What does χαίρω · χαρά · μέγας · σφόδρα mean in the Bible?
χαίρω · χαρά · μέγας · σφόδρα is a Greek phrase meaning "they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy".
Greek · G5463, G5479, G3173, G4970
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
χαίρωG5463to rejoice
Pronunciationchaírō
Rejoice primarily means active gladness; distinct from mere emotion, often expressing relational joy in Christ.
Open lexicon entry →χαράG5479joy
Pronunciationchará
Joy arising from faith, salvation, or spiritual blessing; often connected with Holy Spirit's presence.
Open lexicon entry →μέγαςG3173big (literally or figuratively, in a very wide application)
Pronunciationmégas
Describes size, intensity, rank, or importance—applies broadly across physical, moral, and spiritual dimensions
Open lexicon entry →σφόδραG4970very
Pronunciationsphódra
Intensifies with force or violence; conveys extreme degree beyond mere "very
Open lexicon entry →What does ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα (echarēsan charan megalēn sphodra) mean in the Bible?
χαίρω · χαρά · μέγας · σφόδρα is a Greek phrase meaning "they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy".
Full entry for ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα (G5463, G5479, G3173, G4970) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G5463, G5479, G3173, G4970?
G5463, G5479, G3173, G4970 is connected to 74 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy
Source Gloss
they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups5Aligned forms74TensesPresent, Aorist, Future, ImperfectVoicesActive, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Imperativecommand or strong request17×
Present ActiveMatt 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 19:316×
Aorist PassiveLuke 6:231×
Indicativestates a fact or reality33×
Present ActiveJohn 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 11:1014×
Aorist PassiveMatt 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 7:1313×
Future PassiveJohn 16:20 · John 16:22 · Luke 1:14 · Phil 1:184×
Imperfect ActiveLuke 13:17 · Acts 13:482×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract9×
Present ActiveActs 15:23 · Acts 23:26 · Rom 12:15 · 2 Cor 2:3 · Jas 1:1 · 2 John 1:10 · 2 John 1:117×
Aorist PassiveLuke 15:32 · 2 Cor 7:72×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality11×
Present ActiveLuke 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 12:1511×
Subjunctivepossibility, probability, or purpose4×
Aorist PassivePhil 2:28 · 1 Pet 4:132×
Present ActiveJohn 4:36 · Rev 19:72×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 74 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present50aorist18future4imperfect2
Voice
active52passive22
Mood
indicative33imperative17participle11infinitive9subjunctive4
NT Occurrences
Matthew 2:10ἐχάρησανaorist passive indicativecompletedMatthew 5:12χαίρετεpresent active imperativeimperativeMatthew 18:13χαίρειpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 26:49Χαῖρεpresent active imperativeimperativeMatthew 27:29Χαῖρεpresent active imperativeimperativeMatthew 28:9Χαίρετεpresent active imperativeimperativeMark 14:11ἐχάρησανaorist passive indicativecompletedMark 15:18Χαῖρεpresent active imperativeimperativeLuke 1:14χαρήσονταιfuture passive indicativeprospectiveLuke 1:28Χαῖρεpresent active imperativeimperativeLuke 6:23χάρητεaorist passive imperativeimperativeLuke 10:20χαίρετεpresent active imperativeimperativeLuke 10:20χαίρετεpresent active imperativeimperativeLuke 13:17ἔχαιρενimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 15:32χαρῆναιaorist passive infinitiveinfinitiveLuke 15:5χαίρωνpresent active participleparticipleLuke 19:37χαίροντεςpresent active participleparticipleLuke 19:6χαίρωνpresent active participleparticipleLuke 22:5ἐχάρησανaorist passive indicativecompletedLuke 23:8ἐχάρηaorist passive indicativecompletedJohn 3:29χαίρειpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 4:36χαίρῃpresent active subjunctivesubjunctiveJohn 8:56ἐχάρηaorist passive indicativecompletedJohn 11:15χαίρωpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 14:28ἐχάρητεaorist passive indicativecompletedJohn 16:20χαρήσεταιfuture passive indicativeprospectiveJohn 16:22χαρήσεταιfuture passive indicativeprospectiveJohn 19:3Χαῖρεpresent active imperativeimperativeJohn 20:20ἐχάρησανaorist passive indicativecompletedActs 5:41χαίροντεςpresent active participleparticipleActs 8:39χαίρωνpresent active participleparticipleActs 11:23ἐχάρηaorist passive indicativecompletedActs 13:48ἔχαιρονimperfect active indicativebackgroundActs 15:23χαίρεινpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveActs 15:31ἐχάρησανaorist passive indicativecompletedActs 23:26χαίρεινpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveRomans 12:12χαίροντεςpresent active participleparticipleRomans 12:15χαίρεινpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveRomans 12:15χαιρόντωνpresent active participleparticipleRomans 16:19χαίρωpresent active indicativeongoing+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 Origins
ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα is a primary verb - no further derivation.