Strong's Lexicon chara: Joy, gladness, delight Original Word: χαρά Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb χαίρω (chairō), meaning "to rejoice" or "to be glad." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H8057 שִׂמְחָה (simchah): Joy, gladness - H2304 חֶדְוָה (chedvah): Joy, rejoicing Usage: In the New Testament, "chara" is used to describe a deep, abiding sense of joy and gladness that is rooted in spiritual realities rather than external circumstances. It is often associated with the presence of the Holy Spirit and the believer's relationship with God. This joy is a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22) and is characterized by a sense of inner peace and contentment that transcends worldly troubles. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, joy was often linked to external circumstances, such as success, wealth, or pleasure. However, the New Testament redefines joy as a spiritual state that is independent of external conditions. This Christian understanding of joy is deeply connected to the hope and assurance found in Jesus Christ, His resurrection, and the promise of eternal life. The early Christians experienced joy even amidst persecution and suffering, viewing it as a testament to their faith and the presence of God in their lives. HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5479 xará (another feminine noun from the root xar-, "extend favor, lean towards, be favorably disposed") – properly, the awareness (of God's) grace, favor; joy ("grace recognized"). [The etymological link between 5463 /xaírō ("rejoice because of grace"), 5479 /xará ("joy because of grace") and 5485 /xáris ("grace") – i.e. that they are all cognates – is observed by LS (p 1,976), Zod (Dict), CBL, Wigram's Englishman's Greek Concordance (Ed. Ralph Winters), Word Study Greek-English NT (Tyndale, Ed. Paul McReynolds) – see also DNTT (2,356) and TDNT (9; 359,60). TDNT likewise groups them as cognates, referring to 5479 (xará) as the noun-form (nomen actionis), discussing them separately in light of their distinct connotations.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom chairó Definition joy, delight NASB Translation greatly (1), joy (54), joyful (1), joyfully (1), joyously (1), rejoicing (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5479: χαράχαρά, χαρᾶς, ἡ (χαίρω), from Aeschylus and Sophocles down, the Sept. for שִׂמְחָה and שָׂשׂון, joy, gladness; a: Luke 1:14; Luke 15:7, 10; John 15:11; John 16:22, 24; John 17:13; Acts 8:8; 2 Corinthians 7:13; 2 Corinthians 8:2; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 1:11; Philippians 2:2; 1 John 1:4; 2 John 1:12; opposed to κατήφεια, James 4:9; opposed to λύπη, John 16:20; 2 Corinthians 2:3; Hebrews 12:11; ὑμῶν, i. e. the joy received from you, 2 Corinthians 1:24 (opposed to the 'sorrow' which Paul on returning to Corinth would both experience and give, 2 Corinthians 2:1-3); χαρά τῆς πίστεως, springing from faith, Philippians 1:25; χαίρειν χαράν μέγαν Matthew 2:10 (Winers Grammar, § 32, 2; Buttmann, 131, 5); ἀγαλλίασθαι χαρά, 1 Peter 1:8; χαράν (Rec.st χάριν) πολλήν ἐήξειν ἐπί with a dative of the thing, Philemon 1:7; πληροῦν τινα χαρᾶς, Romans 15:13; πληροῦσθαι χαρᾶς, Acts 13:52; 2 Timothy 1:4; ποιεῖν τίνι χαράν μεγάλην, Acts 15:3; ἀπό τῆς χαρᾶς, for joy, Matthew 13:44; Luke 24:41; Acts 12:14; ἐν χαρά (ἔρχεσθαι), Romans 15:32; μετά χαρᾶς, with joy, Matthew 13:20; Matthew 28:8; Mark 4:16; Luke 8:13; Luke 10:17; Luke 24:52; Acts 20:24 Rec.; Philippians 1:4; Philippians 2:29; Hebrews 10:34; Hebrews 13:17 (Polybius 11, 33, 7; 22, 17, 12; Xenophon, Hiero 1, 25); with πνεύματος ἁγίου added, joy wrought by the Holy Spirit, 1 Thessalonians 1:6; χαρά ἐν πνεύματι ἁγίῳ, joyousness caused by (cf. ἐν, I. 6 (p. 211{b} bottom) and Buttmann, § 133, 23) the Holy Spirit, Romans 14:17; χαρά ἐπί τίνι, 2 Corinthians 7:4; χαίρειν χαρά διά τί, John 3:29 (cf. χαίρω, a.); also διά τινα (a relative pronoun intervening), 1 Thessalonians 3:9; ἡ χαρά ὅτι, John 16:21; χαρά ἵνα (see ἵνα, II. 2 d.), 3 John 1:4. b. by metonymy, the cause or occasion of joy: Luke 2:10; James 1:2; (so 2 Corinthians 1:15 WH text Tr marginal reading (others, χάρις, which see 3 b.)); of persons who are one's 'joy': 1 Thessalonians 2:19; Philippians 4:1; of a joyful condition or state: ἀντί ... χαρᾶς, to attain to blessedness at the right hand of God in heaven, Hebrews 12:2; the same idea is expressed in the parable by the words, ἡ χαρά τοῦ κυρίου, the blessedness which the Lord enjoys, Matthew 25:21, 23. From chairo; cheerfulness, i.e. Calm delight -- gladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy(-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous). see GREEK chairo Englishman's Concordance Matthew 2:10 N-AFSGRK: ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα NAS: exceedingly with great joy. KJV: with exceeding great joy. INT: star they rejoiced [with] joy great exceedingly Matthew 13:20 N-GFS Matthew 13:44 N-GFS Matthew 25:21 N-AFS Matthew 25:23 N-AFS Matthew 28:8 N-GFS Mark 4:16 N-GFS Luke 1:14 N-NFS Luke 2:10 N-AFS Luke 8:13 N-GFS Luke 10:17 N-GFS Luke 15:7 N-NFS Luke 15:10 N-NFS Luke 24:41 N-GFS Luke 24:52 N-GFS John 3:29 N-DFS John 3:29 N-NFS John 15:11 N-NFS John 15:11 N-NFS John 16:20 N-AFS John 16:21 N-AFS John 16:22 N-AFS John 16:24 N-NFS John 17:13 N-AFS Acts 8:8 N-NFS Strong's Greek 5479 |
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