703. areté
Strong's Lexicon
areté: Virtue, excellence, moral goodness

Original Word: ἀρετή
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: areté
Pronunciation: ah-reh-TAY
Phonetic Spelling: (ar-et'-ay)
Definition: Virtue, excellence, moral goodness
Meaning: goodness, a gracious act, virtue, uprightness.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root ἀρ- (ar-), which is related to the concept of excellence or virtue.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "areté," the concept of virtue and moral excellence can be related to Hebrew words like "חַיִל" (chayil, Strong's H2428) meaning strength or valor, and "צֶדֶק" (tsedeq, Strong's H6664) meaning righteousness.

Usage: In the New Testament, "areté" refers to moral excellence or virtue. It encompasses the idea of living in a way that reflects the highest moral standards and qualities. This term is often associated with the character and conduct that align with God's nature and commands.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient Greek culture, "areté" was a significant concept, often associated with the fulfillment of purpose or function. It was used to describe the excellence of a person or thing in fulfilling its intended purpose. In the context of Greek philosophy, it was closely linked to the idea of living a life of virtue and moral integrity. In the New Testament, this concept is elevated to reflect the moral excellence that believers are called to exhibit as they follow Christ.

HELPS Word-studies

703 arétē – properly, virtue ("moral excellence") which is displayed to enrich life.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
of uncertain origin
Definition
moral goodness, i.e. virtue
NASB Translation
excellence (2), excellencies (1), moral excellence (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 703: ἀρετή

ἀρετή, ἀρετῆς, (see ἄρα at the beginning), a word of very wide signification in Greek writings; any excellence of a person (in body or mind) or of a thing, an eminent endowment, property or quality. Used of the human mind and in an ethical sense, it denotes:

1. a virtuous course of thought, feeling and action; virtue, moral goodness (Wis. 4:1 Wis. 5:13; often in 4 Macc. and in Greek writings): 2 Peter 1:5 (others take it here specifically, viz. moral vigor; cf. next entry).

2. any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity; hence (plural αἱ ἀρεταί, Wis. 8:7; often in 4 Macc. and in the Greek philosophers) τίς ἀρετή, Philippians 4:8. Used of God, it denotes a. his power: 2 Peter 1:3.

b. in the plural his excellences, perfections, 'which shine forth in our gratuitous calling and in the whole work of our salvation' (John Gerhard): 1 Peter 2:9. (In the Sept. for הוד splendor, glory, Habakkuk 3:3, of God; Zechariah 6:13, of the Messiah; in plural for תְּהִלּות praises, of God, Isaiah 43:21; Isaiah 42:12; Isaiah 63:7.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
praise, virtue.

From the same as arrhen; properly, manliness (valor), i.e. Excellence (intrinsic or attributed) -- praise, virtue.

see GREEK arrhen

Forms and Transliterations
αρετας αρετάς ἀρετὰς αρετη αρετή ἀρετὴ ἀρετῇ αρετην αρετήν ἀρετήν αρετης αρετής ἀρετῆς aretas aretàs arete aretē aretḕ aretêi aretē̂i areten aretēn aretḗn
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Englishman's Concordance
Philippians 4:8 N-NFS
GRK: εἴ τις ἀρετὴ καὶ εἴ
NAS: there is any excellence and if
KJV: if [there be] any virtue, and
INT: if any excellence and if

1 Peter 2:9 N-AFP
GRK: ὅπως τὰς ἀρετὰς ἐξαγγείλητε τοῦ
NAS: that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called
KJV: ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called
INT: that the virtues you might set forth of the [one]

2 Peter 1:3 N-GFS
GRK: δόξῃ καὶ ἀρετῇ
NAS: us by His own glory and excellence.
KJV: glory and virtue:
INT: glory and excellence

2 Peter 1:5 N-AFS
GRK: ὑμῶν τὴν ἀρετήν ἐν δὲ
NAS: supply moral excellence, and in [your] moral excellence,
KJV: your faith virtue; and to
INT: of you the virtue in moreover

2 Peter 1:5 N-DFS
GRK: δὲ τῇ ἀρετῇ τὴν γνῶσιν
NAS: moral excellence, and in [your] moral excellence, knowledge,
KJV: and to virtue knowledge;
INT: moreover the virtue the knowledge

Strong's Greek 703
5 Occurrences


ἀρετὰς — 1 Occ.
ἀρετὴ — 3 Occ.
ἀρετήν — 1 Occ.

















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