What does ὑπομονή (hypomonḗ) mean in the Bible?
ὑπομονή names endurance, steadfast perseverance, and the patient staying power of faith under pressure. It is not passive resignation or emotional toughness.
Greek · G5281
ὑπομονή
Cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy
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ὑπομονή G5281
Pronunciation hypomonḗ
What does ὑπομονή (hypomonḗ) mean in the Bible?
ὑπομονή names endurance, steadfast perseverance, and the patient staying power of faith under pressure. It is not passive resignation or emotional toughness.
Reader summary
Full entry for ὑπομονή (G5281) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5281?
The BSB source-word alignment has 32 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include perseverance (19), endurance (4), patient endurance (2), to persevere (2), [who gives] endurance (1).
Where does ὑπομονή (hypomonḗ) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 8:15. Its strongest book concentrations include Revelation (7), Romans (6), 2 Corinthians (3), James (3).
What This Word Actually Means
ὑπομονή names endurance, steadfast perseverance, and the patient staying power of faith under pressure. It is not passive resignation or emotional toughness. In the Pastoral Epistles it is something the man of God must pursue, something visible in Paul’s life and ministry, and something older men must embody as part of sound faith, love, and disciplined maturity.
Across the New Testament, endurance is formed through testing, suffering, hope, and the race set before believers. It keeps going because God’s promises are true. It refuses both panic and pride, pressing forward in faith, love, obedience, and hope while waiting for the Lord.
How the Bible Uses It
ὑπομονή names steadfast endurance under pressure. In the Pastorals it is pursued by the man of God, embodied in Paul’s example, and required in mature discipleship, while the wider canon connects it to testing, suffering, hope, and final faithfulness.
- 1Tim.6.11
But you, O man of God, flee from these things and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.
Endurance is one of the pursuits that mark the man of God after he flees destructive desires. It is active discipleship, not passive survival.
- 2Tim.3.10
You, however, have observed my teaching, my conduct, my purpose, my faith, my patience, my love, my perseverance,
Paul’s perseverance is part of the life Timothy has observed alongside teaching, conduct, purpose, faith, patience, and love. Endurance is visible over time.
- Titus.2.2
Older men are to be temperate, dignified, self-controlled, and sound in faith, love, and perseverance.
Older men must be sound in perseverance as well as faith and love. Endurance is part of mature, sober discipleship in the household of God.
- Rom.5.3
Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Suffering produces perseverance because God uses affliction to form tested hope. Endurance is not detached from suffering, but grows through it.
- Heb.12.1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off every encumbrance and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with endurance the race set out for us.
The Christian race must be run with endurance. The word carries a forward-looking, race-long faithfulness that throws off hindrances.
- Jas.1.3
Because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.
The testing of faith develops perseverance. Endurance is produced by tested faith, not by avoiding every trial.
- Rev.14.12
Here is a call for the perseverance of the saints, who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus.
The perseverance of the saints appears in keeping God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus. Endurance remains faithful under eschatological pressure.
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 perseverance 19× Romans 2:7, Romans 5:3, Romans 5:4, 2 Corinthians 12:12
endurance 4× Romans 15:4, 2 Corinthians 6:4, Colossians 1:11, Hebrews 12:1
patient endurance 2× Luke 21:19, 2 Corinthians 1:6
to persevere 2× Hebrews 10:36, Revelation 3:10
[who gives] endurance 1× Romans 15:5
enduring 1× 1 Thessalonians 1:3
patiently 1× Romans 8:25
persevered 1× Revelation 2:3
persevering 1× Luke 8:15
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 8:15 ὑπομονῇ to persevering Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Luke 21:19 ὑπομονῇ to patient endurance Noun - Dative Feminine Singular Romans 2:7 ὑπομονὴν to perseverance Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Romans 5:3 ὑπομονὴν to perseverance Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular Romans 5:4 ὑπομονὴ to perseverance Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular Romans 8:25 ὑπομονῆς to patiently Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Romans 15:4 ὑπομονῆς to endurance Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular Romans 15:5 ὑπομονῆς to [who gives] endurance Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 1:6 ὑπομονῇ to patient endurance Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 2 Corinthians 6:4 ὑπομονῇ to endurance Noun - Dative Feminine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Luke 8:15
Aligned rows 32
Books represented 13
Luke 2 Romans 6 2 Corinthians 3 Colossians 1 1 Thessalonians 1 2 Thessalonians 2 1 Timothy 1 2 Timothy 1 Titus 1 Hebrews 2 James 3 2 Peter 2 Revelation 7
Source forms
ὑπομονῇ 9x hypomonē Luke 8:15, Luke 21:19, 2 Corinthians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 6:4
ὑπομονῆς 8x hypomonēs Romans 8:25, Romans 15:4, Romans 15:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:3
ὑπομονὴν 6x hypomonēn Romans 2:7, Romans 5:3, Colossians 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:5
ὑπομονήν 5x hypomonēn 1 Timothy 6:11, James 1:3, 2 Peter 1:6, Revelation 2:2
ὑπομονὴ 4x hypomonē Romans 5:4, James 1:4, Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12
Parsing patterns
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular 11x Romans 2:7, Romans 5:3, Colossians 1:11, 2 Thessalonians 3:5
Noun - Dative Feminine Singular 9x Luke 8:15, Luke 21:19, 2 Corinthians 1:6, 2 Corinthians 6:4
Noun - Genitive Feminine Singular 8x Romans 8:25, Romans 15:4, Romans 15:5, 1 Thessalonians 1:3
Noun - Nominative Feminine Singular 4x Romans 5:4, James 1:4, Revelation 13:10, Revelation 14:12
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Teach endurance as faithfulness under pressure, not as detached emotional toughness.
- Keep endurance connected to holy pursuit: believers flee destructive desires and pursue what God commands.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that endurance means doing nothing. First Timothy 6:11 commands pursuit, and Hebrews 12:1 commands running the race.
- Do not claim that endurance requires remaining in every harmful circumstance without help. The word calls for faithful perseverance, not neglect of wisdom or care.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Patient endurance that perseveres through hardship; active steadfastness rather than passive resignation or mere tolerance.
Strong's G5281
Lexical occurrences 32 verses Greek text appearances 32 times 16 shown below Word forms 4 forms 32 references Verse guides 0 guides
Study link 2 Timothy 3:10-13 Source Gloss
cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 32 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Luke 8:15 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῇ. upomonh
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Luke 21:19 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῇ upomonh
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Romans 2:7 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονὴν upomonhn
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Romans 5:3 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονὴν upomonhn
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Romans 5:4 Noun Nominative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονὴ upomonh
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Romans 8:25 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῆς upomonhv
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Romans 15:4 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῆς upomonhv
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Romans 15:5 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῆς upomonhv
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse 2 Corinthians 1:6 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῇ upomonh
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse 2 Corinthians 6:4 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῇ upomonh
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse 2 Corinthians 12:12 Noun Dative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῇ, upomonh
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse Colossians 1:11 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονὴν upomonhn
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῆς upomonhv
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse 2 Thessalonians 1:4 Noun Genitive Singular Feminine
ὑπομονῆς upomonhv
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse 2 Thessalonians 3:5 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονὴν upomonhn
endurance, steadfastness
Read verse 1 Timothy 6:11 Noun Accusative Singular Feminine
ὑπομονήν, upomonhn
endurance, steadfastness
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 4 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 4 Aligned forms 32 Case pattern Accusative (11) Number pattern Singular (32)
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Nominative · Singular · Feminine Rom 5:4 · Jas 1:4 · Rev 13:10 · Rev 14:12 4×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine Rom 8:25 · Rom 15:4 · Rom 15:5 · 1 Thess 1:3 · 2 Thess 1:4 · Heb 10:36 · Heb 12:1 · Rev 3:10 8×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Luke 8:15 · Luke 21:19 · 2 Cor 1:6 · 2 Cor 6:4 · 2 Cor 12:12 · 2 Tim 3:10 · Titus 2:2 · 2 Pet 1:6 · Rev 1:9 9×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Rom 2:7 · Rom 5:3 · Col 1:11 · 2 Thess 3:5 · 1 Tim 6:11 · Jas 1:3 · Jas 5:11 · 2 Pet 1:6 · Rev 2:2 · Rev 2:3 · Rev 2:19 11×
Selected Scripture Witnesses
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
steadfast endurance under trial
endurance
steadfast endurance
endurance
perseverance
Additional Occurrences
perseverance, steadfast endurance
Luke 8:4–15 ὑπομονή hypomonḗ
Perseverance
Showing 7 selected witnesses from 32 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
ὑπομονή is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Describes steadfast perseverance under trial. 2 Timothy 3:10-13
Marks genuine fruit-bearing faith. Hebrews 10:32-39
Describes sustained faithfulness under pressure, central to Christian maturity. James 1:2–4
Defines persevering faith under pressure. Luke 21:12–19
Endurance reflects sustained faithfulness through hardship and opposition. Luke 8:4–15
Canonical Themes
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
ὑπομονή helps teachers speak about perseverance without turning the Christian life into self-reliant grit. Paul tells Timothy to pursue endurance, so it is not optional. He also points to his own perseverance as something Timothy has observed, so it is learned in embodied discipleship. Titus 2 places perseverance inside mature soundness, alongside faith and love.
The wider canon explains how endurance is formed: suffering produces it, testing develops it, and the race requires it. Revelation shows its final pressure point, where saints keep God’s commandments and the faith of Jesus. Endurance is therefore active faithfulness under strain, sustained by God’s promises and displayed in obedient love.
Anchor passage
1Tim.6.11
Doctrinal connections
- G4102 Pistis: Endurance is not raw willpower; it is the staying power of faith under testing.
- G26 Agape: Titus 2:2 and 2 Timothy 3:10 pair endurance with love, keeping perseverance from becoming hard or loveless.
- G1343 Dikaiosyne: First Timothy 6:11 places endurance among the pursuits of the man of God, including righteousness and godliness.
- G3958 Pascho: Romans 5 connects suffering and endurance, showing that affliction can become a formation ground under God’s hand.
- G1680 Elpis: Endurance is sustained by hope, especially when the race is long and the visible outcome is delayed.
- G40 Hagios: Revelation 14:12 names the endurance of the saints, tying perseverance to the holy people who belong to God.
ὑπομονή is the noun related to the idea of remaining under pressure. Its New Testament use is moral and theological: steadfast perseverance in faith, not mere delay, stubbornness, or temperament.
From Old to New Testament
The Old Testament often shows endurance through waiting on the Lord, faithful obedience under trial, and hope that refuses to abandon God’s promise. The New Testament names that persevering posture with ὑπομονή and centers it in Christ-shaped faithfulness under suffering.
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