"to assume resolution to do a thing, Mk. 15:43; Rom. 5:7; Phil. 1:14; to make up the mind, 2 Cor. 10:12; to dare, Acts 5:13; 7:32; to presume, Mt. 22:46; Mk. 12:34; Lk. 20:40; Jn. 21:12; Rom. 15:18; Jude 9; to have the face, 1 Cor. 6:1; absol. to assume a bold bearing, courageous,..."
Definition and meaning
to assume resolution to do a thing, Mk. 15:43; Rom. 5:7; Phil. 1:14; to make up the mind, 2 Cor. 10:12; to dare, Acts 5:13; 7:32; to presume, Mt. 22:46; Mk. 12:34; Lk. 20:40; Jn. 21:12; Rom. 15:18; Jude 9; to have the face, 1 Cor. 6:1; absol. to assume a bold bearing, courageous, 2 Cor. 10:2; 11:21*
In the original Greek the word is written: τολμάω
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of tolmao (G5111) across the King James Bible.
And no man was able to answer him a word, neither durst any man from that day forth ask him any more questions.
And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.
Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.
And after that they durst not ask him any question at all.
Jesus saith unto them, Come and dine. And none of the disciples durst ask him, Who art thou? knowing that it was the Lord.
And of the rest durst no man join himself to them: but the people magnified them.
Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not behold.
For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die.
For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me, to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed,
Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?
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Common questions
Strong's G5111 (tolmao) is a Greek word that means: to assume resolution to do a thing, Mk. 15:43; Rom. 5:7; Phil. 1:14; to make up the mind, 2 Cor. 10:12; to dare, Acts 5:13; 7:32; to presume, Mt. 22:46; Mk. 12:34; Lk. 20:40; Jn. 21:12; Rom. 15:18; Ju... It appears 15 times in the King James Bible.
The word tolmao (G5111) appears 15 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5111 is tolmao, a Greek word defined as: to assume resolution to do a thing, Mk. 15:43; Rom. 5:7; Phil. 1:14; to make up the mind, 2 Cor. 10:12; to dare, Acts 5:13; 7:32; to presume, Mt. 22:4. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
tolmao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.