What does χαρίζομαι (charízomai) mean in the Bible?
χαρίζομαι is a grace-shaped verb. It can mean to give freely, grant as a favor, or forgive graciously.
Greek · G5483
χαρίζομαι
To give grace
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χαρίζομαι G5483
Pronunciation charízomai
What does χαρίζομαι (charízomai) mean in the Bible?
χαρίζομαι is a grace-shaped verb. It can mean to give freely, grant as a favor, or forgive graciously.
Reader summary
Full entry for χαρίζομαι (G5483) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G5483?
The BSB source-word alignment has 23 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include forgave (2), Forgive (2), he forgave (2), be released (1), forgiving (1).
Where does χαρίζομαι (charízomai) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 7:21. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Corinthians (5), Acts (4), Colossians (3), Luke (3).
Are there verse guides for χαρίζομαι (charízomai)?
This entry includes 1 verse guide that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
χαρίζομαι is a grace-shaped verb. It can mean to give freely, grant as a favor, or forgive graciously. The word is related to χάρις, grace, and in Paul's letters it often carries the sense of forgiveness given from generosity rather than earned settlement. Colossians uses it in both directions that matter pastorally. God made believers alive with Christ, having forgiven all their trespasses, and believers are commanded to forgive one another as the Lord forgave them.
The word keeps forgiveness from becoming either cheap sentiment or legal transaction. In Colossians 2, forgiveness is joined to being made alive with Christ and the cancellation of the written record against us. In Colossians 3, the same grace received from the Lord becomes the pattern for life in the body. The church forgives because it has been forgiven, not because sin does not matter. χαρίζομαι therefore opens a gospel logic: grace received becomes grace extended.
Lexical sourceBook contextPassage contextPastoral application
How the Bible Uses It
χαρίζομαι moves between free giving and gracious forgiveness. In Colossians it names both God's forgiveness of trespasses and the pattern by which believers forgive one another in Christ.
- Luke.7.42
When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
Jesus uses the word in a debt-forgiveness setting. The free cancellation of debt becomes a doorway into love, gratitude, and mercy.
- Rom.8.32
He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, how will He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
The word can mean gracious giving: God freely gives all things with the Son He did not spare. The verb is grounded in divine generosity.
- Eph.4.32
Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Paul makes God's forgiveness in Christ the pattern for church life. The word is explicitly relational and communal.
- Col.2.13
When you were dead in your trespasses and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
God's forgiving act is joined to being made alive with Christ. Trespasses are not minimized; they are forgiven in the saving action of God.
- Col.3.13
Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
The forgiven church becomes a forgiving people. The Lord's forgiveness supplies both the model and the motive for bearing with one another.
Lexical sourceBook contextPassage contextPastoral application
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It forgave 2× Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13
Forgive 2× 2 Corinthians 12:13, Colossians 3:13
he forgave 2× Luke 7:42, Colossians 2:13
be released 1× Acts 3:14
forgiving 1× Ephesians 4:32
freely give 1× Romans 8:32
freely granted [it] 1× Galatians 3:18
gave 1× Philippians 2:9
has freely given 1× 1 Corinthians 2:12
has granted 1× Acts 27:24
have forgiven 1× 2 Corinthians 2:10
He gave 1× Luke 7:21
I have forgiven 1× 2 Corinthians 2:10
I will be restored 1× Philemon 1:22
If you forgive 1× 2 Corinthians 2:10
it has been granted 1× Philippians 1:29
ought to forgive 1× 2 Corinthians 2:7
to hand 1× Acts 25:16
to hand me over 1× Acts 25:11
was forgiven 1× Luke 7:43
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 7:21 ἐχαρίσατο to He gave Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Luke 7:42 ἐχαρίσατο to he forgave Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Luke 7:43 ἐχαρίσατο to was forgiven Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular Acts 3:14 χαρισθῆναι to be released Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive Acts 25:11 χαρίσασθαι to to hand me over Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle Acts 25:16 χαρίζεσθαί to to hand Verb - Present Infinitive Middle or Passive Acts 27:24 κεχάρισταί to has granted Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular Romans 8:32 χαρίσεται to freely give Verb - Future Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular 1 Corinthians 2:12 χαρισθέντα to has freely given Verb - Aorist Participle Passive - Accusative Neuter Plural 2 Corinthians 2:7 χαρίσασθαι to ought to forgive Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Luke 7:21
Aligned rows 23
Books represented 10
Luke 3 Acts 4 Romans 1 1 Corinthians 1 2 Corinthians 5 Galatians 1 Ephesians 2 Philippians 2 Colossians 3 Philemon 1
Source forms
ἐχαρίσατο 6x echarisato Luke 7:21, Luke 7:42, Luke 7:43, Ephesians 4:32
κεχάρισμαι 2x kecharismai 2 Corinthians 2:10
χαριζόμενοι 2x charizomenoi Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13
χαρίσασθαι 2x charisasthai Acts 25:11, 2 Corinthians 2:7
ἐχαρίσθη 1x echaristhē Philippians 1:29
κεχάρισται 1x kecharistai Galatians 3:18
κεχάρισταί 1x kecharistai Acts 27:24
χαρίζεσθαί 1x charizesthai Acts 25:16
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Middle - 3rd Person Singular 6x Luke 7:21, Luke 7:42, Luke 7:43, Ephesians 4:32
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Middle 2x Acts 25:11, 2 Corinthians 2:7
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 1st Person Singular 2x 2 Corinthians 2:10
Verb - Perfect Indicative Middle or Passive - 3rd Person Singular 2x Acts 27:24, Galatians 3:18
Verb - Present Participle Middle or Passive - Nominative Masculine Plural 2x Ephesians 4:32, Colossians 3:13
Verb - Aorist Imperative Middle - 2nd Person Plural 1x 2 Corinthians 12:13
Verb - Aorist Indicative Passive - 3rd Person Singular 1x Philippians 1:29
Verb - Aorist Infinitive Passive 1x Acts 3:14
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- When using this word in pastoral care, do not pressure wounded people to pretend evil did not happen. Christian forgiveness is grace-shaped truth, not denial.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that forgiving one another earns God's forgiveness. In Colossians, God's forgiving action comes first and becomes the pattern for believers.
- Do not claim that χαρίζομαι always means forgiveness. Romans 8:32 uses it for God's free giving.
- Do not claim that grace-shaped forgiveness removes wisdom, justice, boundaries, or repentance from every pastoral situation.
Pastoral applicationBook contextLexical source
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. To give or forgive freely as an act of grace, never implying obligation or debt repayment.
Source Gloss
to give grace
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 23 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Luke 7:21 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐχαρίσατο ecarisato
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Luke 7:42 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐχαρίσατο. ecarisato
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Luke 7:43 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Middle Deponent Indicative
ἐχαρίσατο. ecarisato
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Acts 3:14 Verb Aorist Passive Infinitive
χαρισθῆναι carisqhnai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Acts 25:11 Verb Aorist Middle Deponent Infinitive
χαρίσασθαι. carisasqai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Acts 25:16 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Infinitive
χαρίζεσθαί carizesqai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Acts 27:24 Verb Third Person Singular Perfect Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
κεχάρισταί kecaristai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Romans 8:32 Verb Third Person Singular Future Middle Deponent Indicative
χαρίσεται; carisetai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse 1 Corinthians 2:12 Verb Aorist Passive Participle Accusative Plural Neuter
χαρισθέντα carisqenta
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse 2 Corinthians 2:7 Verb Aorist Middle Deponent Infinitive
χαρίσασθαι carisasqai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse 2 Corinthians 2:10 Verb Second Person Plural Present Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
χαρίζεσθε, carizesqe
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse 2 Corinthians 2:10 Verb First Person Singular Perfect Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
κεχάρισμαι, kecarismai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse 2 Corinthians 2:10 Verb First Person Singular Perfect Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
κεχάρισμαι, kecarismai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse 2 Corinthians 12:13 Verb Second Person Plural Aorist Middle Deponent Imperative
χαρίσασθέ carisasqe
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Galatians 3:18 Verb Third Person Singular Perfect Middle or Passive Deponent Indicative
κεχάρισται kecaristai
I show favor to, forgive
Read verse Ephesians 4:32 Verb Present Middle or Passive Deponent Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
χαριζόμενοι carizomenoi
I show favor to, forgive
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
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 groups 4 Aligned forms 23 Tenses Aorist, Perfect, Present, Future Voices Middle, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 14×
Aorist Middle Luke 7:21 · Luke 7:42 · Luke 7:43 · Eph 4:32 · Phil 2:9 · Col 3:13 6×
Perfect Middle Acts 27:24 · Gal 3:18 · 2 Cor 2:10 4×
Future Middle Rom 8:32 1×
Present Middle 2 Cor 2:10 1×
Aorist Passive Phil 1:29 1×
Future Passive Phlm 1:22 1×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 4×
Aorist Middle Acts 25:11 · 2 Cor 2:7 2×
Aorist Passive Acts 3:14 1×
Present Middle Acts 25:16 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 4×
Imperative command or strong request 1×
Aorist Middle 2 Cor 12:13 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 22 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 12 present 4 perfect 4 future 2
Voice
middle 18 passive 4
Mood
indicative 14 participle 4 infinitive 3 imperative 1
NT Occurrences
Luke 7:21 ἐχαρίσατο aorist middle indicative completed Luke 7:42 ἐχαρίσατο aorist middle indicative completed Luke 7:43 ἐχαρίσατο aorist middle indicative completed Acts 3:14 χαρισθῆναι aorist passive infinitive infinitive Acts 25:11 χαρίσασθαι aorist middle infinitive infinitive Acts 25:16 χαρίζεσθαί present middle infinitive infinitive Acts 27:24 κεχάρισταί perfect middle indicative resultant Romans 8:32 χαρίσεται future middle indicative prospective 1 Corinthians 2:12 χαρισθέντα aorist passive participle participle 2 Corinthians 2:10 χαρίζεσθε present middle indicative ongoing 2 Corinthians 2:10 κεχάρισμαι perfect middle indicative resultant 2 Corinthians 2:10 κεχάρισμαι perfect middle indicative resultant 2 Corinthians 12:13 χαρίσασθέ aorist middle imperative imperative Galatians 3:18 κεχάρισται perfect middle indicative resultant Ephesians 4:32 χαριζόμενοι present middle participle participle Ephesians 4:32 ἐχαρίσατο aorist middle indicative completed Philippians 1:29 ἐχαρίσθη aorist passive indicative completed Philippians 2:9 ἐχαρίσατο aorist middle indicative completed Colossians 2:13 χαρισάμενος aorist middle participle participle Colossians 3:13 χαριζόμενοι present middle participle participle Colossians 3:13 ἐχαρίσατο aorist middle indicative completed Philemon 1:22 χαρισθήσομαι future passive indicative prospective
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)
Selected Scripture Witness
Selected passage-level study witnesses for this word. This section is not the full occurrence list.
New Testament Witnesses
Freely given by grace.
Showing 1 selected witness from 23 lexical occurrence verses.
Word Origins
χαρίζομαι is built from this root:
Why This Word Matters
Highlights God’s gracious preservation of all aboard. Acts 27:13-26
For the Preacher and Teacher
This word lets a preacher connect the vertical and horizontal life of grace without confusing them. Colossians 2 comes before Colossians 3. God forgives trespasses and makes dead sinners alive with Christ before Paul tells believers to forgive one another. That order matters. The church's forgiveness is not a self-generated moral achievement and not a denial that wrong was done.
It is the overflow of received grace. Preach χαρίζομαι by showing how God deals with real guilt in Christ, then how that mercy trains the church to bear with one another. Forgiveness is not pretending the record never existed; Colossians says God canceled the record at the cross.
Anchor passage
Col.2.13
Doctrinal connections
- G5485 χάρις - the noun grace stands behind the verb's gift-forgiveness logic.
- G859 ἄφεσις - forgiveness as release complements χαρίζομαι as gracious pardon.
- G5498 χειρόγραφον - the written record cancelled in Colossians 2:14 explains the forgiveness setting.
- Eph.4.32 - church forgiveness patterned after God's forgiveness in Christ.
- Col.3.12-17 - forgiveness belongs with compassion, kindness, humility, patience, love, and peace.
The verb is related to χάρις and can mean either to give freely or to forgive graciously. In Colossians, the forgiveness sense is explicit and is tied to trespasses, the cancelled record, and life together in the church.
From Old to New Testament
The Old Testament repeatedly joins divine forgiveness to covenant mercy and restored life with God. In Colossians, that mercy is announced through Christ's cross and then embodied in a forgiving community.
Book contextPastoral applicationCanonical parallelEditorial synthesisLexical source
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
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain