verb
charizomō
Strong’sG5483
I show favor to, forgive
stem chariz-23 times in the New Testamentin 10 of 27 books14 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
χαρίζομαι
To show favor or kindness to someone 134. LSJ notes that in classical use this could mean simply making oneself agreeable or complying with another's wishes, but the Bible's own use of the word centers on active kindness 3.
To give freely, bestow, or grant something to a person, as an act of generosity 1234. This includes graciously granting a request or a favor, and can extend to handing a person over, as when a prisoner is given up to a crowd or delivered by an unjust ruling 13; Strong's likewise includes the sense of rescuing or delivering someone 2.
To forgive, freely canceling a debt or a wrong done, whether the sin or fault of another 1234. Abbott-Smith notes this use corresponds to the Latin idea of remitting or excusing a debt, and describes it as a later development of the word's meaning 1.
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
χαρίζομαι
(< χάρις), [in LXX: Es 8:7 (נתן), Ca 1:4 א, Si 12:3, II-IV Mac 9 *;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G5483 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkhar-id'-zom-ahee
to grant as a favor, i.e. gratuitously, in kindness, pardon or rescue
Frommiddle voice from G5485;
King Jamesdeliver, (frankly) forgive, (freely) give, grant.
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
future χαριῶ Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist imperative χάρισον Refs:—usually middle χαρίζομαι, future -ιοῦμαιRefs 5th c.BC+; χαριῇ (variant{-εῖ}) also in Refs 5th c.BC+ is a false Aeolic dialect form in NT+2nd c.AD+: aorist ἐχαρισάμην Refs 8th c.BC+; Aeolic dialect imperative χάρισσαι Refs 7th c.BC+; Cretan dialect infinitive χαρίξασθαι Refs —passive forms, future χαρισθήσομαι in passive sense, NTaorist ἐχαρίσθην in passive sense, NTperfect κεχάρισμαι in active sense, κεχάρισαι Refs 5th c.BC+, -ισται Refs; also in passive sense, imperative -ίσθωRefs 5th c.BC+: pluperfect ἐκεχάριστο Refs 5th c.BC+, Epic dialect κεχάριστο Refs 8th c.BC+:—say or do something agreeable to a person, show him favour or kindness, oblige, gratify, with dative person, frequently in participle, χαριζομένη πόσεϊ ᾧ Refs 8th c.BC+; Καλλίᾳ χαριζόμενος to oblige, humour him, Refs 5th c.BC+; of a judge, give a partial verdict, χ. οἷς ἂν δοκῇ αὐτῷ Refs 5th c.BC+: absolutely, make oneself agreeable, comply, opposed to ἀντία φάσθαι, once in Refs 5th c.BC+; with participle added, χαρίζετο ἱερὰ ῥέζων Refs 8th c.BC+ do not court favour by lies, Refs 8th c.BC+; opposed to τὰ βέλτιστα λέγειν, Refs 4th c.BC+
2 gratify or indulge a humour or passion, once in Refs 5th c.BC+; τῇ γαστρίRefs
3 in erotic sense, grant favours to a man, Refs 5th c.BC+: hence of Comedy, ὀλίγοις χαρίσασθαι Refs 5th c.BC+
II with accusative of things, give graciously or cheerfully, δῶρα Refs 8th c.BC+; so with accusative person, χαρίζομαί σε τοῖς ὄχλοις Refs 1st c.AD+: with a strong oxymoron, ξείνια δυσμενέσιν λυγρὰ χ. Refs 7th c.BC+: with infinitive with Article, χ. τὸ ποθεῖν LXX+1st c.AD+; without the Article, πολλοῖς ἐχαρίσατο βλέπειν (variant{τὸ β}.) NT; χάρισαι [αὐτοῖς] μένειν allow them to remain, Refs 2nd c.AD+; so ἆρ᾽ ἄν τί μοι χαρίσαιο τοιόνδε—μή μου καταγελᾶ; Refs 5th c.BC+
II.b χ. τὴν δέησιν grant the request, Refs 2nd c.AD+
II.c passive, with accusative, to be favoured with, ἀνάγκᾳ πνεῦμα χαριζόμενος Refs
II.2 with genitive partitive, give freely of a thing, ἀλλοτρίων χ. Refs 8th c.BC+; ταμίη.. χαριζομένη παρεόντων giving freely of such things as were ready, Refs, etc.; παντοίων ἀγαθῶν γαστρὶ χαριζόμενοι Refs 6th c.BC+; προικὸς χαρίζεσθαι, of his bounty, Refs 8th c.BC+
II.3 with accusative person, give up as a favour, τῇ μητρὶ χ. Ὀκτάβιον, by dropping a law aimed at him, Refs 1st c.AD+; but also, by unjust condemnation, NT; also τῷ θεῷ με ἐχαρίσω, of a dedication ceremony, Refs 2nd c.AD+
II.4 forgive, τὴν ἀδικίαν τινί NT
III passive, especially in perfect and pluperfect, κεχάριστο θυμῷ was dear to her heart, Refs 8th c.BC+; τοῖσι Εὐβοεῦσι ἐκεχάριστο the pleasure of the Euboeans was done, Refs 5th c.BC+; ταῦτα μὲν οὖν μνήμῃ κεχαρίσθω let a tribute be paid.. Refs 5th c.BC+
III.2 mostly participle perfect κεχαρισμένος, η, ον, as adjective, acceptable, welcome, ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ Refs 8th c.BC+; κεχαρισμένα δῶρα θεοῖσι δίδωσι,Refs 8th c.BC+; κεχαρισμένα θεῖναί τινι to do things pleasing to one, Refs 8th c.BC+; κεχ. τοῖς θεοῖς λέγειν τε καὶ πράττειν, Refs 8th c.BC+; compare κεχαρισμένως.
III.3 later, comparative κεχαρισμενώτερος Refs 2nd c.AD+; superlative -ώτατοςRefs 4th c.AD+ —Rare in Trag., but frequently in _Attic dialect_ Prose.
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
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| charizovōχαρίζεσθε | happening now · yepresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person plural | forgive | 1× |
| charizetiχαρίσεται | will happen · he/she/itfuture middle indicative 3rd person singular | freely give | 1× |
| charizimiχαρισθήσομαι | will happen · Ifuture passive indicative 1st person singular | restored | 1× |
| charizetaἐχαρίσατο | happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular | forgave | 6× |
| charizitaἐχαρίσθη | happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular | granted | 1× |
| charizomēκεχάρισμαι | has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular | forgiven | 2× |
| charizotēκεχάρισταί | has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | gave | 2× |
| charizevarχαρίσασθέ | happened · yeaorist middle imperative 2nd person plural | forgive | 1× |
| charizorōχαρίζεσθαί | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | hand over | 1× |
| charizeraχαρίσασθαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive | forgive | 2× |
| chariziraχαρισθῆναι | happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive | granted | 1× |
| charizorōntoisχαριζόμενοι | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | forgiving | 2× |
| charizerantosχαρισάμενος | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine | forgiven | 1× |
| chariziranteimχαρισθέντα | happened · objectaorist passive participle direct plural neuter | freely given | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 118, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 14 occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizomō | charizome | charizomē2×κεχάρισμαι | charizomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | charizosō | charizose | charizosē | charizoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizotō | charizote | charizotē2×κεχάρισταί | charizotelē |
| we 1st person plural | charizonō | charizone | charizonē | charizonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizovō1×χαρίζεσθε | charizove | charizovē | charizovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | charizolō | charizole | charizolē | charizolelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizemi | charizema |
| you 2nd person singular | charizesi | charizesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizeti1×χαρίσεται | charizeta6×ἐχαρίσατο |
| we 1st person plural | charizeni | charizena |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizevi | charizeva |
| they 3rd person plural | charizeli | charizela |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizimi1×χαρισθήσομαι | charizima |
| you 2nd person singular | charizisi | charizisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chariziti | charizita1×ἐχαρίσθη |
| we 1st person plural | charizini | charizina |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizivi | chariziva |
| they 3rd person plural | charizili | charizila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizomeiō | charizomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | charizoseiō | charizoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizoteiō | charizoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | charizoneiō | charizoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizoveiō | charizoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | charizoleiō | charizoleiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | charizeseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizeteia |
| we 1st person plural | charizeneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizeveia |
| they 3rd person plural | charizeleia |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | chariziseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | chariziteia |
| we 1st person plural | charizineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | chariziveia |
| they 3rd person plural | charizileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | charizosōr | charizosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizotōr | charizotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizovōr | charizovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | charizolōr | charizolēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | charizesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizevar1×χαρίσασθέ |
| they 3rd person plural | charizelar |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | charizisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizivar |
| they 3rd person plural | charizilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | charizosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | charizonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | charizoloiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | charizesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizetoia |
| we 1st person plural | charizenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | charizeloia |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | charizimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | charizisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | charizitoia |
| we 1st person plural | charizinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | charizivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | chariziloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | charizorō1×χαρίζεσθαί | charizorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | charizeri | charizera2×χαρίσασθαι | ||
| acted on passive voice | chariziri | charizira1×χαρισθῆναι |
Used as an adjective — participle, 4 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | charizorōntos2× | charizorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | charizerintos | charizerantos1×χαρισάμενος | ||
| acted on passive voice | charizirintos | charizirantos1× |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
chariz 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.
23 occurrences, every one of them listed
charizovō“forgive”happening now · yepresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person plural1×
2 Corinthians 2:10ho de tinem charizovō, kamis; kai gar mis hem charizomē, …If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And …
charizeti“freely give”will happen · he/she/itfuture middle indicative 3rd person singular1×
Romans 8:32… kai sun auto teim panteim ni charizeti?… He not also, along with Him, freely give us all things?
charizimi“restored”will happen · Ifuture passive indicative 1st person singular1×
Philemon 1:22… gar hoti dia taiu proseuchaiu vu charizimi vi.… through your prayers I will be restored to you.
charizeta“forgave”happened · he/she/itaorist middle indicative 3rd person singular6×
Luke 7:21… kai pneumeiu ponēreiu, kai tufloi polloi charizeta bleparō.… afflictions, and evil spirits, and He gave sight to many who were blind.
Luke 7:42“graciously forgave”mē echarōntoiu autoiu apodōara amfoteroi charizeta. tinos oun autoiu polloterem agapati auton?When they were unable to repay him, he forgave both of them. Which one, then, will love him more?”
Luke 7:43“forgave”… legata; Hupolabamō hoti ho tem polloterem charizeta. tos de legata auto; Orthōs krinasa.“I suppose the one who was forgiven more,” Simon replied. “You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
Ephesians 4:32… kathōs kai tos theos en Christo charizeta vi.… other just as in Christ God forgave you.
Philippians 2:9… kai tos theos auton huperupsata, kai charizeta auto tem onomem tem huper pantem …… Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names,
Colossians 3:13… echateiō momfan; kathōs kai tos kurios charizeta vi houtōs kai vis;… someone else. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.
charizita“granted”happened · he/she/itaorist passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Philippians 1:29hoti vi charizita tem huper Christou, ouk monon tem …For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ …
charizomē“forgiven”has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular2×
2 Corinthians 2:10… charizovō, kamis; kai gar mis hem charizomē, ei tinem charizomē, dia vin en …… forgive him. And if I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in …
2 Corinthians 2:10… gar mis hem charizomē, ei tinem charizomē, dia vin en prosōpe Christou,… I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven it in the presence of Christ …
charizotē“gave”has happened · he/she/itperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular2×
Acts 27:24… Kaisaro sin datō parastēara, kai idou charizotē si tos theos pantoin toin plarōntoin …… before Caesar. And look, God has granted you the lives of all who …
Galatians 3:18“gave”… epangeliau; to de Abraam dia epangeliau charizotē tos theos.… on a promise; but God freely granted it to Abraham through a promise.
charizevar“forgive”happened · yeaorist middle imperative 2nd person plural1×
2 Corinthians 12:13… hoti autos mis ouk katanarkama vu? charizevar mi tan adikian houtan.… was not a burden to you? Forgive me this wrong!
charizorō“hand over”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive1×
Acts 25:16“hand over”… apokrinima hoti ouk atō ethem Rōmaioi charizorō tinon anthrōpon prin ē tos katēgororōntos …… told them that it is not the Roman custom to hand a man over before he has …
charizera“forgive”happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive2×
Acts 25:11“give … up”… katēgoralō mu, oudenos min dunotō autoi charizera; Kaisaron epikalomō.… accusations against me, no one has the right to hand me over to them. I appeal to Caesar!”
2 Corinthians 2:7hōste tounantion mallon vin charizera kai parakalara, mē pōs ta perissotera …So instead, you ought to forgive and comfort him, so that he …
charizira“granted”happened · the “to …” formaorist passive infinitive1×
Acts 3:14“granted”… dikaion arneva kai aiteva andron fonevon charizira vi,… Holy and Righteous One and asked that a murderer be released to you.
charizorōntois“forgiving”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine2×
Ephesians 4:32genovōr eis allēloin chrēstois, eusplanchnois, charizorōntois heautoi kathōs kai tos theos en …… kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ …
Colossians 3:13“forgiving”anechorōntois allēloiu kai charizorōntois heautoi ean tinos pros tinon echateiō …Bear with one another and forgive any complaint you may have against someone else …
charizerantos“forgiven”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative singular masculine1×
Colossians 2:13“forgiven”… sarkau vu, suzōopoiata vin sun auto; charizerantos ni panteim teim paraptōmeim,… uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our trespasses,
chariziranteim“freely given”happened · objectaorist passive participle direct plural neuter1×
1 Corinthians 2:12… hina oidaneiē teim hupo tou theou chariziranteim ni;… we may understand what God has freely given us.