Original Word: τολμάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: tolmaó
Pronunciation: tol-MAH-oh
Phonetic Spelling: (tol-mah'-o)
KJV: be bold, boldly, dare, durst
NASB: dare, bold, venture, am bold, courageous, dared, gathered up courage
Word Origin: [from tolma "boldness", probably itself from the base of G5056 (τέλος - end) through the idea of extreme conduct)]

1. to venture
2. (by implication) to be courageous
{objectively or in act; while G2292 is rather subjective or in feeling}

be bold, dare

From tolma (boldness; probably itself from the base of telos through the idea of extreme conduct); to venture (objectively or in act; while tharrheo is rather subjective or in feeling); by implication, to be courageous -- be bold, boldly, dare, durst.

see GREEK telos

see GREEK tharrheo

5111 tolmáō (from tolma, "bold courage") – properly, to show daring courage necessary for a valid risk ("putting it all on the line"); courageously venture forward by putting fear behind and embracing the fruit that lies ahead for taking a necessary risk.

Word Origin
from tolma (boldness)
Definition
to have courage, to be bold
NASB Translation
am...bold (1), bold (2), courageous (1), dare (4), dared (1), gathered up courage (1), have courage (1), have...courage (1), presume (1), venture (2), ventured (1).

STRONGS NT 5111: τολμάω

τολμάω, τολμῶ; imperfect 3 person singular ἐτόλμα, plural ἐτόλμων; future τολμήσω; 1 aorist ἐτόλησα; (τολμᾷ or τόλμῃ (`daring'; Curtius, § 236)); from Homer down; to dare;

a. not to dread or shun through fear: followed by an infinitive, Matthew 22:46; Mark 12:34; Luke 20:40; John 21:12 (Winer's Grammar, § 65, 7b.); Acts 5:13; Acts 7:32; Romans 15:18; 2 Corinthians 10:12; Philippians 1:14; Jude 1:9; τολμήσας εἰσῆλθεν, took courage and went in, Mark 15:43 (Herodian, 8, 5, 22; Plutarch, vit. Cam. 22, 6).

b. to bear, endure; to bring oneself to; (cf. Winer's Grammar, as above): followed by an infinitive, Romans 5:7; 1 Corinthians 6:1.

c. absolutely, to be bold; bear oneself boldly, deal boldly: 2 Corinthians 11:21; ἐπί τινα, against one, 2 Corinthians 10:2. (Compare: ἀποτολμάω.) [SYNONYMS: τολμάω, θαρρέω: θαρρέω denotes confidence in one's own strength or capacity, θαρρέω boldness or daring in undertaking; θαρρέω has reference more to the character, τολμάω to its manifestation. Cf. Schmidt, chapter 24, 4; chapter 141. The words are found together in 2 Corinthians 10:2.]

Semantic Range and Patterns of Usage

Strong’s Greek 5111 appears sixteen times across the New Testament and consistently conveys a tension between holy courage and unholy presumption. The same verb that describes Joseph of Arimathea “boldly” approaching Pilate (Mark 15:43) also depicts Michael the archangel who “did not presume” to bring railing judgment against the devil (Jude 1:9). This breadth holds together the complementary biblical virtues of fearless obedience and reverential restraint.

Daring Silenced by Divine Authority

Three Synoptic passages record that after Jesus confounded His interrogators, “no one dared to question Him any further” (Matthew 22:46; Mark 12:34; Luke 20:40). The verb underlines Christ’s unassailable wisdom and hints at His divine identity. Likewise, at the lakeshore after the resurrection, “none of the disciples dared to ask Him, ‘Who are You?’ They knew it was the Lord” (John 21:12). Here the awe of recognition suppresses curiosity, illustrating that true revelation produces worshipful silence as much as proclamation.

Sanctified Boldness in Evangelism and Ministry

The early church’s holiness generated both attraction and trepidation: “No one else dared to join them, even though the people highly regarded them” (Acts 5:13). Conversely, imprisonment emboldened others: “Most of the brothers, confident in the Lord by my chains, now dare more abundantly to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:14). Holy boldness is thus both protective and catalytic—shielding the church’s purity while propelling its mission.

Presumption versus Reverent Fear

Scripture warns against rash daring. Moses at the burning bush “did not dare to look” (Acts 7:32), modeling reverence before divine majesty. Jude contrasts Michael’s restraint with false teachers who “scoff at things they do not understand.” Godly courage never lapses into irreverence; it is tempered by an awareness of creaturely limits.

Christ-Centered Courage Illustrated

Joseph of Arimathea “went in boldly to Pilate to ask for the body of Jesus” (Mark 15:43). This solitary act risked social and political loss but served redemptive purposes by providing an honorable burial, fulfilling prophecy (Isaiah 53:9). In Romans 5:7 Paul appeals to the extremity of human courage—“someone might possibly dare to die”—to magnify God’s greater love in Christ’s atoning death for the ungodly.

Paul’s Careful Use of ‘Daring’ Rhetoric

Paul employs the verb frequently in 2 Corinthians. He pleads that he “may not need to be bold” (10:2), confesses “we do not dare to classify or compare ourselves” (10:12), and matches the boasting of his opponents: “whatever anyone else dares to boast of… I also dare” (11:21). His deployment of the term exposes the difference between self-exalting audacity and apostolic courage grounded in the Lord’s commission. Similarly, he reproves Corinthian believers who “dare” to litigate before unbelievers (1 Corinthians 6:1), redirecting their boldness toward righteous, internal resolution.

Practical Implications for the Church Today

1. Worshipful Awe: A healthy doctrine of God curbs presumptuous speech and actions, as seen in Moses and the disciples.
2. Prophetic Courage: Like Joseph, believers are called to costly public identification with Christ, trusting sovereign purposes.
3. Discernment in Authority: Michael’s restraint and Paul’s caution warn against overstepping delegated spheres of authority.
4. Missionary Zeal: Philippians 1:14 encourages believers to translate adversity into greater freedom in gospel proclamation.

Historical Reflection

Early Christian writers such as Tertullian pointed to Acts 5:13 to defend church discipline, arguing that fear of joining the assembly safeguarded its holiness. Reformers later cited Romans 5:7 to emphasize the uniqueness of Christ’s substitutionary death, surpassing human examples of sacrificial daring. Throughout history the church has oscillated between timidity and recklessness; the balanced witness of 5111 calls every generation to courageous obedience anchored in reverence.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 5111 traces a sacred dialectic: daring rooted in faith versus daring rooted in pride. Whether silencing hostile interrogators, emboldening imprisoned evangelists, or restraining celestial beings, Scripture weaves this term into a tapestry that upholds the supremacy of Christ and the necessity of Spirit-wrought courage tempered by holy fear.

ετολμα ετόλμα ἐτόλμα ετόλμησε ετόλμησέ ετολμησεν ετόλμησεν ἐτόλμησεν ἐτόλμησέν ετολμων ετόλμων ἐτόλμων τολμα τολμά τολμᾷ τολμαν τολμάν τολμᾷν τολμᾶν τολμησαι τολμήσαι τολμῆσαι τολμησας τολμήσας τολμήσουσιν τολμησω τολμήσω τολμω τολμώ τολμῶ τολμωμεν τολμώμεν τολμῶμεν etolma etólma etolmesen etolmēsen etólmesen etólmesén etólmēsen etólmēsén etolmon etolmōn etólmon etólmōn tolma tolmā̂i tolmā̂in tolman tolmesai tolmêsai tolmēsai tolmē̂sai tolmesas tolmēsas tolmḗsas tolmeso tolmēsō tolmḗso tolmḗsō tolmo tolmô tolmō tolmō̂ tolmomen tolmômen tolmōmen tolmō̂menInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts