Lexical Summary charizomai: To grant, to give freely, to forgive, to show favor Original Word: χαρίζομαι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance freely forgive, deliver, grant. Middle voice from charis; to grant as a favor, i.e. Gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue -- deliver, (frankly) forgive, (freely) give, grant. see GREEK charis HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 5483 xarízomai (from 5485 /xáris, "grace, extending favor") – properly, to extend favor ("grace"), freely give favor to grant forgiveness (pardon). 5483 /xarízomai ("favor that cancels") is used of God giving His grace to pardon. This is freely done and therefore not based on any merit of the one receiving forgiveness. [5483 (xarízomai) literally means, "to exercise grace, freely show favor," i.e. willingly ("graciously") bestow.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom charis Definition to show favor, give freely NASB Translation bestowed (1), forgave (2), forgive (3), forgiven (4), forgiving (2), freely give (1), gave (1), given (1), graciously forgave (1), granted (4), hand (2), things freely given (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5483: χαρίζομαιχαρίζομαι; deponent middle; future χαρίσομαι (Romans 8:32; Lucian, d. mar. 9, 1, for which Greek writers commonly use the Attic χαιουσμαι (cf. WHs Appendix, p. 163f; Buttmann, 37 (32); Winer's Grammar, § 15, under the word)); perfect κεχάρισμαι; 1 aorist ἐχαρισάμην; 1 aorist passive, ἐχαρίσθην (Acts 3:14; 1 Corinthians 2:12; Philippians 1:29 (cf. Buttmann, 52 (46))); future passive, χαρισθήσομαι with a passive significance (Philemon 1:22); (χάρις); often in Greek writings from Homer down; to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor to, gratify; a. universally, to show oneself gracious, kind, benevolent: τίνι, Galatians 3:18 (others, (supply τήν κληρονομίαν and) refer this to c. below). b. to grant forgiveness, to pardon: 2 Corinthians 2:7; with a dative of the person, Ephesians 4:32; Colossians 3:13; with an accusative of the thing, 2 Corinthians 2:10 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 39, 1 b. and 3 N. 3); τίνι τήν ἀδικίαν, 2 Corinthians 12:13; τά παραπτώματα, Colossians 2:13. c. to give graciously, give freely, bestow: τίνι τί, Luke 7:21; Romans 8:32; Philippians 2:9; passive, 1 Corinthians 2:12; Philippians 1:29; where a debt is referred to, to forgive (cf. b. above), Luke 7:42f; τίνι τινα, graciously to restore one to another who desires his safety (e. g. a captive (R. V. grant)), passive, Acts 3:14; Philemon 1:22; or to preserve for one a person in peril, Acts 27:24; τινα τίνι, to give up to another one whom he may punish or put to death, Acts 25:11 ((cf. R. V. marginal reading)); with the addition of εἰς ἀπώλειαν, Acts 25:16. Derived from the noun “grace” (charis), Strong’s Greek 5483 pictures a voluntary, benevolent act that flows from favor rather than obligation. The term gathers under one umbrella the concepts of (1) freely bestowing a gift, (2) remitting a debt or penalty, and (3) graciously granting a request. In every occurrence the accent falls on the generosity of the giver, not the worthiness of the recipient. Divine Grace in Salvation Romans 8:32 frames the gospel with the verb: “He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” Salvation itself, every spiritual blessing, and the ultimate restoration of creation are presented as divine charizomai, the outworking of God’s unmerited favor. Colossians 2:13 ties the verb to forgiveness of sins: “God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,” emphasizing that new life and cancelation of debt arrive together as a single gracious act. Galatians 3:18 grounds the Abrahamic promise in the same gracious grant: “God granted it to Abraham through a promise,” underscoring continuity between covenant history and the gospel message. Christological Focus Philippians 2:9 speaks of the Father’s gracious giving to the exalted Son: “God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names.” Even the supremacy of Christ is portrayed as a grace-gift, setting the pattern for all subsequent divine bestowals. Interpersonal Forgiveness in the Church Ephesians 4:32 commands, “Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Colossians 3:13 echoes, “Forgive as the Lord forgave you.” The church’s ethic of reconciliation is anchored in God’s prior charizomai; believers mirror what they have received. 2 Corinthians 2:7–10 illustrates pastoral application. Paul urges the Corinthians to “forgive and comfort” a repentant offender, declaring, “I too have forgiven” (2 Corinthians 2:10). The verb frames church discipline not as retribution but as an extension of grace aimed at restoration. Judicial and Temporal Deliverance In legal contexts the verb shifts to “granting” or “pardoning.” When Paul appeals to Caesar he says, “If, however, I am guilty… I do not refuse to die; but if there is nothing to their charges against me, no one has the right to hand me over” (Acts 25:11). The Roman governor would be unjust to charizomai—“grant” the Jews their request to condemn an innocent man. Acts 3:14 records the crowd’s earlier demand that Pilate “grant” them Barabbas, dramatizing the tragic misuse of the concept—choosing a criminal over the Prince of Life. Acts 27:24 features divine intervention: “God has granted you all those who are sailing with you,” linking charizomai to physical preservation in crisis. Gifted Suffering and Service Philippians 1:29 broadens the horizon: “It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.” Faith and suffering alike are classified as grace-gifts, reframing hardship as a participatory privilege in Christ’s mission. 1 Corinthians 2:12 adds intellectual illumination: “that we may understand what God has freely given us,” showing that insight into revelation itself is Spirit-granted charizomai. Pastoral Expectation and Prayer Philemon 1:22 displays Paul’s confidence in God’s ongoing favor: “I hope that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you.” Ministry opportunities, freedom, and fellowship are sought and received as divine gifts, not human achievements. Historical and Linguistic Background In wider Koine usage, charizomai could denote anything from political amnesty to a friend’s kindness, but the New Testament consistently lifts the word above mere etiquette. Rooted in covenant grace, it marries legal release with personal benevolence, thus supplying the vocabulary for both justification and sanctification in apostolic preaching. Theological and Ministerial Implications 1. Salvation, sanctification, spiritual gifts, and ultimate glorification stand on one foundation: God graciously grants. Englishman's Concordance Luke 7:21 V-AIM-3SGRK: τυφλοῖς πολλοῖς ἐχαρίσατο βλέπειν NAS: spirits; and He gave sight KJV: [that were] blind he gave sight. INT: to blind many he granted to see Luke 7:42 V-AIM-3S Luke 7:43 V-AIM-3S Acts 3:14 V-ANP Acts 25:11 V-ANM Acts 25:16 V-PNM/P Acts 27:24 V-RIM/P-3S Romans 8:32 V-FIM-3S 1 Corinthians 2:12 V-APP-ANP 2 Corinthians 2:7 V-ANM 2 Corinthians 2:10 V-PIM/P-2P 2 Corinthians 2:10 V-RIM/P-1S 2 Corinthians 2:10 V-RIM/P-1S 2 Corinthians 12:13 V-AMM-2P Galatians 3:18 V-RIM/P-3S Ephesians 4:32 V-PPM/P-NMP Ephesians 4:32 V-AIM-3S Philippians 1:29 V-AIP-3S Philippians 2:9 V-AIM-3S Colossians 2:13 V-APM-NMS Colossians 3:13 V-PPM/P-NMP Colossians 3:13 V-AIM-3S Philemon 1:22 V-FIP-1S Strong's Greek 5483 |
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