noun · feminine
charas
Strong’sG5479
joy, gladness
stem char-59 times in the New Testamentin 19 of 27 books5 of 10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
Joy, gladness — a feeling of delight or cheerful gladness 124, the calm delight that comes from something 2. This is the ordinary sense of the word throughout the New Testament, joy that can be full, given, felt, or increased, and that stands opposed to sadness or grief 1; the same broad sense of joy or delight is recognized in wider Greek usage as well 3.
By extension, the word can also be used concretely of the very person or thing that causes joy — calling someone or something itself "a joy" rather than merely a feeling of joy 13.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
χαρά, -ᾶς, ἡ
(< χαίρω), [in LXX for שִׂמְחָה, שָׂשׂוֹן, etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5479 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkhar-ah'
cheerfulness, i.e. calm delight
Fromfrom G5463;
King Jamesgladness, X greatly, (X be exceeding) joy(-ful, -fully, -fulness, -ous).
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
(χαίρω):— joy, delight, first in Refs 7th c.BC+ of a hungry man, Refs 4th c.BC+; with genitive objecti, joy in or at a thing, μελέων Refs 5th c.BC+; πρὸς χαρὰν λόγων in accordance with joyous tidings, Refs 5th c.BC+; κέρτομος θεοῦ χ. a joy sent by some mocking god, Refs 5th c.BC+; λέγεις μοι χαράν wishest me joy, NT+5th c.BC+with joy, LXX+5th c.BC+; χαρᾶς ὕπο Refs 5th c.BC+; opposed to λύπη, Refs 2nd c.AD+
II in concrete sense, a joy, of persons, χ. μου NT
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
Every form this word takes in Biblang, with the Greek it corresponds to and how often the New Testament uses it.
| Job in the sentence case | one singular | more than one plural |
|---|---|---|
| subject nominative | charas16×χαρὰ | charais |
| object accusative | charan14×χαρὰν | charain |
| direct address vocative | charar1×χαρὰ | charair |
| of, belonging to genitive | charau22×χαρᾶς | charaiu |
| to, for dative | chara6×χαρᾷ | charai |
Tinted cells are forms the New Testament never uses, so there is no Greek to show against them — but they are still correct Biblang, built from the slots below like any other.
Why these forms, and no others — the slots that make them
chara is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
59 occurrences, every one of them listed
charas“joy”subjectnominative singular16×
Luke 1:14kai eti charas si kai agalliasias, kai pollois epi …He will be a joy and delight to you, and many …
Luke 15:7legamō vi hoti houtōs charas en to ourano eti epi heno …… same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who …
Luke 15:10houtōs, legamō vi, genotō charas enōpion toiu angeloiu tou theou epi …… way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels …
John 3:29… fōnan tou numfiou. houtas oun tas charas tas ēmas plērotē.… to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now …
John 15:11houteim lalamē vi hina tas charas tas ēmas en vi ateiō kai …… you these things so that My joy may be in you and your …
John 15:11… ēmas en vi ateiō kai tas charas vu plēriteia.… may be in you and your joy may be complete.
John 16:24… mu; aitavōr kai labevi, hina tas charas vu ateiō plērorēntas.… you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.
Acts 8:8geneta de pollas charas en ta pola ekeina.So there was great joy in that city.
Romans 14:17… posias, alla dikaiosunas kai eirēnas kai charas en pneume hagie;… drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
2 Corinthians 2:3… epi pantoin vin hoti tas ēmas charas pantoiu vu atō.… you, that you would share my joy.
Galatians 5:22… de karpos teu pneumeu atō agapas, charas, eirēnas, makrothumias, chrēstotas, agathōsunas, pistias,… fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
1 Thessalonians 2:19tinas gar nu elpidas ē charas ē stefanos kauchēsiau ē ouchi kai …… all, who is our hope, our joy, our crown of boasting, if it …
1 Thessalonians 2:20… avō tas doxas nu kai tas charas.… are indeed our glory and our joy.
James 4:9… vu eis penthem metatrepitar kai tas charas eis katēfeian;… your laughter to mourning, and your joy to gloom.
1 John 1:4kai houteim grafanō nis hina tas charas nu ateiō plērorēntas.… write these things so that our joy may be complete.
2 John 1:12… stomem pros stomem lalara, hina tas charas vu plērorēntas ateiō.… face to face, so that our joy may be complete.
charan“joy”objectaccusative singular14×
Matthew 2:10“joy”horarantois de ton asteron chairila charan megan sfodra.When they saw the star, they rejoiced with great delight.
Matthew 25:21… polleiu sin katastēami; eiserchasar eis tan charan tou kuriou su.… of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
Matthew 25:23… polleiu sin katastēami; eiserchasar eis tan charan tou kuriou su.… of many things. Enter into the joy of your master!’
Luke 2:10… Mē fobovōr, idou gar euangelizomō vi charan megan hotinas eti panto to lao,… bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the …
John 16:20… lupivi, alla tas lupas vu eis charan geneti.… but your grief will turn to joy.
John 16:21… ouketi mnēmoneuatō tau thlipsiau dia tan charan hoti gennita anthrōpos eis ton kosmon.… forgets her anguish because of her joy that a child has been born …
John 16:22… chairiti vu tas kardias, kai tan charan vu oudenos airatō apo vu.… no one will take away your joy.
John 17:13… en to kosmo hina echaleiō tan charan tan ēman plērorēntan en heautoi.… so that they may have My joy fulfilled within them.
Acts 15:3… tan epistrofan teiu ethneiu, kai poiale charan megan pantoi toi adelfoi.… of the Gentiles and bringing great joy to all the brothers.
Philippians 1:25… vi eis tan vu prokopan kai charan tau pistiau,… of you for your progress and joy in the faith,
Philippians 2:2plēravar mu tan charan hina tem autem fronaveiō, tan autan …then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the …
Philemon 1:7charan gar pollan echama kai paraklēsian epi …I take great joy and encouragement in your love, because …
James 1:2Pantan charan hēgevar, adelfoir mu, hotan peirasmoi peripiptaveia …Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials …
3 John 1:4meizoteran houteiu ouk echamō charan, hina akouameiō teim ēmeim tekneim en …I have no greater joy than to hear that my children …
charar“joy”direct addressvocative singular1×
Philippians 4:1hōste, adelfoir mu agapētoir kai epipothētoir, charar kai stefanor mu, houtōs stēkavōr en …… I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you …
charau“joy”of, belonging togenitive singular22×
Matthew 13:20… ton logon akouarōntos kai euthuos meta charau labarōntos auton,… and at once receives it with joy.
Matthew 13:44… heuriskarantos anthrōpos kruptata, kai apo tau charau autou hupagatō kai pōlatō panteim hoseim …… hid it again, and in his joy he went and sold all he …
Matthew 28:8… apo teu mnēmeieu meta fobou kai charau megau trechala apangelara toi mathētoi autou.… the tomb in fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.
Mark 4:16… hotan akoualeia ton logon euthuos meta charau labalō auton,… and at once receive it with joy.
Luke 8:13… tau petrau hois hotan akoualeia meta charau decholō ton logon, kai houtois rizan …… the word and receive it with joy, but they have no root. They …
Luke 10:17Hupostrefala de tois hebdomēkonta duo meta charau legarōntois; Kurior, kai teim daimoneim hupotassotō …The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons …
Luke 24:41ēti de apistarōntoiu autoiu apo tau charau kai thaumazarōntoiu legata autoi; Echavō tinem …… still in disbelief because of their joy and amazement, He asked them, “Do …
Luke 24:52… proskunarantois auton hupostrefala eis Ierousalēm meta charau megau,… and returned to Jerusalem with great joy,
Acts 12:14“joy”… tan fōnan tou Petrou apo tau charau ouk anoigata ton pulōnon, eistrecharantas de …… she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that she forgot to open the gate, but ran inside …
Acts 13:52tois tē mathētois plērole charau kai pneumeu hagieu.And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13… theos tau elpidau plēratoia vin pantau charau kai eirēnau en te pisteuarō, eis …… of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in …
2 Corinthians 1:24… tau pistiau, alla sunergois anō tau charau vu, ta gar pistia stēavē.… fellow workers with you for your joy, because it is by faith that …
2 Corinthians 8:2… polla dokima thlipsiau tas perisseias tau charau autoiu kai tas kata batheu ptōcheias …… terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich …
Philippians 1:4… deēsia mu huper pantoiu vu, meta charau tan deēsian poiorōntos,… of you, I always pray with joy,
Philippians 2:29… oun auton en kurio meta pantau charau, kai toin toioutoin entimoin echavōr,… him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him,
Colossians 1:11“joy”… eis pantan hupomonan kai makrothumian meta charau,… have full endurance and patience, and joyfully
1 Thessalonians 1:6… ton logon en thlipsia polla meta charau pneumeu hagieu,… you welcomed the message with the joy of the Holy Spirit, in spite …
2 Timothy 1:4… horara, mimnēskorēntos su teiu dakrueiu, hina charau plērimeia… that I may be filled with joy.
Hebrews 10:34“joy”… tan harpagan teiu huparcharōnteiu vu meta charau prosdecheva, gnōskarōntois echarō heautoin kreittonan huparxian …You sympathized with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing that you yourselves had a better and permanent possession.
Hebrews 12:2… Iēsun, hos anti tau prokeiorōntau auto charau hupomenata stauron aischunau katafronarantos, en dexa …… of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross …
Hebrews 12:11“pleasant”… pros men tem pareiarōntem ouk dokatō charau arō alla lupau, husterem de karpon …No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however …
Hebrews 13:17… vu hōs logon apodōarintois, hina meta charau houtem poialeiō kai mē stenazarōntois, alusitelem …… end, allow them to lead with joy and not with grief, for that …
chara“joy”to, fordative singular6×
John 3:29“greatly”… numfiou tos stēarēntos kai akouarōntos autou, chara chairatō dia tan fōnan tou numfiou. …… belongs to the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom stands and listens for him, and is overjoyed to hear the bridegroom’s voice. That joy …
Romans 15:32hina en chara ercharantos pros vin dia thelēmeu theou …… I may come to you with joy and together with you be refreshed.
2 Corinthians 7:4… vu; plēromē ta paraklēsia, huperperisseuomō ta chara epi panta ta thlipsia nu.… encouragement; in all our troubles my joy overflows.
2 Corinthians 7:13… nu perissoterōs mallon chairina epi ta chara Titou, hoti anapauotē tem pneumem autou …… were even more delighted by the joy of Titus. For his spirit has …
1 Thessalonians 3:9… antapodōara peri vu epi panta ta chara ha chairanō dia vin emprosthen tou …… you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?
1 Peter 1:8… arti mē horarōntois pisteuarōntois de agalliovō chara aneklalēta kai doxazorēnta,… rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy,