ἀνοχή

forbearance

Definition

ἀνοχή (anochē) primarily means 'forbearance' or 'restraint,' specifically referring to God's deliberate holding back of deserved judgment. In Romans 2:4, it describes God's 'forbearance' and 'patience' toward sinners, a temporary suspension of punishment intended to lead them to repentance. In Romans 3:25, it carries a more judicial sense, referring to God's 'passing over' of sins previously committed, a suspension of punishment that was made possible through the atoning sacrifice of Christ. Thus, the word encompasses both a patient, relational restraint and a specific, historical delay of divine justice.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only twice in the New Testament, both times by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the Romans. In both occurrences (Romans 2:4 and Romans 3:25), it is used in a theological context to describe an attribute of God's character and action in relation to human sin. The pattern is exclusively divine; it describes God's own patient restraint in judgment.

Etymology

Derived from the verb ἀνέχω (anechō), meaning 'to hold up,' 'to endure,' or 'to bear with.' It is formed from the prefix ἀν- (an-, meaning 'up') and ἔχω (echō, 'to have' or 'to hold'). The noun ἀνοχή thus carries the sense of 'a holding back' or 'a suspension.'

Semantic Range

This word is crucial for understanding God's patience and justice. It reveals that God's delay in judgment is not indifference but a purposeful act of mercy, creating space for repentance (Romans 2:4). It also highlights a key problem solved by Christ's atonement: in Romans 3:25, Paul explains that Christ's sacrifice dealt with the sins that God had 'passed over' in his forbearance, demonstrating that God is both 'just and the justifier' of those who have faith. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by clarifying that God's patience has a deliberate, redemptive purpose and a defined resolution in Christ.

In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of a deity showing forbearance (especially toward inferiors or offenders) was sometimes seen as a virtue of a wise and merciful ruler. Paul uses this culturally understood concept to explain the unique character of the biblical God, whose forbearance is rooted in covenant love and justice, not caprice.

μακροθυμία (makrothymia, G3115) — emphasizes long-suffering, slowness to anger, a patient endurance of provocation. ὑπομονή (hypomonē, G5281) — emphasizes steadfast endurance, perseverance, or patient waiting under trial.

Word Details

Scripture References