I am sure all of us have heard the verse that the title of this post comes from. It deals with two of the attributes of a godly woman.

"But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price." 1 Peter 3:4

I see so many women claiming to believe/support/promote this verse… but are they just promoters of it, or are they possessors of it also? Do they even really understand what it means? Or has having "a meek and quiet spirit" been reduced among some to almost being a cliché. Something said and acknowledged but not really understanding or following it. So what does it mean to have a meek and quiet spirit. Let's start off by defining the terms. (Definitions taken from the 1828 Noah Webster dictionary)

MEEK, a. [L. mucus; Eng. mucilage; Heb. to melt.]
1. Mild of temper; soft; gentle; not easily provoked or irritated; yielding; given to forbearance under injuries.
Now the man Moses was very meek, above all men. Num 12.
2. Appropriately,humble, in an evangelical sense; submissive to the divine will; not proud, self-sufficient or refractory; not peevish and apt to complain of divine dispensations. Christ says, "Learn of me, for I am meek and lowly in heart, and ye shall find rest to your souls." Mat 11.
Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Mat 5.
QUI'ET, a. [L. quietus.] – Peaceable; not turbulent; not giving offense; not exciting controversy, disorder or trouble; mild; meek; contented.
The ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. 1 Pet 3.
SPIR'IT, n. [L. spiritus, from spiro, to breathe, to blow. The primary sense is to rush or drive.] – Temper; disposition of mind, habitual or temporary; as a man of a generous spirit, or of a revengeful spirit; the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit. Let us go to the house of God in the spirit of prayer.

So godly women are to have a disposition, an attitude of mildness of temper, soft, gentle and not easily provoked or irritated, yielding, and given to forbearance under injuries. We are to be humble. We are to be peaceable, not turbulent, mild, and contented.

When I read the above definitions and verse, I envision a pleasant attitude, a cheerful countenance, gentle, kind, patient, humble, compassionate woman, who does not get mad or irritated easily. Can you say that you line up with this verse? Do you possess the the qualities described above? If not, how can you make claim to have a meek and quiet spirit?

The next verses go on to say:

"For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands: Even as Sara obeyed Abraham, calling him lord: whose daughters ye are, as long as ye do well, and are not afraid with any amazement." 1 Peter 3:5,6

Another attribute of a godly woman, is that she will happily obey and submit to her earthly authorities/head, whether it be her parents if she is unmarried, or her husband if she is married (that is unless they are leading her to disobey God). She will not grumble, murmur, and complain about it.

The opposite of a godly woman would be someone who is harsh, blunt, lacking discretion, easily irritated, provoked, and easy to anger, willful, proud, of a unpleasant countenance, not peaceable, turbulent, giving offense, exciting controversy, in disorder or trouble, discontent, disobedient to authorities/head, contentious, being loud, not submissive, obnoxious, overbearing, having a bad attitude. If you can see any of these qualities in yourself? We all need to be constantly evaluating ourselves by the light of God's Word. The Lord expects us to be doers of the Word and not hearers only, deceiving our own selves. If we only want to claim a meek and quiet spirit in doctrinal knowledge, but not actually possess a meek and quiet spirit, we deceive ourselves.

Your sister in Christ,
Megan