Both Uses

forbearance
in
Proverbs
(Auto-generated)

24:11 If thou forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto death, and those that are ready to be slain; 24:12 If thou sayest, Behold, we knew it not; doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it?†
Chpt 24

forbear = refrain (hold back) from acting
25:15 By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone.†
Chpt 25 *

forbearing = refraining (holding back) from acting

Definitions:

(1) (forbearance)
patient tolerance or self-control; or holding back from taking action or enforcing a right

Today, the word, forbearance, is most commonly seen in the field of law to indicate that a legal right, claim or privilege is not being enforced.
(2) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
The form, forbears is typically a verb, but can be an alternate spelling of the noun forebears; i.e., ancestors. Note that these words put the emphasis on different syllables: for-BEARS v. FORE-bears