A Meek and Quiet Spirit, 1 Peter 3:4

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."

     This particular passage of scripture has always made me a little uneasy, for it speaks directly to women. Being a woman myself, I took note of what this passage was saying. But the part that made me uneasy was where it speaks of a "meek and quiet spirit". For those who know me, you may know that I am not very quiet. I wondered to myself if this verse pertained to a literal volume of one's voice, or of a boisterous character, or if it had some hidden meaning that I was missing. So I looked up the verse in several different translations. To my dismay, they all used pretty much the same wording. Was my personality displeasing to God? Are all women to be quiet and unheard, not making an impact on the world but instead taking on a sort of second-class citizenship as the weaker vessel?
     I am not one to be particularly interested in the original Greek and Hebrew texts in the sense that I feel that I can only understand a verse if I were to study the original languages. I think that in some arenas of Christianity people tend to put too much emphasis on knowing the original languages, and in so doing those who are not familiar with them or who are not apt to study them may feel that they are missing out on what God has truly said and therefore become stumbled and hindered in their spiritual growth. But in such a case as where I really want to know what the original implication of a verse is, I resort to the original language. Are there shades of meaning that I am missing? Usually you can get the different shades of meaning through our several English translations. But on this one I was at a loss.

     First I looked up the word for "meek". I have never fully understood what the word "meek" meant. It is often associated with a sort of inferiority or weakness. I have heard it said that meekness is power under restraint or control. Lacking any sort of real "power" of my own (the only power I have is that which the Holy Spirit gives me), I really didn't understand how "blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth" would apply to me. And so I sought out a better definition.
     The Greek word for "meek" is the word "praus", meaning mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness. The Blue Letter Bible (quoted from Strong's concordance I think, but am not sure) says of meekness:

"Meekness toward God is that disposition of spirit in which we accept His dealings with us as good, and therefore without disputing or resisting. In the OT, the meek are those wholly relying on God rather than their own strength to defend them against injustice. Thus, meekness toward evil people means knowing God is permitting the injuries they inflict, that He is using them to purify His elect, and that He will deliver His elect in His time. (Is. 41:17, Lu. 18:1-8) Gentleness or meekness is the opposite to self-assertiveness and self-interest. It stems from trust in God's goodness and control over the situation. The gentle person is not occupied with self at all. This is a work of the Holy Spirit, not of the human will." (Gal. 5:23)

     Basically, to be meek means that you accept by faith that God's dealings with us are good, and that we do not take things into our own hands but rather fully rely on God, trusting in His good and loving nature and His control over every situation. Meekness is not pushing for your own rights, your own way, or your own will. It's a lack of preoccupation with self and full dependance on God. Those who are meek are not seeking to serve themselves, but to serve God and others, trusting that everything their heart desires is in God's hands and will come about in His will and His timing.

     The word translated as "quiet" in the English Bible is in the Greek, "hesuchios", meaning quiet or tranquil. It has been translated both quiet and peacable in the King James Version. The root form of the word "hesuchios" is a prolonged form of a compound, probably of a derivative of the base of the adjetive "hedraios", which can mean sitting, sedentary, or firm, immovable, steadfast, and perhaps the verb "echo", which can mean to have (i.e. to hold); to have (i.e. own, possess); to hold one's self or find one's self so and so, to be in such or such a condition; or to hold one's self to a thing, to lay hold of a thing, to adhere or cling to. "Echo" can refer to "having (holding) in the hand, in the sense of wearing, to have (hold) possession of the mind (refering to alarm, agitating emotions, etc.), to hold fast keep, to have or comprise or involve, to regard or consider or hold as".
     So the Greek word "hesuchios" has in its background the idea of one who is quiet, tranquil, and peacable, but also who is firm, immovable and steadfast, settled and fixed in purpose, clinging to something and having/holding possession of the mind. The idea, I believe, is one of steadfast and immovable faith in and dependance on Christ, fixed in the purpose of serving Him and fulfilling His calling in life. The Bible says He has not given us a spirit of fear, but of love, peace, and a sound mind. We are not out of our minds, but rather our minds are fixed on Christ.

     What Peter is saying then is that the spirit of a godly woman should be one of full submission and acceptance to God, having complete assurance that His will is best for her and trusting that His will is going to be worked out in His perfect timing, not pushing ahead to get her way or trying to make things happen in her own effort. She is firm and immovable, steadfast in her walk with God, having the soundness of mind that comes from the Holy Spirit, pressing forward to the goal to which God has called her. She is not quarrelsome, but peacable and kind, having a tranquility and peace that comes from God. She is not out to make herself known, or to gain things for herself, but to please God and serve others. She is not assertive in demanding her rights and her agenda, but by faith takes each step down the path on which God is leading her. She is a woman of faith, a woman of prayer, a woman of peace.