Original Word: εἰρηνικός
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: eirénikos
Pronunciation: ay-ray-nee-KOS
Phonetic Spelling: (i-ray-nee-kos')
KJV: peaceable
NASB: peaceable, peaceful
Word Origin: [from G1515 (εἰρήνη - peace)]

1. peaceful
2. (by implication) heathful

peaceable.

From eirene; pacific; by implication, salutary -- peaceable.

see GREEK eirene

Cognate: 1516 eirēnikós – what pertains to peace, i.e. God's gift of wholeness which results from knowing (discerning) the Lord's will and obeying it. See 1515 (eirēnē).

Word Origin
from eiréné
Definition
peaceful
NASB Translation
peaceable (1), peaceful (1).

STRONGS NT 1516: εἰρηνικός

εἰρηνικός, εἰρηνική, εἰρηνικόν,

1. relating to peace:ἐπίστημαι, the arts of peace, Xenophon, oec. 1, 17; ἔργα, ibid. 6, 1; χρειαι, Diodorus 5, 31; often in 1 Maccabees ().

2. peaceable, pacific, loving peace: James 3:17; (Plato, Isocrates, others; the Sept.).

3. bringing peace with it, peaceful, salutary, (see εἰρήνη, 3): Hebrews 12:11.

Meaning and Nuance

The word translated “peaceable” speaks of that which actively works for harmonious relationships, wholeness, and reconciliation. It conveys more than the absence of conflict; it points to a positive disposition that welcomes righteousness and mutual well-being. Rooted in the biblical concept of shalom, it embraces integrity, spiritual health, and right standing with God and others.

Occurrences in the New Testament

1. James 3:17 describes heavenly wisdom as “first pure, then peace-loving, gentle, accommodating, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial, and sincere”. “Peace-loving” captures a deliberate preference for peace over strife, distinguishing true wisdom from earthly, demonic wisdom that breeds disorder (James 3:14-16).
2. Hebrews 12:11 notes that the painful process of divine discipline “yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it”. Here the adjective portrays the settled tranquility that characterizes the lives of believers who submit to the Father’s corrective hand.

Old Testament Background

The Septuagint often renders the Hebrew shalom terminology with related Greek roots, linking the Christian concept of being peace-oriented to the covenant promise of comprehensive well-being (Numbers 6:24-26; Psalm 34:14; Isaiah 9:6-7). Thus, New Testament writers draw on an established biblical trajectory in presenting peace not merely as an internal feeling but as a communal reality grounded in God’s character and promises.

Connection to Wisdom Literature

James, echoing Proverbs and the Sermon on the Mount, frames peaceableness as evidence of true wisdom. In contrast to divisive speech and ambition, wisdom from above pursues peace as its natural outflow (Proverbs 12:20; Matthew 5:9). The fruit of peace therefore authenticates spiritual understanding.

Fruit of Discipline and Righteousness

Hebrews sets peaceable righteousness at the end of the training pathway. The letter exhorts believers to “pursue peace with everyone, as well as holiness” (Hebrews 12:14), making clear that the Father’s chastening is never punitive in isolation but formative, shaping His children into people who produce peace. The athlete metaphor underscores a long-term perspective: pain yields gain, turmoil leads to tranquility.

Historical Christian Thought

Early church writers such as Clement of Rome and Polycarp highlighted peaceable conduct as essential to church unity, drawing directly from James and Hebrews. Patristic homilies often linked the term to Christ’s own peacemaking work (Ephesians 2:14-17) and urged believers to mirror the Savior’s reconciling posture. Throughout church history, reformers and revivalists alike have appealed to these passages to call congregations away from factionalism toward Spirit-driven concord.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Teaching: Emphasize peaceableness as a hallmark of Spirit-filled wisdom; contrast it with carnal strife.
• Counseling: Guide believers undergoing discipline to anticipate “the peaceful fruit of righteousness,” reinforcing hope amid hardship.
• Leadership: Model decision-making that seeks relational health without compromising truth.
• Evangelism: Demonstrate the gospel’s power by cultivating peace within congregations—a compelling testimony to a fragmented world (John 13:35).

Practical Implications for Today

1. Personal Examination: Ask whether choices and conversations foster peace or sow discord.
2. Community Life: Pursue reconciliation swiftly (Matthew 5:23-24) and promote prayerful listening.
3. Conflict Resolution: Approach disagreement with the confidence that divine wisdom can produce mutually edifying outcomes.
4. Discipleship: Embrace God’s shaping process, trusting that yielded lives will radiate peace to a hostile culture.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 1516 directs the believer to a life that actively cultivates harmony anchored in righteousness. Appearing in contexts of wisdom and discipline, the term calls the church to embody the Lord’s own peace, evidencing maturity and glorifying God before the world.

ειρηνικά ειρηνικάς ειρηνικη ειρηνική εἰρηνική ειρηνικοί ειρηνικοίς ειρηνικον ειρηνικόν εἰρηνικὸν ειρηνικός ειρηνικούς ειρηνικώ ειρηνικών eirenike eirenikḗ eirēnikē eirēnikḗ eirenikon eirenikòn eirēnikon eirēnikònInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts