Piety (2124) (eulabeia from eulabes = careful as to the realization of the presence and claims of God, reverencing God, pious, devout from eu = good, well, right + lambano = take hold ~ taking hold well) in the original Greek usage meant caution, circumspection, discretion and then reverence or veneration. The Lxx usage in Joshua conveys the idea of fear, anxiety or dread. The NT uses convey the idea of godly fear, reverence, reverent regard, reverent submission or reverent awe in the presence of God. Eusebeia is a closely related word is similar to eulabeia in reflecting an attitude of one's inner being, but in addition produces an demonstration of that inner attitude in worship. Wuest comments that... The picture in the word is that of a cautious taking hold of and a careful and respectful handling. Hence, it speaks of a pious, devout, and circumspect character, who in his prayer, takes into account all things, not only his own desire, but the will of the Father. (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos or Wordsearch) A T Robertson... The image in the word is that of a cautious taking hold and careful and respectful handling: hence piety of a devout and circumspect character, as that of Christ, who in his prayer took account of all things, not only his own desire, but his Father’s will...God was able to save him from death altogether. He did not do this. He was able to sustain him under the anguish of death, and to give him strength to suffer the Father’s will: he was also able to deliver him from death by resurrection: both these he did. It is not impossible that both these may be combined in the statement he was heard. Vine writes that eulabeia... signifies, first, “caution”; then, “reverence, godly fear,” Heb. 5:7; 12:28...in general, “apprehension, but especially holy fear,” “that mingled fear and love which, combined, constitute the piety of man toward God; the OT places its emphasis on the fear, the NT...on the love, though there was love in the fear of God’s saints then, as there must be fear in their love now” (Trench, Synonyms) (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson) There are only 2 uses of eulabeia in the NT... Hebrews 5:7 (note) In the days of His flesh, He offered up both prayers and supplications with loud crying and tears to the One able to save Him from death, and He was heard because of His piety. Hebrews 12:28 (note) Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe There are 2 uses in the Septuagint (LXX)... Joshua 22:24 "But truly we have done this out of concern (eulabeia), for a reason, saying, 'In time to come your sons may say to our sons, "What have you to do with the LORD, the God of Israel? Proverbs 28:14 How blessed is the man who fears (Hebrew = pachad - be in dread, in awe; LXX = eulabeia) always, But he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity. The idea of eulabeia is that of being devoutly submissive. I wonder why my prayers don't seem to be heard so often? Could it be I lack this Philippians 2:5 attitude? OUR BLESSÈD SAVIOR SEVEN TIMES SPOKE Our blessèd Savior sev’n times spoke When on the cross our sins He took And died lest men should perish. Let us His last and dying words In our remembrance cherish. “Father, forgive these men; for, lo, They truly know not what they do.” So far His love extended. Forgive us, Lord, for we, too, have Through ignorance offended. Now to the contrite thief He cries: “Thou, verily, in Paradise Shall meet Me ere tomorrow.” Lord, take us to Thy kingdom soon Who linger here in sorrow. To weeping Mary, standing by, “Behold thy Son,” now hear Him cry; To John, “Behold thy mother.” Provide, O Lord, for those we leave; Let each befriend the other. The Savior’s fourth word was “I thirst.” O mighty Prince of Life, Thy thirst For us and our salvation Is truly great; do help us, then, That we escape damnation. The fifth, “My God, My God, O why Forsake Me?” Hark, the awful cry! Lord, Thou wast here forsaken That we might be received on high; Let this hope not be shaken. The sixth, when victory was won, “’Tis finished!” for Thy work was done. Grant, Lord, that, onward pressing, We may the work Thou dost impose Fulfill with Thine own blessing. The last, as woe and sufferings end, “O God, My Father, I commend Into Thy hands My Spirit.” Be this, dear Lord, my dying wish; O heavenly Father, hear it. Whoe’er, by sense of sin oppressed, Upon these words his thoughts will rest, He joy and hope obtaineth And through God’s love and boundless grace A peaceful conscience gaineth. O Jesus Christ, Thou Crucified, Who hast for our offenses died, Grant that we e’er may ponder Thy wounds, Thy cross, Thy bitter death, Both here below and yonder. ><>><>><> Morning and evening - Did this fear (The KJV - "and was heard in that he feared") arise from the infernal suggestion that He was utterly forsaken. There may be sterner trials than this, but surely it is one of the worst to be utterly forsaken? “See,” said Satan, “thou hast a friend nowhere! Thy Father hath shut up the bowels of His compassion against thee. Not an angel in His courts will stretch out his hand to help thee. All heaven is alienated from Thee; Thou art left alone. See the companions with whom Thou hast taken sweet counsel, what are they worth? Son of Mary, see there Thy brother James, see there Thy loved disciple John, and Thy bold apostle Peter, how the cowards sleep when thou art in Thy sufferings! Lo! Thou hast no friend left in heaven or earth. All hell is against Thee. I have stirred up mine infernal den. I have sent my missives throughout all regions summoning every prince of darkness to set upon Thee this night, and we will spare no arrows, we will use all our infernal might to overwhelm Thee: and what wilt Thou do, Thou solitary one?” It may be, this was the temptation; we think it was, because the appearance of an angel unto Him strengthening Him removed that fear. He was heard in that He feared; He was no more alone, but heaven was with Him. It may be that this is the reason of His coming three times to His disciples—as Hart puts it— “Backwards and forwards thrice He ran, As if He sought some help from man.” He would see for Himself whether it were really true that all men had forsaken Him; He found them all asleep; but perhaps He gained some faint comfort from the thought that they were sleeping, not from treachery, but from sorrow, the spirit indeed was willing, but the flesh was weak. At any rate, He was heard in that He feared. Jesus was heard in His deepest woe; my soul, thou shalt be heard also. (Spurgeon, C. H.) Hebrews 5:8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. (NASB: Lockman) Greek: kaiper on huios emathen (PAPMSN) aph' on epathen (3SAAI) ten hupakoen (3SAAI) ; Amplified: Although He was a Son, He learned [active, special] obedience through what He suffered (Amplified Bible - Lockman) Barclay: although he was a Son, he learned obedience from the sufferings through which he passed. (Westminster Press) KJV: Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; NLT: So even though Jesus was God's Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. (NLT - Tyndale House) Phillips: Son though he was, he had to prove the meaning of obedience through all that he suffered. (Phillips: Touchstone) Wuest: Though He was Son by nature, yet He learned obedience from the things which He suffered, (Eerdmans) Young's Literal: through being a Son, did learn by the things which he suffered -- the obedience, ALTHOUGH HE WAS A SON HE LEARNED OBEDIENCE FROM THE THINGS WHICH HE SUFFERED: kaiper on (PAPMSN) huios emathen (3SAAI) aph on epathen (3SAAI) ten hupakoen aph on epathen (3SAAI) ten hupakoen: (Hebrews 1:5,8; 3:6) (He 10:5, 6, 7, 8, 9; Isaiah 50:5,6; Matthew 3:15; John 4:34; 6:38; 15:10; Philippians 2:8) One might say that Jesus' "training for the priesthood" involved suffering, even though he was the Son of God. He certainly did not need to suffer in order to conquer or correct any disobedience. He was - Was is in the present tense indicating Jesus has always been the Son of God (cp Jn 1:1, 14) "Copy and paste the address below into your web browser in order to go to the original page which will allow you to access live links related to the material on this page - these links include Scriptures (which can be read in context), Scripture pop-ups on mouse over, and a variety of related resources such as Bible dictionary articles, commentaries, sermon notes and theological journal articles related to the topic under discussion." http://www.preceptaustin.org/hebrews_57-8.htm#piety