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εὐχαριστία

eucharistía

G2169 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Expression of gratitude, thankfulness, or appreciation; specifically, an act or attitude of giving thanks, often directed toward a deity. In religious contexts, especially within the New Testament, denotes verbal thanksgiving in prayer or worship; can also refer to a prayer of thanksgiving or the practice of giving thanks as part of communal or individual devotion.

Semantic Range

thankfulness, gratitude, giving of thanks, expression of thanks (especially in prayer), act of thanksgiving, prayer of thanksgiving, attitude of thankfulness, sometimes (in later usage) the ritual meal characterized by thanksgiving

Root / Etymology

From the adjective εὐχάριστος (grateful, thankful), itself formed from εὖ ('well, good') and χάρις ('favor, grace, gratitude'). The noun εὐχαριστία thus denotes the quality or expression of thankfulness or giving thanks. Cognate with other Greek terms denoting thanks or grace, such as χάρισμα and εὐχαριστῶ (to give thanks).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, εὐχαριστία generally indicates a broader attitude of thankfulness or gratitude, both toward deities and persons. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in Jewish and early Christian texts, the term becomes specialized for acts of thanksgiving in prayer, often directed toward God. In the Septuagint, εὐχαριστία frequently translates Hebrew terms for thanksgiving or praise, particularly in ritual contexts. In New Testament usage, it commonly refers to prayers of thanksgiving, especially in relation to meals or worship. In some early Christian literature (post-NT), εὐχαριστία comes to denote not merely thanksgiving, but the ritual meal (the Lord's Supper) characterized by thanksgiving prayers; however, this specific liturgical meaning is post-New Testament and should not be presumed in first-century writings without clear context. English translations such as 'thanksgiving,' 'thanks,' or 'giving thanks' generally correspond, but do not always capture the formal or communal aspect implied in certain contexts.

Translation Consistency

primary "thanksgiving" 14 occurrences

εὐχαριστία in the New Testament typically denotes the act or practice of giving thanks, often in prayer or worship. "Thanksgiving" captures both the verbal/ritual sense (prayer of thanks, communal giving of thanks) and the general attitude of thankfulness, is the most common rendering in the P2 data, and reads naturally in English liturgical and narrative contexts.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"thankfulness" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from εὐχάριστος; gratitude; actively, grateful language (to God, as an act of worship):--thankfulness, (giving of) thanks(-giving).

Root Family

εὐχαριστία (eucharistia) — thankfulness, gratitude, giving of thanks, expression of thanks

Root εὐχαριστ- to give thanks, to be grateful

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2169-01 εὐχαριστίᾳ eucharistia N DAT F SG thanksgiving in thanksgiving in thanksgiving 5
G2169-03 εὐχαριστίας eucharistias N GEN F SG thanksgiving of thanksgiving of thanksgiving 5
G2169-02 εὐχαριστίαν eucharistian N ACC F SG thanks thanksgiving thanksgiving 4
G2169-04 εὐχαριστιῶν eucharistion N GEN F PL thanksgivings of acts of thanksgiving acts of thanksgiving 1

Occurrences in Scripture

15 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2169-03 Acts 24:3 εὐχαριστίας eucharistias N GEN F SG thankfulness of thanksgiving thankfulness
G2169-01 1 Corinthians 14:16 εὐχαριστίᾳ eucharistia N DAT F SG giving of thanks in thanksgiving in thanksgiving
G2169-02 2 Corinthians 4:15 εὐχαριστίαν eucharistian N ACC F SG thanksgiving thanksgiving thanksgiving
G2169-02 2 Corinthians 9:11 εὐχαριστίαν eucharistian N ACC F SG thanksgiving thanksgiving thanksgiving
G2169-04 2 Corinthians 9:12 εὐχαριστιῶν eucharistion N GEN F PL thanksgivings of acts of thanksgiving acts of thanksgiving
G2169-01 Ephesians 5:4 εὐχαριστία eucharistia N NOM F SG thanksgiving in thanksgiving in thanksgiving
G2169-03 Philippians 4:6 εὐχαριστίας eucharistias N GEN F SG thanksgiving of thanksgiving of thanksgiving
G2169-01 Colossians 2:7 εὐχαριστίᾳ eucharistia N DAT F SG thanksgiving in thanksgiving in thanksgiving
G2169-01 Colossians 4:2 εὐχαριστίᾳ eucharistia N DAT F SG thanksgiving in thanksgiving in thanksgiving
G2169-02 1 Thessalonians 3:9 εὐχαριστίαν eucharistian N ACC F SG thanks thanksgiving thanksgiving
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