chairō · rejoice

What it means

chairō (χαίρω) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “rejoice”.

Be glad. As a greeting, "hail!" or "greetings!".

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. To feel joy and gladness about something.
2. What one says on meeting: literally "rejoice!".

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

To rejoice, be glad. In the imperative it served as a greeting (rejoice!), and at the opening of letters it was the formula of greeting. It is of the same root as χαρά (joy, G5479) and χάρις (grace, G5485).

• Rejoicing over something John 20:20Luke 15:5
• “Rejoice” as a command Matthew 5:12Philippians 4:41 Thessalonians 5:16
• A greeting on meeting someone Luke 1:28Mark 15:18
• A greeting at the opening of a letter Acts 15:23James 1:1

Historical and cultural background

Letters of the time opened with this verb, like the apostles' letter in Acts 15:23 or that of James (“greetings”).

How we translate it

“Rejoice” 36 times, “rejoicing” 10, “rejoiced” 7, “glad” 3. When it works as a greeting it is translated as a greeting: “Greetings” 6 (Luke 1:28) or “Hail” 3, because in that position the Greek does not command rejoicing but greets; in Matthew 27:29 it is the soldiers' mockery: “Hail, King of the Jews!”

How it is translated

The words this translation uses for it, most frequent first.

• rejoice ×36
• rejoicing ×10
• rejoiced ×7
• Greetings ×6
• Hail ×3
• I rejoiced ×3
• glad ×3
• they were glad ×2
• greet ×1
• greets ×1
• others ×2

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×6
• Mark×2
• Luke×12
• John×9
• Acts×7
• Romans×4
• 1 Corinthians×4
• 2 Corinthians×8
• Philippians×9
• Colossians×2
• 1 Thessalonians×2
• James×1
• 1 Peter×2
• 2 John×3
• 3 John×1
• Revelation×2

• Matthew 2:10

  And seeing the star, they rejoiced with a very great joy.

• Matthew 5:12

  Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven; for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

• Matthew 18:13

  And if it happens that he finds it, truly I tell you that he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that did not go astray.

• Matthew 26:49

  And at once coming up to Jesus, he said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and he kissed him.

• Matthew 27:29

  And after twisting a crown of thorns, they put it on his head, and put a reed in his right hand; and kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

• Matthew 28:9

  And look, Jesus met them, saying, “Greetings.” And they came up and took hold of his feet and bowed down before him.

• Mark 14:11

  And when they heard it, they were glad and promised to give him money. And he was seeking how he might conveniently hand him over.

• Mark 15:18

  And they began to salute him, “Hail, King of the Jews!”

• Luke 1:14

  And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth;

• Luke 1:28

  And coming in to her, he said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”

• Luke 6:23

  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for look, your reward is great in heaven; for their fathers used to do the same things to the prophets.

• Luke 10:20

  Yet do not rejoice in this, that the spirits submit to you; but rejoice that your names have been written in heaven.”

• Luke 13:17

  And as he said these things, all his opponents were put to shame, and all the crowd was rejoicing at all the glorious things being done by him.

• Luke 15:5

  And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.

• Luke 15:32

  But it was necessary to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life, and was lost and has been found.’”

• Luke 19:6

  And he hurried and came down and welcomed him rejoicing.

• Luke 19:37

  And as he was now drawing near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began rejoicing and praising God with a loud voice for all the miracles that they had seen,

• Luke 22:5

  And they were glad and agreed to give him money.

• Luke 23:8

  And when Herod saw Jesus he was very glad, for he had been wanting to see him for a long time, because he had heard about him, and he was hoping to see some sign done by him.

• John 3:29

  The one who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. So this joy of mine is complete.

• John 4:36

  the one who reaps is receiving wages and gathering fruit for eternal life, so that the one who sows and the one who reaps may rejoice together.

• John 8:56

  Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; and he saw it and was glad.”

• John 11:15

  and I am glad for your sake that I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

• John 14:28

  You heard that I said to you, ‘I am going away and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would have rejoiced that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I.

• John 16:20

  Truly, truly, I tell you, you will weep and lament, but the world will rejoice; you will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn into joy.

• John 16:22

  So you also have sorrow now; but I will see you again, and your heart will rejoice, and no one takes your joy from you.

• John 19:3

  and they kept coming up to him and saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they kept giving him slaps.

• John 20:20

  And having said this, he showed them his hands and his side. So the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

• Acts 5:41

  So they went from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they had been counted worthy to be dishonored for the Name.

• Acts 8:39

  And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched away Philip, and the eunuch did not see him anymore, for he went on his way rejoicing.

• Acts 11:23

  When he arrived and saw the grace of God, he rejoiced, and he was encouraging all to remain with the Lord with purpose of heart,

• Acts 13:48

  And when the nations heard this, they were rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed.

• Acts 15:23

  They wrote by their hand: “The apostles and the elders, your brothers, to the brothers throughout Antioch and Syria and Cilicia who are from the nations: greetings.

• Acts 15:31

  And when they read it, they rejoiced at the comfort.

• Acts 23:26

  “Claudius Lysias to the most excellent governor Felix: greetings.

• Romans 12:12

  in hope, rejoicing; in affliction, enduring; in prayer, persevering;

• Romans 12:15

  Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

• Romans 16:19

  For your obedience has reached all; so I rejoice over you; but I want you to be wise as to what is good and innocent as to what is evil.

• 1 Corinthians 7:30

  and those who weep as though they did not weep, and those who rejoice as though they did not rejoice, and those who buy as though they did not possess,

• 1 Corinthians 13:6

  it does not rejoice at unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth;

And 34 more times.