Lexical Summary tharseó: Take courage, be of good cheer, be confident Original Word: θαρσέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance be of good cheer. From tharsos; to have courage -- be of good cheer (comfort). Compare tharrheo. see GREEK tharsos see GREEK tharrheo HELPS Word-studies 2293 tharséō (from the root thar-, "bolstered because warmed up," derived from 2294 /thársos, "emboldened from within") – properly, bolstered within which supports unflinching courage – literally, to radiate warm confidence (exude "social boldness") because warm-hearted. 2293 /tharséō ("emboldened to show courage") refers to God bolstering the believer, empowering them with a bold inner-attitude (to be "of good courage"). For the believer, 2293 /tharséō ("showing boldness") is the result of the Lord infusing His strength by His inworking of faith ("inbirthed persuasion," 4102 /pístis). Showing this unflinching, bold courage means living out the inner confidence (inner bolstering) that is Spirit-produced. ["2293 (tharséō) means 'have confidence, courage, be unafraid,' with the nuance determined by the context" (C. Spicq, 2, 188).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tharsos Definition to be of good courage NASB Translation take courage (7). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2293: θαρσέωθαρσέω, θάρσω; (see θαρρέω); to be of good courage, be of good cheer; in the N. T. only in the imperative: θάρσει, Luke 8:48 R G; Matthew 9:2, 22; Mark 10:49; Acts 23:11 (the Sept. for תִּירָא אַל, Genesis 35:17, etc.); θαρσεῖτε, Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50; John 16:33 (the Sept. for אַל־תּירְאוּ, Exodus 14:13; Joel 2:22, etc.). (Synonym: see τολμάω.) Topical Lexicon Meaning and Nuance Strong’s Greek 2293 (θαρσέω, tharseō) voices a summons to inward confidence that rests on an external source—God’s saving presence. The verb never depicts self-generated optimism; it always arises from a word or act of the Lord that decisively removes the cause of fear. Canonical Distribution Seven occurrences cluster in three narrative settings: (1) two healings of individuals (Matthew 9:2; Matthew 9:22), (2) two sea miracles (Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50), and (3) three situations involving mission and witness (Mark 10:49; John 16:33; Acts 23:11). Five imperatives come directly from Jesus during His earthly ministry, one from the risen Lord to Paul, and one from the crowd echoing Jesus’ call. Jesus’ Personal Imperative to the Afflicted 1. Sin-forgiven paralytic: “Take courage, son; your sins are forgiven” (Matthew 9:2). The command precedes physical healing, highlighting forgiveness as the deeper liberation. In both, fear linked to shame or hopelessness is displaced by a word that confers relational security with God. Deliverance amid Natural Terror On Galilee’s storm-tossed waters Jesus reassures panicked disciples: “Take courage! It is I. Do not be afraid” (Matthew 14:27; Mark 6:50). The phrase “It is I” (ἐγώ εἰμι) evokes divine self-identification; courage flows from recognizing His lordship over creation. The verbs “take courage” and “do not be afraid” occur together, framing courage as the positive counterpart of fearlessness. Formation for Mission Blind Bartimaeus hears, “Take courage … He is calling you” (Mark 10:49). The crowd relays Christ’s summons, modeling how the church invites sinners to approach the Savior. In Acts 23:11 the risen Lord stands beside Paul in prison: “Take courage! As you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, so also you must testify in Rome”. The imperative sustains apostolic witness under threat and guarantees the unfolding plan of God. Eschatological Victory John 16:33 places tharseō within the Farewell Discourse: “In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world”. Courage here is anchored in the completed conquest of evil achieved through the cross and resurrection, assuring believers of peace amid ongoing opposition. Relation to the Old Testament Tharseō inherits the mantle of Hebrew ḥāzaq (“be strong,” Joshua 1:6–9) and ʾamēṣ (“be courageous,” Deuteronomy 31:6). In both Testaments the imperative springs from the Lord’s abiding presence—“for the LORD your God is with you.” The New Testament intensifies the promise by locating that presence in the incarnate and risen Jesus. Pastoral and Devotional Significance • Assurance of forgiveness: Pastors point sufferers of guilt to Matthew 9:2, showing that pardoning grace precedes and undergirds every other need. Liturgical and Homiletical Use Tharseō texts integrate naturally into services emphasizing confession and assurance, commissioning of missionaries, healing liturgies, and sermons on fear and faith. Rehearsing Christ’s words aloud invites the assembled body to receive the same divine fortitude. Summary Strong’s 2293 portrays courage as a gift spoken by the Lord into situations of sin, sickness, danger, and persecution. The term’s sevenfold New Testament usage traces a unified trajectory: Christ’s authoritative word creates fearless disciples who, in turn, relay that courage to a fearful world, confident that the One who commands has already overcome. Forms and Transliterations θαρρούσα Θαρσει θαρσεί Θάρσει Θαρσειτε θαρσείτε Θαρσεῖτε Tharsei Thársei Tharseite TharseîteLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 9:2 V-PMA-2SGRK: τῷ παραλυτικῷ Θάρσει τέκνον ἀφίενταί NAS: to the paralytic, Take courage, son; KJV: Son, be of good cheer; thy INT: to the paralytic Take courage son have been forgiven Matthew 9:22 V-PMA-2S Matthew 14:27 V-PMA-2P Mark 6:50 V-PMA-2P Mark 10:49 V-PMA-2S John 16:33 V-PMA-2P Acts 23:11 V-PMA-2S Strong's Greek 2293 |
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