ἀρετή, -ῆς, ἡ,
[in LXX, in sing.: Hb 3:3, Za 6:13 (הוֹד), in pl.: Is 42:8, 1243:2163:7 (תְּהִלָּה), Es 14:10, Wi 4:1 5:13 8:7, II-IV Mac22*;]
prop., whatever procures pre-eminent estimation for a person or thing, in Hom. any kind of conspicuous advantage. Later confined by philos. writers to intrinsic eminence—moral goodness, virtue;
(a) of God: II Pe 1:3;
(b) of men: Phl 4:8, II Pe 1:5; pl. (Is 42:8, 1243:2163:7, Es 14:10), excellencies: I Pe 2:9 (the usage appears to be a survival of an early comprehensive sense in which the original idea is blended with the impression which it makes on others, i.e. praise, renown; v. Hort, I Pe., 129. Deiss., BS, 95 f., thinks it means manifestations of divine power, as in current Gk. speech; cf. also MM, s.v.)†