Praise And Worship Bible Study

Definition of Goodness and Word Origin

Learn the meaning and the etymology of the word worship, along with sample quotes.

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GOODNESS (goo d-nis)

Meaning for Goodness

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary

Goodness
(n.) The quality of being good in any of its various senses; excellence; virtue; kindness; benevolence; as, the goodness of timber, of a soil, of food; goodness of character, of disposition, of conduct, etc.

Webster’s New International Dictionary of the English Language, 1909, is a public domain dictionary, as is also the revised 1913 edition. These dictionaries were published by the G. & C. Merriam Company of Springfield, Massachusetts.

Easton’s Bible Dictionary

In man is not a mere passive quality, but the deliberate preference of right to wrong, the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil, and the choosing and following of all moral good.

Goodness of God

A perfection of his character which he exercises towards his creatures according to their various circumstances and relations (Psalm 145:8, 9; 103:8; 1 John 4:8). Viewed generally, it is benevolence; as exercised with respect to the miseries of his creatures it is mercy, pity, compassion, and in the case of impenitent sinners, long-suffering patience; as exercised in communicating favour on the unworthy it is grace. “Goodness and justice are the several aspects of one unchangeable, infinitely wise, and sovereign moral perfection. God is not sometimes merciful and sometimes just, but he is eternally infinitely just and merciful.” God is infinitely and unchangeably good (Zephaniah 3:17), and his goodness is incomprehensible by the finite mind (Romans 11:35, 36). “God’s goodness appears in two things, giving and forgiving.”

Easton Dictionary

Defined Giving by Dictionary.com

noun

the state or quality of being good.
moral excellence; virtue.
kindly feeling; kindness; generosity.
excellence of quality: goodness of workmanship.
the best part of anything; essence; strength.
a euphemism for God: Thank goodness!

interjection
(used in expressions of surprise, alarm, etc.):
Goodness, you gave me a start! Goodness gracious!

GOODNESS

Origin before 900

Middle English; Old English gōdnes. See good, -ness

n.
Old English godnes “goodness, virtue, kindliness;” see good (adj.) + -ness. In exclamations from 1610s, first recorded being for goodnesse sake, i.e. “as you trust in the goodness of God.”

Examples for Goodness

“Virtue is bold, and goodness never fearful.” ―William Shakespeare

“Man has two great spiritual needs. One is for forgiveness. The other is for goodness.” ―Billy Graham

“(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;).” – Ephesians 5:9 of King James Version Bible

“All the goodness I have within me is totally from the Lord alone. When I sin, it is from me and is done on my own, but when I act righteously, it is wholly and completely of God.” ―Charles Spurgeon

“Goodness is something that makes us serene and content; it is magnificent. Those who are not good are evil.” ―Bhumibol Adulyadej

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