Greek · G5463 · unreviewed

χαίρω

To rejoice

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

χαίρω G5463

Pronunciation chaírō

What does χαίρω (chaírō) mean in the Bible?

χαίρω (chaírō) is a Greek word meaning "to rejoice". χαίρω [in LXX for שָׂמַח (Gen. Joy evidences genuine reception of the gospel.

Full entry for χαίρω (G5463) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to rejoice

Extended definition

Rejoice primarily means active gladness; distinct from mere emotion, often expressing relational joy in Christ.

1to rejoice, be glad: Mrk.14:11, Luk.15:5, 32 19:6, 37 22:5 23:8, Jhn.8:56 20:20, Act.5:41 8:39 11:23 13:48, 2Co.6:10 7:7 13:9, Php.2:17, 28, Col.2:5, 1Th.5:16, 1Pe.4:13, 3Jn.3; χ. καὶ ἀγαλλιᾶσθαι, Mat.5:12; κ. σκιρτᾶν, Luk.6:23; opposite to κλαίειν, Rom.12:15, 1Co.7:30; to κλαίειν κ. θρηνεῖν Jhn.16:20; to λύπην ἔχειν, Jhn.16:22; with cogn. accusative, χ. χαρὰν μεγάλην, Mat.2:10; χαρᾷ χ. (B1., § 38, 3; Dalman, Words, 34 f.), Jhn.3:29; ἡ χαρὰ ᾗ χαίρομεν, 1Th.3:9; with prep. (Bl., 38, 2), ἐπί, with dative (simple dative in cl.), Mat.18:13, Luk.1:14 13:17, Act.15:31, Rom.16:19, 1Co.13:6 16:17, 2Co.7:13, Rev.11:10; διά, Jhn.3:29 11:15, 1Th.3:9; ἐν, Php.1:18; ἀπό, 2Co.2:3; with accusative (Dem.), Php.2:18; before ὅτι, Jhn.14:28, 2Co.7:9 7:16, 2Jn.4; ἐν τούτῳ ὅτι, Luk.10:20; with dative, Rom.12:1; ἐν κυρίῳ, Php.4:10

2In salutations, imperat., χαῖρε, χαίρετε,

aat meeting, hail: Mat.26:49 27:29, Mrk.15:18, Luk.1:28, Jhn.19:3; pl., Mat.28:9; so χχαίρειν λέγω, to give greeting, II Jn 11; in letters, χαίρειν (sc. λέγει; 81, 1), greeting: Act.15:23 23:26 Jas.1:1;

bat parting, farewell: 2Co.13:11; __(with) on other occasions, be of good cheer: ἐν κυρίῳ, Php.3:1 4:4 (cf. συν-χαίρω).

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Joy evidences genuine reception of the gospel. Acts 8:26-40

Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses

Present Aorist Future Imperfect

Voices

Active Passive

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

completed 13 ongoing 14 prospective 4 imperative 17 background 2 subjunctive 4 infinitive 9 participle 11

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

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)

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

New Testament Witnesses

Acts 8:26-40 Rejoicing chaírō Participle · Present Active

Experiencing gladness or joy.

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

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.

John 16 — The Spirit’s Convicting Witness, the Disciples’ Sorrow Turned to Joy, and Christ’s Victory over the World John 20 — The Risen Lord: Empty Tomb, Eyewitness Faith, Peace, Mission, Spirit, Thomas, and the Purpose of the Gospel Luke 19 — The Son of Man Seeks the Lost, Receives the Kingly Kingdom, and Weeps over Jerusalem Mark 15 — The Crucified King: Condemnation, Mockery, Death, Confession, and Burial 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 28 — The Resurrection of Jesus and the Great Commission of the Risen King 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

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

Full license details