μακαρίζω
makarízō
G3106 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To declare or consider someone blessed, fortunate, or happy; to express the judgment or acknowledgment that a person is in an especially favorable or enviable state, often due to divine favor or commendable circumstance. The term may range from straightforwardly pronouncing someone as blessed to expressing praise for their good fortune or envied status.
Semantic Range
to pronounce blessed, to call fortunate, to express admiration for someone's enviable position, to praise as specially favored, to count or consider happy
Root / Etymology
From the adjective μακάριος (makários, 'blessed, fortunate, happy'), formed with the verb-forming suffix -ίζω. The root μακάρ- appears in earlier Greek as well, referring to a state of happiness or blessedness, sometimes with divine associations.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, μακαρίζω is found in poets like Pindar, where it means to call someone blessed or fortunate, often with reference to the gods or those who have been especially favored. In the Septuagint, the verb frequently translates Hebrew ('ashrei or baruch) expressions for blessedness—sometimes used for those who experience God's favor, or those praised for upright conduct. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts where someone is declared fortunate (e.g., Luke 1:48), recognizing perceived divine favor. The English translation 'call blessed' or 'count happy' captures part of its meaning but sometimes fails to convey the communal or public recognition aspect, as the verb often involves not only internal assessment but also public acknowledgment or praise. The term does not entail the act of 'making blessed' (i.e., causing someone to be blessed), but rather the pronouncement or recognition of an already-existing state. Contrasts with related terms such as εὐλογέω, which focuses more on 'speaking well of' or 'bestowing blessing,' and lacks the explicit sense of happiness or fortune inherent in μακαρίζω. The semantic overlap with 'happy' is contextual and should not always be equated with a purely emotional state; it pertains more to being considered enviable or in a privileged position, especially in relation to divine favor.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from μακάριος; to beatify, i.e. pronounce (or esteem) fortunate:--call blessed, count happy.
Root Family
μακαρίζω (makarizō) — to declare blessed, to consider fortunate, to esteem as enviably happy
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3106-02 |
μακαρίζομεν | makarizomen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
we count blessed | we declare blessed | 1 |
G3106-01 |
μακαριοῦσίν | makariousin | V FUT ACT IND 3P PL |
will count ... blessed | they will declare blessed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3106-01 |
Luke 1:48 | μακαριοῦσίν | makariousin | V FUT ACT IND 3P PL |
will count ... blessed | they will declare blessed |
G3106-02 |
James 5:11 | μακαρίζομεν | makarizomen | V PRS ACT IND 1P PL |
we count blessed | we declare blessed |