VIRTUE (חַ֫יִל, H2657, strength, LXX δύναμις, G1539, power; ἀνδρείος, manly; NT also ἀρετή, G746, excellence; κατά, G2848, according to; in Apoc. also ἀγαθός, G19, good; ἰσχύς, G2709, ability; καλός, G2819, pleasing).

Force or excellence of mind or body; ability; moral worth.

In the sense of “worth,” in Ruth 3:11 KJV has “a virtuous woman,” where the RSV reads “a woman of worth”; but in Proverbs 12:4 and 31:10 RSV translates “good.” (Cf. 2 Esdras 16:49; Ecclesiasticus 26:1 [ἀγαθός, G19], 2 and 28:15 [ἀνδρείος].) Proverbs 31:29 reads “virtuously” in KJV, “worthily” in ASV, and “excellently” in RSV.

Philippians 4:8 and 2 Peter 1:3 (ἀρετή, G746) are rendered “excellence” in RSV; but the same Gr. word is rendered “virtue” (agreeing with KJV) in 2 Peter 1:5. The moral aspect of the term seems most clear in these three references. Robertson regards the Philippian occurrence as synonymous with “praise”; and in connection with the 2 Peter usage (partly quoting Bengel) he spoke of “moral worth, moral power, moral energy, vigor of soul.” (Cf. also Wisd Sol 4:1; 2 Macc 6:31; 15:12.)

In the three cases (Mark 5:30; Luke 6:19; 8:46) where δύναμις, G1539, is found, RSV trs. “power” in each case. These passages refer to Jesus’ power to perform miracles. (Cf. Wisd Sol 19:20.)

In 2 Timothy 1:9 (twice) and Titus 3:5 where KJV has “according to,” RSV has “in virtue of.” The Gr. word here is κατά, G2848.

Lists of moral virtues can easily be compiled from the Bible, but there is no place where these are specifically called virtues.

There are passages in the Apoc. where virtue seems to pertain to the natural properties of the object; e.g., water, Ecclesiasticus 38:5; roots, Wisdom of Solomon 7:20; fire, water, et al., Wisdom of Solomon 13:2; 19:20.

The above represents all the cases where “virtue” or its cognates are found in KJV, ASV, or RSV.

Bibliography TDNT, TWNT, Crem; A. T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the NT, IV (1931), 460; VI (1933), 99, 149, 151.