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μακάριος

makários

G3107 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Root μακ- fortunate, flourishing, in a privileged state

Definition

Experiencing a state of well-being or flourishing; denoting those who are considered fortunate, privileged, or favored, especially in the sense of receiving or possessing benefits or positive conditions (physical, social, spiritual, or emotional). In various contexts, denotes individuals or groups for whom things are going especially well, either in this life or in a transcendent sense. The word often signifies an objective status rather than a subjective feeling of happiness.

Semantic Range

fortunate, favored, experiencing well-being, in a state of flourishing, fortunate (sometimes with connotations of divine approval or happiness), blessed (in the sense of being regarded as well-off or privileged), happy (less commonly, as a feeling or subjective state)

Root / Etymology

From the root μακ- ('length, greatness') combined with the adjectival ending -άριος, originally conveying the idea of 'large, great fortune.' Closely related to the poetic/epic Greek μάκαρ (makar, 'blessed, happy'), which was used of the gods and the extremely fortunate among humans. Septuagint usage may derive from Hebrew אַשְׁרֵי (ashrei, 'fortunate, happy').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μακάριος described the happiness and prosperity of the gods (the 'blessed ones'), often in contrast to the limitations of mortal life. In Hellenistic and later periods, including the Septuagint and New Testament, it broadens to describe any person in a state of true well-being, either earthly or spiritual. In the Beatitudes (e.g., Matthew 5), μακάριος refers to those who are considered truly well-off or fortunate from the divine perspective, sometimes paradoxically (i.e., 'blessed are the poor'). The term is not limited to subjective experiences of happiness but denotes an objective state, frequently in connection with divine favor. Standard English translations such as 'blessed' and 'happy' capture some, but not all, of the nuance; 'fortunate' or 'privileged' also convey aspects of the word. The choice of translation can obscure the original sense that sometimes denotes flourishing even amid adverse circumstances, as the word's focus is often on describing how a person is viewed or regarded (by God or community), not merely how they feel.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a prolonged form of the poetical (meaning the same); supremely blest; by extension, fortunate, well off:-- blessed, happy(X -ier).

Root Family

μακάριος (makarios) — fortunate, flourishing, in a privileged state

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G31085 more-blessed (feminine nominative singular)

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G3107-04 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL Blessed fortunate ones 26
G3107-06 μακάριός makarios ADJ.P NOM M SG blessed fortunate one 16
G3107-05 μακάριόν makarion ADJ.P NOM N SG blessed fortunate (neuter singular) 2
G3107-01 μακαρία makaria ADJ.P NOM F SG blessed fortunate (feminine singular) 2
G3107-03 μακαρίαν makarian ADJ.A ACC F SG blessed fortunate (feminine singular accusative) 1
G3107-07 μακαρίου makariou ADJ.A GEN M SG blessed of a fortunate one 1
G3107-02 μακάριαι makariai ADJ.P NOM F PL blessed fortunate women 1

Occurrences in Scripture

49 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G3107-04 Matthew 5:3 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:4 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:5 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:6 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:7 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:8 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:9 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:10 μακάριοι makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-04 Matthew 5:11 μακάριοί makarioi ADJ.P NOM M PL fortunate ones
G3107-06 Matthew 11:6 μακάριός makarios ADJ.P NOM M SG fortunate one
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