Bible Dictionaries
Fierce, Fierceness

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

signifies "not tame, savage" (from a, negative, and hemeros, "gentle"), 2 Timothy 3:3 . Epictetus describes those who forget God as their Creator, as resembling lions, "wild, savage and fierce" (anemeroi) (Moulton and Milligan, Greek Test. Vocab.).

"hard," (a) "hard to do or deal with, difficult, fierce," is said of the Gadarene demoniacs, Matthew 8:28; (b) "hard to bear, painful, grievous," said of the last times, 2 Timothy 3:1 , RV, "grievous," for AV, "perilous." See GRIEVOUS.

Notes: (1) In James 3:4 skleros, "hard, rough, violent," is said of winds, RV, "rough," for AV, "fierce." (2) In Luke 23:5 , the verb epischuo, "to make or grow stronger" (from epi, "over" intensive, and ischus, "strength"), is used metaphorically, "they were the more urgent," RV, for AV, "the more fierce."

"hot anger, wrath," is rendered "fierceness" in Revelation 16:19; 19:15 , of the wrath of God. See ANGER (A, Notes), INDIGNATION , WRATH.

"zeal, jealousy," is rendered "fierceness" in Hebrews 10:27 , RV (of fire).