verb
kauchomō
Strong’sG2744
I boast, glory
stem kauch-36 times in the New Testamentin 7 of 27 books17 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
καυχάομαι means to boast or glory, to take pride in and speak proudly about something 1234. In the biblical usage this boasting is not always negative; it can express joyous exultation, a confident rejoicing over something rather than mere arrogance 1. The word is used both absolutely (simply "to boast") and with an object or phrase specifying what is being boasted of or in — for example boasting "in" a person, in God, in the Lord, or in Christ, as well as boasting about, over, concerning, or on behalf of someone or something 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
καυχάομαι, -ῶμαι,
[in LXX for הלל hith., etc.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G2744 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidkow-khah'-om-ahee
to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense)
Fromfrom some (obsolete) base akin to that of αὐχέω (to boast) and G2172;
King James(make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice.
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
Doric dialect καυχέομαι Refs 3rd c.BC+; 2nd pers. singular καυχᾶσαι in late Gr., as NT: future -ήσομαι Refs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἐκαυχησάμην Refs 4th c.BC+; Aeolic dialect optative καυχάσαιτο Refs 7th c.BC+: perfect κεκαύχημαι NT:—active, Refs:— speak loud, be loud-tongued, κ. παρὰ καιρόν Refs 5th c.BC+, cf. Eup.[same place], etc.; boast, vaunt oneself, ἐπ᾽ αἰζηοῖσι κ. μέγα Refs 5th c.BC+ [same place]; ἔν τινι NT.Rom.[same places]: c.accusative et infinitive, aorist or present, boast that.., Refs 5th c.BC+ [same place], etc.: with participle, boast of doing or being, Refs 4th c.BC+; ὅτι.. Refs 1st c.BC+: with accusative, boast of, NT+4th c.BC+
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| kauchomōκαυχῶμαι | happening now · Ipresent middle or passive indicative 1st person singular | boast | 1× |
| kauchosōκαυχᾶσαι | happening now · youpresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person singular | boast | 3× |
| kauchonōκαυχώμεθα | happening now · wepresent middle or passive indicative 1st person plural | rejoice | 2× |
| kauchovōκαυχᾶσθε | happening now · yepresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person plural | boast | 1× |
| kaucholōκαυχῶνται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | boast | 2× |
| kauchemiκαυχήσομαι | will happen · Ifuture middle indicative 1st person singular | boast | 5× |
| kaucheniκαυχησόμεθα | will happen · wefuture middle indicative 1st person plural | boast | 1× |
| kauchomēκεκαύχημαι | has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular | boasted | 1× |
| kauchemeiaκαυχήσωμαι | happened · Iaorist middle subjunctive 1st person singular | boast | 2× |
| kaucheteiaκαυχήσηται | happened · he/she/itaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person singular | boast | 2× |
| kaucheleiaκαυχήσωνται | happened · theyaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person plural | boast | 1× |
| kauchotōrκαυχάσθω | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person singular | boast | 4× |
| kauchorōκαυχᾶσθαι | happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive | boast | 3× |
| kaucheraκαυχήσασθαι | happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive | boast | 2× |
| kauchorōntosκαυχώμενος | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | boasts | 2× |
| kauchorōntoisκαυχώμενοι | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | boast | 3× |
| kauchorōntoinκαυχωμένους | happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine | boast | 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 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 16 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 | kauchomō1×καυχῶμαι | kauchome | kauchomē1×κεκαύχημαι | kauchomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | kauchosō3×καυχᾶσαι | kauchose | kauchosē | kauchoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kauchotō | kauchote | kauchotē | kauchotelē |
| we 1st person plural | kauchonō2×καυχώμεθα | kauchone | kauchonē | kauchonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kauchovō1×καυχᾶσθε | kauchove | kauchovē | kauchovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | kaucholō2×καυχῶνται | kauchole | kaucholē | kaucholelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kauchemi5×καυχήσομαι | kauchema |
| you 2nd person singular | kauchesi | kauchesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kaucheti | kaucheta |
| we 1st person plural | kaucheni1×καυχησόμεθα | kauchena |
| ye 2nd person plural | kauchevi | kaucheva |
| they 3rd person plural | kaucheli | kauchela |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 5 occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kauchomeiō | kauchomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | kauchoseiō | kauchoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kauchoteiō | kauchoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | kauchoneiō | kauchoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | kauchoveiō | kauchoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | kaucholeiō | kaucholeiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kauchemeia2×καυχήσωμαι |
| you 2nd person singular | kaucheseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kaucheteia2×καυχήσηται |
| we 1st person plural | kaucheneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kaucheveia |
| they 3rd person plural | kaucheleia1×καυχήσωνται |
Commands — imperative mood, 4 occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kauchosōr | kauchosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kauchotōr4×καυχάσθω | kauchotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | kauchovōr | kauchovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | kaucholōr | kaucholēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | kauchesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kauchetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | kauchevar |
| they 3rd person plural | kauchelar |
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 | kauchomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | kauchosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kauchotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | kauchonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | kauchovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | kaucholoiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | kauchemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | kauchesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | kauchetoia |
| we 1st person plural | kauchenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | kauchevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | kaucheloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, 5 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 | kauchorō3×καυχᾶσθαι | kauchorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | kaucheri | kauchera2×καυχήσασθαι |
Used as an adjective — participle, 6 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 | kauchorōntos6×καυχώμενος | kauchorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | kaucherintos | kaucherantos |
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
kauch 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.
36 occurrences, every one of them listed
kauchomō“boast”happening now · Ipresent middle or passive indicative 1st person singular1×
2 Corinthians 9:2“boast”… tan prothumian vu han huper vu kauchomō Makedonoi hoti Achaias paraskeuazotē apo perusin, …… boasting to the Macedonians that since last year you in Achaia were prepared to give. And your zeal has …
kauchosō“boast”happening now · youpresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person singular3×
Romans 2:17… Ioudaios eponomazosō kai epanapauosō nomo kai kauchosō en theo… you rely on the law and boast in God;
Romans 2:23hos en nomo kauchosō, dia tau parabasiau tou nomou ton …You who boast in the law, do you dishonor …
1 Corinthians 4:7… labasa? ei de kai labasa, tinem kauchosō hōs mē labarantos?… did receive it, why do you boast as though you did not?
kauchonō“rejoice”happening now · wepresent middle or passive indicative 1st person plural2×
Romans 5:2… charitan houtan en ha stēanē, kai kauchonō epi elpida tau doxau tou theou;… in which we stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory …
Romans 5:3ouk monem de, alla kai kauchonō en tai thlipsiai, oidarēntois hoti tas …Not only that, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know …
kauchovō“boast”happening now · yepresent middle or passive indicative 2nd person plural1×
James 4:16nun de kauchovō en tai alazoneiai vu; pantas kauchēsias …As it is, you boast in your proud intentions. All such …
kaucholō“boast”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural2×
2 Corinthians 11:12“boast about”… toiu thelarōntoiu aforman, hina en he kaucholō heuriskileia kathōs kai nis.… to undercut those who want an opportunity to be regarded as our equals in the things …
2 Corinthians 11:18“boast”epei pollois kaucholō kata sarkan, kamis kauchemi.Since many are boasting according to the flesh, I too will boast.
kauchemi“boast”will happen · Ifuture middle indicative 1st person singular5×
2 Corinthians 11:18epei pollois kaucholō kata sarkan, kamis kauchemi.… to the flesh, I too will boast.
2 Corinthians 11:30… kauchorō datō, teim tau astheniau mu kauchemi.If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my …
2 Corinthians 12:5huper tou toioutou kauchemi, huper de miautou ouk kauchemi ei …I will boast about such a man, but I …
2 Corinthians 12:5… toioutou kauchemi, huper de miautou ouk kauchemi ei mē en tai astheniai.… a man, but I will not boast about myself, except in my weaknesses.
2 Corinthians 12:9… en asthenia telotō. hēdisteim oun mallon kauchemi en tai astheniai mu, hina episkēnateia …… perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my …
kaucheni“boast”will happen · wefuture middle indicative 1st person plural1×
2 Corinthians 10:13nis de ouk eis teim ametreim kaucheni, alla kata tem metrem tou kanonou …We, however, will not boast beyond our limits, but only within …
kauchomē“boasted”has happened · Iperfect middle or passive indicative 1st person singular1×
2 Corinthians 7:14hoti ei tinem auto huper vu kauchomē, ouk kataischunima, alla hōs panteim en …… not embarrassed by anything I had boasted to him about you. But just …
kauchemeia“boast”happened · Iaorist middle subjunctive 1st person singular2×
2 Corinthians 10:8ean tē gar perissoterem tinem kauchemeia peri tau exousiau nu, hau dōata …For even if I boast somewhat excessively about the authority the …
2 Corinthians 11:16… dechevar min, hina kamis mikrem tinem kauchemeia;… fool, so that I too may boast a little.
kaucheteia“boast”happened · he/she/itaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
1 Corinthians 1:29hopōs mē kaucheteia pantas sarkas enōpion tou theou.so that no one may boast in His presence.
Ephesians 2:9ouk ek ergeiu, hina mē tinos kaucheteia.… works, so that no one can boast.
kaucheleia“boast”happened · theyaorist middle subjunctive 3rd person plural1×
Galatians 6:13… peritemorō hina en ta humetera sarka kaucheleia.… to be circumcised that they may boast in your flesh.
kauchotōr“boast”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive imperative 3rd person singular4×
1 Corinthians 1:31… kathōs grafotē; Tos kauchorōntos en kurio kauchotōr.… is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
1 Corinthians 3:21“boast”hōste mēdenos kauchotōr en anthrōpoi; panteim gar vu atō,… stop boasting in men. All things are yours,
2 Corinthians 10:17Tos de kauchorōntos en kurio kauchotōr;Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
James 1:9“boast”Kauchotōr de tos adelfos tos tapeinos en …The brother in humble circumstances …
kauchorō“boast”happening now · the “to …” formpresent middle or passive infinitive3×
2 Corinthians 11:30Ei kauchorō datō, teim tau astheniau mu kauchemi.If I must boast, I will boast of the things …
2 Corinthians 12:1Kauchorō datō; ouk sumferarōntem men, erchemi de …I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to gain …
Galatians 6:14mi de mē genetoia kauchorō ei mē en to stauro tou …… as for me, may I never boast, except in the cross of our …
kauchera“boast”happened · the “to …” formaorist middle infinitive2×
2 Corinthians 10:16“boast”… en allotrio kanono eis teim hetoimeim kauchera.… be boasting in the work already done in another man’s territory.
2 Corinthians 12:6ean gar thelameia kauchera, ouk emi afronos, alētheian gar legami; …Even if I wanted to boast, I would not be a fool …
kauchorōntos“boasts”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine2×
1 Corinthians 1:31hina kathōs grafotē; Tos kauchorōntos en kurio kauchotōr.… it is written: “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
2 Corinthians 10:17Tos de kauchorōntos en kurio kauchotōr;Rather, “Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.”
kauchorōntois“boast”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine3×
Romans 5:11ouk monem de, alla kai kauchorōntois en to theo dia tou kuriou …Not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus …
2 Corinthians 10:15“boasting”ouk eis teim ametreim kauchorōntois en allotrioi kopoi, elpidan de echarōntois …… our limits in the labors of others. But we hope that as …
Philippians 3:3“boast”… peritomas, tois pneume theou latreuarōntois kai kauchorōntois en Christo Iēso kai ouk en …… are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh —
kauchorōntoin“boast”happening now · objectpresent middle or passive participle accusative plural masculine1×
2 Corinthians 5:12“boast”… hina echaveiō pros toin en prosōpe kauchorōntoin kai mē en kardia.… of us, so that you can answer those who take pride in appearances rather than in the heart.