What does σπουδή (spoudḗ) mean in the Bible?
Σπουδή names earnestness, diligence, or serious concern. In 2 Corinthians 7, godly sorrow produces earnestness that takes wrongdoing seriously, seeks vindication, and demonstrates changed allegiance.
Greek · G4710
σπουδή
Diligence
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σπουδή G4710
Pronunciation spoudḗ
What does σπουδή (spoudḗ) mean in the Bible?
Σπουδή names earnestness, diligence, or serious concern. In 2 Corinthians 7, godly sorrow produces earnestness that takes wrongdoing seriously, seeks vindication, and demonstrates changed allegiance.
Reader summary
Full entry for σπουδή (G4710) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4710?
The BSB source-word alignment has 12 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include earnestness (4), . . . (2), diligence (2), effort (2), devotion (1).
Where does σπουδή (spoudḗ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Mark 6:25. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (5), Romans (2), 2 Peter (1), Hebrews (1).
What This Word Actually Means
Σπουδή names earnestness, diligence, or serious concern. In 2 Corinthians 7, godly sorrow produces earnestness that takes wrongdoing seriously, seeks vindication, and demonstrates changed allegiance. Paul also says the difficult letter made the Corinthians' concern for him visible before God. Romans 12 commands believers not to become sluggish in diligence but to remain fervent in spirit while serving the Lord.
The noun therefore describes responsive seriousness, not anxious intensity or reputation management. Godly earnestness faces sin, repairs what can be repaired, serves faithfully, and continues in hope. Its fruit must be distinguished from panic, defensiveness, or public displays designed merely to clear one's image.
How the Bible Uses It
Paul uses σπουδή for earnest, responsible action produced by repentance and devoted service. Its authenticity appears in concrete fruit rather than emotional intensity alone.
- 2Cor.7.11
Consider what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what zeal, what vindication! In every way you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter.
Godly sorrow has produced observable earnestness and moral action, distinguishing repentance from regret that leaves the pattern unchanged.
- Rom.12.11
Do not let your zeal subside; keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.
Diligence remains fervent in service to the Lord within a chapter of sincere love, patience, generosity, and peace.
- 2Cor.7.12
So even though I wrote to you, it was not on account of the one who did wrong or the one who was harmed, but rather that your earnestness on our behalf would be made clear to you in the sight of God.
Paul's letter disclosed the Corinthians' earnest concern before God, placing their response within restored relationship rather than mere image repair.
Book contextPassage context
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It earnestness 4× 2 Corinthians 7:11, 2 Corinthians 7:12, 2 Corinthians 8:7, 2 Corinthians 8:8
. . . 2× Mark 6:25, Luke 1:39
diligence 2× Romans 12:8, Hebrews 6:11
effort 2× 2 Peter 1:5, Jude 1:3
devotion 1× 2 Corinthians 8:16
zeal 1× Romans 12:11
Show sample aligned rows
Mark 6:25 σπουδῆς to . . . Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Luke 1:39 σπουδῆς to . . . Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Romans 12:8 σπουδῇ to diligence Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Romans 12:11 σπουδῇ to zeal Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 7:11 σπουδήν to earnestness Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 7:12 σπουδὴν to earnestness Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 8:7 σπουδῇ to earnestness Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 8:8 σπουδῆς to earnestness Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 8:16 σπουδὴν to devotion Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Hebrews 6:11 σπουδὴν to diligence Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Mark 6:25
Aligned rows 12
Books represented 7
Mark 1 Luke 1 Romans 2 2 Corinthians 5 Hebrews 1 2 Peter 1 Jude 1
Source forms
σπουδὴν 5x spoudēn 2 Corinthians 7:12, 2 Corinthians 8:16, Hebrews 6:11, 2 Peter 1:5
σπουδῇ 3x spoudē Romans 12:8, Romans 12:11, 2 Corinthians 8:7
σπουδῆς 3x spoudēs Mark 6:25, Luke 1:39, 2 Corinthians 8:8
σπουδήν 1x spoudēn 2 Corinthians 7:11
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 6x 2 Corinthians 7:11, 2 Corinthians 7:12, 2 Corinthians 8:16, Hebrews 6:11
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 3x Romans 12:8, Romans 12:11, 2 Corinthians 8:7
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 3x Mark 6:25, Luke 1:39, 2 Corinthians 8:8
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Look for truthful, sustained fruit rather than treating intensity, speed, or public emotion as proof of repentance.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that σπουδή requires a harmed person to restore trust immediately; repentance can be real while trust is rebuilt over time.
- Do not equate diligence with anxious self-defense or image management; 2 Corinthians 7 locates it within godly sorrow and relational repair.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Earnest effort and commitment to action, often contrasting with mere haste or superficial speed.
Strong's G4710
Lexical occurrences 12 verses Greek text appearances 12 times Word forms 3 forms 12 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link Hebrews 6:9-12 Source Gloss
diligence
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
12 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Mark 6:25 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
σπουδῆς spoudhv
haste, diligence
Read verse Luke 1:39 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
σπουδῆς, spoudhv
haste, diligence
Read verse Romans 12:8 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
σπουδῇ· spoudh
haste, diligence
Read verse Romans 12:11 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
σπουδῇ spoudh
haste, diligence
Read verse 2 Corinthians 7:11 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
σπουδήν, spoudhn
haste, diligence
Read verse 2 Corinthians 7:12 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
σπουδὴν spoudhn
haste, diligence
Read verse 2 Corinthians 8:7 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
σπουδῇ, spoudh
haste, diligence
Read verse 2 Corinthians 8:8 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
σπουδῆς spoudhv
haste, diligence
Read verse 2 Corinthians 8:16 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
σπουδὴν spoudhn
haste, diligence
Read verse Hebrews 6:11 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
σπουδὴν spoudhn
haste, diligence
Read verse 2 Peter 1:5 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
σπουδὴν spoudhn
haste, diligence
Read verse Jude 1:3 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
σπουδὴν spoudhn
haste, diligence
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.
This word appears as a noun across 3 case and number patterns. The form changes show how the word functions in a sentence; they do not change the basic lexical meaning by themselves.
Form patterns 3 Aligned forms 12 Case pattern Accusative (6) Number pattern Singular (12)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Genitive · Singular · Feminine Mark 6:25 · Luke 1:39 · 2 Cor 8:8 3×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Rom 12:8 · Rom 12:11 · 2 Cor 8:7 3×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine 2 Cor 7:11 · 2 Cor 7:12 · 2 Cor 8:16 · Heb 6:11 · 2 Pet 1:5 · Jude 1:3 6×
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
diligence
Showing 1 selected witness from 12 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
σπουδή is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Highlights earnest perseverance as pathway to assurance. Hebrews 6:9-12
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Paul does not measure repentance only by tears or verbal regret. In 2 Corinthians 7, godly sorrow produces σπουδή: the church takes the matter seriously, acts, longs for restored fellowship, and demonstrates a changed posture. This does not mean every item in Paul's rhetorical list can be mechanically demanded from every repentant person, but it does mean grace bears observable fruit.
Romans 12 extends earnestness into ordinary service to the Lord, surrounded by sincere love, generosity, patience, prayer, and peace. Churches should therefore value steady moral responsiveness over dramatic performance. Earnestness can apologize, make restitution, accept accountability, study carefully, show up consistently, and persevere after attention has moved elsewhere.
It must not become frantic self-justification or a way to pressure the harmed into premature trust. Godly diligence seeks truth and restoration under God's gaze, allowing time and tested fruit to confirm its reality.
Anchor passage
2Cor.7.11
Doctrinal connections
- 2 Corinthians 7:2-16, godly sorrow, earnestness, and restored confidence
- Romans 12:9-21, sincere love and diligent service
- Psalm 51:1-17, repentance that seeks truth in the inner being
- Proverbs 4:20-27, attentive diligence in guarding the path
- Luke 3:7-14, fruit in keeping with repentance
- Titus 2:11-14, grace training a people zealous for good works
Σπουδή belongs to the same family as σπουδάζω and can convey haste, earnestness, diligence, or serious concern. The surrounding verbs and results determine whether the emphasis is prompt action, devoted effort, or relational concern.
From Old to New Testament
The law and prophets call God's people to return with the whole heart rather than words alone. Wisdom commends diligence. John the Baptist demands fruit consistent with repentance, and apostolic grace forms a people earnest for good works and faithful service.
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain