Both the NASB and NIV translate this word as gentleness, and the King James as meekness. The Greek word is prautes (pra-oo-tays) carries more meaning than either of these terms convey. It is that attitude of spirit we accept God's dealings with us as good and do not dispute or resist. Prautes is not readily expressed in English, (since the term "meekness" suggests weakness), but it is the condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness, not in weakness, but in power. It is a balance born in strength of character.*
David's dealing with Saul illustrate this concept very well. Saul loved David, when he saved his kingdom. A little shepherd boy with only a bag of rocks and a sling (or so Saul thought), but when God exalted David, Saul then despised the boy he professed to love. Saul despised David so much that he wanted him dead, and tried repeatedly to kill him. So this is where meekness comes in, David was faithful to Saul, even though Saul had tried to kill him. He respected the position God had given him. David remained faithful to Saul; so much so, that he had the man killed who ended Saul's life at Saul's request, because the man had killed God's anointed. Now ask yourself, did David have the power to overcome Saul? Absolutely, he cut his robe, which meant that he was close enough to kill him; but at the very core of his strength was a deep respect for the workings of God. So to put the illustration of meekness into perspective; David, the warrior, who knew what it meant to be drenched in blood on the battlefield, with a kingdom to gain, would not touch King Saul, who had tried repeatedly to kill him: not because he lacked strength, but because God had anointed him. David's power was restrained because he both understood and accepted that Saul was God's business, not David's.
For further reading: I Samuel 24
* Taken from "The Complete Word Study Dictionary."
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