, imply the firmness of mind, which constitutes fortitude, nor the elevation and generosity of magnanimity.
- Prominence; the quality of exceeding the ordinary rules of scrupulous nicety and caution; applied to style, expression, and metaphors in language; and to figures in painting, sculpture and architecture.
- Freedom from timidity; liberty.“Great is my boldness of speech towards you” 2 Corinthians 7:4
- Confidence; confident trust.“We have boldness and access with confidence” Ephesians 3:12
- Freedom from bashfulness; assurance; confident mien.
All definitions
- Prominence; steepness; as the boldness of the shore.
- Excess of freedom, bordering on impudence.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.