Greek · G5463, G5479, G3173, G4970 · unreviewed
ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα
To rejoice · joy · big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application) · very
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
χαίρω G5463 to rejoice
Pronunciation chaírō
Rejoice primarily means active gladness; distinct from mere emotion, often expressing relational joy in Christ.
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χαρά G5479 joy
Pronunciation chará
Joy arising from faith, salvation, or spiritual blessing; often connected with Holy Spirit's presence.
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μέγας G3173 big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
Pronunciation mégas
Describes size, intensity, rank, or importance—applies broadly across physical, moral, and spiritual dimensions
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σφόδρα G4970 very
Pronunciation sphódra
Intensifies with force or violence; conveys extreme degree beyond mere "very
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What does ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα (echarēsan charan megalēn sphodra) mean in the Bible?
χαίρω · χαρά · μέγας · σφόδρα is a Greek word meaning "they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy".
Full entry for ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα (G5463, G5479, G3173, G4970) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Tenses
Voices
Imperative command or strong request 17×
Present Active Matt 5:12 · Matt 28:9 · Luke 10:20 · 2 Cor 13:11 · Phil 2:18 · Phil 3:1 · Phil 4:4 · 1 Thess 5:16 · 1 Pet 4:13 · Matt 26:49 · Matt 27:29 · Mark 15:18 · Luke 1:28 · John 19:3 16×
Aorist Passive Luke 6:23 1×
Indicative states a fact or reality 33×
Present Active John 11:15 · Rom 16:19 · 1 Cor 16:17 · 2 Cor 7:9 · 2 Cor 7:16 · Phil 1:18 · Phil 2:17 · Col 1:24 · Matt 18:13 · John 3:29 · 1 Cor 13:6 · 2 Cor 13:9 · 1 Thess 3:9 · Rev 11:10 14×
Aorist Passive Matt 2:10 · Mark 14:11 · Luke 22:5 · John 20:20 · Acts 15:31 · Luke 23:8 · John 8:56 · Acts 11:23 · Phil 4:10 · 2 John 1:4 · 3 John 1:3 · John 14:28 · 2 Cor 7:13 13×
Future Passive John 16:20 · John 16:22 · Luke 1:14 · Phil 1:18 4×
Imperfect Active Luke 13:17 · Acts 13:48 2×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 9×
Present Active Acts 15:23 · Acts 23:26 · Rom 12:15 · 2 Cor 2:3 · Jas 1:1 · 2 John 1:10 · 2 John 1:11 7×
Aorist Passive Luke 15:32 · 2 Cor 7:7 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 11×
Present Active Luke 19:37 · Acts 5:41 · Rom 12:12 · 1 Cor 7:30 · 2 Cor 6:10 · Luke 15:5 · Luke 19:6 · Acts 8:39 · Col 2:5 · Rom 12:15 11×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 4×
Aorist Passive Phil 2:28 · 1 Pet 4:13 2×
Present Active John 4:36 · Rev 19:7 2×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 74 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 50 aorist 18 future 4 imperfect 2
Voice
active 52 passive 22
Mood
indicative 33 imperative 17 participle 11 infinitive 9 subjunctive 4
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:10 ἐχάρησαν aorist passive indicative completed Matthew 5:12 χαίρετε present active imperative imperative Matthew 18:13 χαίρει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 26:49 Χαῖρε present active imperative imperative Matthew 27:29 Χαῖρε present active imperative imperative Matthew 28:9 Χαίρετε present active imperative imperative Mark 14:11 ἐχάρησαν aorist passive indicative completed Mark 15:18 Χαῖρε present active imperative imperative Luke 1:14 χαρήσονται future passive indicative prospective Luke 1:28 Χαῖρε present active imperative imperative Luke 6:23 χάρητε aorist passive imperative imperative Luke 10:20 χαίρετε present active imperative imperative Luke 10:20 χαίρετε present active imperative imperative Luke 13:17 ἔχαιρεν imperfect active indicative background Luke 15:32 χαρῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive Luke 15:5 χαίρων present active participle participle Luke 19:37 χαίροντες present active participle participle Luke 19:6 χαίρων present active participle participle Luke 22:5 ἐχάρησαν aorist passive indicative completed Luke 23:8 ἐχάρη aorist passive indicative completed John 3:29 χαίρει present active indicative ongoing John 4:36 χαίρῃ present active subjunctive subjunctive John 8:56 ἐχάρη aorist passive indicative completed John 11:15 χαίρω present active indicative ongoing John 14:28 ἐχάρητε aorist passive indicative completed John 16:20 χαρήσεται future passive indicative prospective John 16:22 χαρήσεται future passive indicative prospective John 19:3 Χαῖρε present active imperative imperative John 20:20 ἐχάρησαν aorist passive indicative completed Acts 5:41 χαίροντες present active participle participle Acts 8:39 χαίρων present active participle participle Acts 11:23 ἐχάρη aorist passive indicative completed Acts 13:48 ἔχαιρον imperfect active indicative background Acts 15:23 χαίρειν present active infinitive infinitive Acts 15:31 ἐχάρησαν aorist passive indicative completed Acts 23:26 χαίρειν present active infinitive infinitive Romans 12:12 χαίροντες present active participle participle Romans 12:15 χαίρειν present active infinitive infinitive Romans 12:15 χαιρόντων present active participle participle Romans 16:19 χαίρω present active indicative ongoing
+34 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
Acts 19 — The Word of the Lord Grows Mightily in Ephesus Acts 8 — The Scattered Church Carries Christ Beyond Jerusalem John 15 — The True Vine, Abiding Fruitfulness, Christlike Love, and the World’s Hatred John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 17 — The Son’s High Priestly Prayer: Glory, Preservation, Sanctification, Unity, Mission, and Love John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel John 21 — The Risen Lord Restores, Commissions, Shepherds, and Testifies through His Witness Luke 15 — The Joy of God over the Lost Being Found Luke 19 — The Son of Man Seeks the Lost, Receives the Kingly Kingdom, and Weeps over Jerusalem Luke 2 — The Savior Born, Revealed, Presented, and Growing in Wisdom Luke 24 — The Risen Christ Opens the Scriptures, Commissions Witnesses, and Ascends in Blessing Luke 7 — The Compassionate Lord Who Heals, Raises, Confirms, and Forgives Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial Mark 16 — He Has Risen: The Empty Tomb, the Angelic Announcement, Galilee Promise, and Trembling Witness Mark 4 — The Mystery of the Kingdom: Hearing, Fruitfulness, and the Lord over the Storm Mark 5 — The Authority of Jesus over Demons, Disease, and Death Matthew 12 — The Lord of the Sabbath, the Servant of the Lord, and the Crisis of Unbelief Matthew 13 — The Kingdom in Parables: Hearing, Hiddenness, Growth, Worth, and Judgment Matthew 15 — Tradition, the Heart, Gentile Faith, and the Compassionate Bread of the Messiah Matthew 18 — Kingdom Humility, Care for the Little Ones, Discipline, and Forgiveness in Christ’s Community Matthew 2 — The Messiah Worshiped, Threatened, Preserved, and Called Out of Egypt Matthew 20 — The First-Last Kingdom, the Ransom-Giving Son of Man, and Mercy for the Blind Matthew 22 — The Wedding Banquet, the King’s Invitation, and the Messiah Who Is David’s Lord Matthew 23 — Woes upon Hypocritical Leadership and the Lament over Jerusalem Matthew 24 — The Olivet Discourse: Temple Desolation, Coming Judgment, the Son of Man, and Watchful Readiness Matthew 25 — Readiness, Stewardship, and the Final Judgment of the Son of Man Matthew 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King Matthew 7 — Kingdom Discernment, the Narrow Way, and the Wise Builder Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Philippians 1 — Gospel Partnership and Joyful Witness in Christ Philippians 3 — Counting All Things Loss and Pressing On Toward Christ Philippians 4 — Rejoicing, Peace, Contentment, and Gospel Partnership in Christ Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 14 — Receiving One Another, Honoring the Lord, and Pursuing Peace in Matters of Conscience Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain