← G5485 G5487 →

χάρισμα

chárisma

G5486 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A gift, favor, or benefit freely given or bestowed, most often referring to a special endowment, capability, or empowerment conferred as an act of generosity or grace, especially by a deity. In New Testament contexts, most frequently denotes a spiritual gift or special ability granted by God for the benefit of the community or individual, rather than an earned reward or natural talent.

Semantic Range

a graciously given gift, favor, benefit; special endowment or empowerment; spiritual gift or capability; result of an act of grace or kindness

Root / Etymology

From the Greek noun χάρις (charis, 'grace, favor') with the suffix -μα (-ma) indicating the result or object of an action. χάρισμα thus means 'that which is given as an act of grace' or 'the result of favor'. It is a formation in post-classical Greek, not attested in classical Greek prior to the Hellenistic period.

Historical & Contextual Notes

χάρισμα is rare or unattested in classical Greek, appearing first in Hellenistic Greek and developed further in Jewish and early Christian writings. In the Septuagint, it is scarcely used, while in the New Testament it appears most notably in Paul's letters, where it refers to special abilities, ministries, or roles given by God through the Spirit for the edification of the community. While English translations often use 'gift' or 'spiritual gift', these may not fully capture the sense of an act of unearned favor. The term is distinct from δῶρον (doron, 'gift' as a present or offering) in that χάρισμα stresses the gracious or gratuitous nature of the gift, and not merely the object itself. Over time, χάρισμα came to denote spiritual gifts or charisms within Christian theological vocabulary, but in the New Testament, its usage is closely tied to the experience of divine generosity and empowerment rather than inherent ability or moral virtue. Later tradition often renders χάρισμα as 'gift' or, in religious contexts, 'charism', though these terms may not always convey its original emphasis on unmerited favor.

Translation Consistency

primary "gift" 16 occurrences

χάρισμα most often denotes a freely given benefit or special endowment (especially a spiritual endowment). "Gift" is the natural, common English noun that covers both general favors and the NT sense of spiritual/charismatic endowments, is widely used in English translations, and avoids theological ambiguity that words like "grace" or "favor" can introduce.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"grace-gifts" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from χαρίζομαι; a (divine) gratuity, i.e. deliverance (from danger or passion); (specially), a (spiritual) endowment, i.e. (subjectively) religious qualification, or (objectively) miraculous faculty:--(free) gift.

Root Family

χάρισμα (charisma) — grace, favor, gracious gift, bestowed endowment

Root χαρι(ν)- favor, grace, to grant graciously

Word Forms

5 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5486-01 χάρισμα charisma N ACC N SG gift gracious gift gracious gift 8
G5486-02 χαρίσματα charismata N NOM N PL gifts gracious gifts gracious gifts 6
G5486-05 χαρίσματος charismatos N GEN N SG gift of a gracious gift of a gracious gift 1
G5486-04 χαρισμάτων charismaton N GEN N PL of gifts of grace-gifts of grace-gifts 1
G5486-03 χαρίσματι charismati N DAT N SG gift to a gracious gift a gracious gift 1

Occurrences in Scripture

17 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5486-01 Romans 1:11 χάρισμα charisma N ACC N SG gift gracious gift gracious gift
G5486-01 Romans 5:15 χάρισμα charisma N NOM N SG free gift gracious gift gracious gift
G5486-01 Romans 5:16 χάρισμα charisma N NOM N SG free gift gracious gift gracious gift
G5486-01 Romans 6:23 χάρισμα charisma N NOM N SG gift gracious gift gracious gift
G5486-02 Romans 11:29 χαρίσματα charismata N NOM N PL gifts gracious gifts gracious gifts
G5486-02 Romans 12:6 χαρίσματα charismata N ACC N PL gifts gracious gifts gracious gifts
G5486-03 1 Corinthians 1:7 χαρίσματι charismati N DAT N SG gift to a gracious gift a gracious gift
G5486-01 1 Corinthians 7:7 χάρισμα charisma N ACC N SG gift gracious gift gracious gift
G5486-04 1 Corinthians 12:4 χαρισμάτων charismaton N GEN N PL of gifts of grace-gifts of grace-gifts
G5486-02 1 Corinthians 12:9 χαρίσματα charismata N NOM N PL gifts gracious gifts gracious gifts
← G5485 Greek Lexicon G5487 →