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θαρσέω

tharséō

G2293 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To be confident, to have courage, to be bold or of good heart. The primary lexical meaning is to possess or express inner courage or emotional resolve, often in the face of difficulty, danger, or distress. Contextually, it may also convey encouragement, reassurance, or comfort—urging oneself or others to face adversity with a positive, steadfast spirit.

Semantic Range

to have courage, to take heart, to be bold, to be confident, to act with emotional resolve, to be (or make someone) unafraid, to encourage or embolden, to comfort in the face of fear or difficulty

Root / Etymology

Formed from the noun θάρσος ('courage, confidence, boldness'), with the verbal ending -έω, indicating the action or state of possessing or expressing courage. Related to the verb θαρρέω (G2292), which shares the core idea of courage and confidence.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, θαρσέω can describe both the internal state of courage and the expression of that courage in action or reassurance. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, as in the New Testament and the Septuagint, it often appears as an imperative directed toward individuals experiencing fear, distress, or uncertainty—frequently rendered as encouragement ('take heart,' 'be courageous'). While many English translations use 'be of good cheer,' this can mask the word's underlying sense of moral and psychological fortitude rather than mere happiness. In the New Testament (e.g., Matthew 9:2, Mark 6:50, John 16:33), it is spoken by authority figures (notably Jesus) to calm or embolden others, highlighting not just emotional comfort but an exhortation towards resilient courage under pressure. Comparatively, θαρσέω and θαρρέω are near synonyms and largely interchangeable in Koine, though will sometimes overlap in meaning. There is minimal distinction in NT usage. Earlier classical usage may focus more on the inner state, while Koine frequently uses it for exhortation. The meaning generally remains stable across the LXX and NT, and does not necessarily signal a shift in religious or philosophical sense.

Translation Consistency

primary "take heart" 0 occurrences

Tharseó primarily means to muster or express inner courage and to urge or reassure someone to be courageous. The idiom “take heart” closely matches that core sense in natural English (covers both “be of good courage” and exhortations like “take heart!”) and works naturally in imperative and narrative contexts better than more formal alternatives like “be confident” or the transitive “encourage.”

Alternatives (7 occurrences):
"courageous" (4x) "take heart, all of you" (3x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from θάρσος; to have courage:--be of good cheer (comfort). Compare θαῤῥέω.

Root Family

θαρσέω (tharseō) — to have courage, to be confident, to be bold

Root θαρσ- to have courage, to be confident, to be bold

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2293-01 θάρσει tharsei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Take courage Be courageous Be courageous 4
G2293-02 θαρσεῖτε tharseite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL Be of good cheer Be courageous Take heart, all of you. 3

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2293-01 Matthew 9:2 θάρσει tharsei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Take courage Be courageous Be courageous
G2293-01 Matthew 9:22 θάρσει tharsei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Take courage Be courageous Be courageous
G2293-02 Matthew 14:27 θαρσεῖτε tharseite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL Take courage Be courageous Take heart, all of you.
G2293-02 Mark 6:50 θαρσεῖτε tharseite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL Be of good cheer Be courageous Take heart, all of you.
G2293-01 Mark 10:49 θάρσει tharsei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Take courage Be courageous Be courageous
G2293-02 John 16:33 θαρσεῖτε tharseite V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL take courage Be courageous Take heart, all of you.
G2293-01 Acts 23:11 θάρσει tharsei V PRS ACT IMP 2P SG Take courage Be courageous Be courageous
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