Abarim Publications' online Biblical Greek Dictionary
ησυχος
The lovely adjective ησυχος (hesuchos) means quiet or still, cautious or gentle, peaceful or tranquil. It's fairly common in the classics and it's formally unclear where this word may have come from. Here at Abarim Publications, however, we suspect it was imported into the Greek language basin along with the alphabet and a slew of handy terms to boot up the later so famous Greek wisdom tradition.
Our adjective ησυχος (hesuchos) rather obviously matches the large cluster of roots derived from the form סכך (sakak), to cover, shield or protect. The name of the Feast of Booths employs the same root: חג הסכות (hag hasukot), as does the name Succoth.
Our adjective ησυχος (hesuchos), still, calm, peaceful, safe or contained, isn't used independently in the New Testament, but from it derive:
- The verb ησυχαζω (hesuchazo), meaning to be still, at peace, contained. This verb is used 5 times in the New Testament; see full concordance.
- The noun ησυχια (hesuchia), meaning stillness, peace or containment: the state or mental mastery, the opposite of being vulnerable to stimuli or prone to emotional outbursts, but certainly not the same as a condition of subservient silence. This laden and often conveniently misinterpreted word is used 4 times; see full concordance.
- The adjective ησυχιος (hesuchios), which expresses the same basic idea as the adjective ησυχος (hesuchos) and means tranquil, peaceful, contained (1 Timothy 2:2 and 1 Peter 3:4 only).