pēs´māk - ẽr : Occurs only in the plural ( Matthew 5:9 , "Blessed are the peacemakers (eirēnopoioı́ ): for they shall be called sons of God" (who is "the God of peace")). We have also what seems to be a reflection of this saying in James 3:18 , "The fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for (the Revised Version margin "by") them that make peace" (toı́s poioúsin eirḗnēn ). In classical Greek a "peacemaker" was an ambassador sent to treat of peace. The word in Matthew 5:9 would, perhaps, be better rendered "peace-workers," implying not merely making peace between those who are at variance, but working peace as that which is the will of the God of peace for men.
The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE) was edited by James Orr, John Nuelsen, Edgar Mullins, Morris Evans, and Melvin Grove Kyle and was published complete in 1939. This web site includes the complete text.
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