χαριτόω (G5487) — Greek Lexicon

χαριτόω

charitóō

G5487 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To show favor or bestow grace upon, to endow with favor, to regard with esteem or special goodwill. The term primarily denotes the act of granting favor or showing graciousness, often in the sense of bestowing kindness or privilege, or making one esteemed or pleasing in the eyes of another. Contextually, it can also imply being made a recipient of beneficence or being treated with particular favor, especially by a figure of authority or the divine.

Semantic Range

to bestow favor, to grant grace, to honor or favor highly, to make acceptable, to endow with privilege or kindness, to show graciousness

Root / Etymology

From the root χάρις (charis), meaning 'grace', 'favor', or 'kindness', with the verbal suffix -όω, which forms causative or transitive verbs. Thus, χαριτόω means 'to make gracious,' 'to show favor,' or 'to endow with grace.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

χαριτόω is found primarily in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, most notably in the Christian literary context (e.g., Luke 1:28, Ephesians 1:6). In the Septuagint and extrabiblical sources, it appears rarely, and its usage typically carries the nuance of showing special favor or bestowing a status of acceptance or honor, particularly in relation to a deity's goodwill toward a person. In classical Greek, the root χάρις focused on personal charm or favor, but the verb form is uncommon in earlier periods. In New Testament Greek, the term especially emphasizes being the object of divine favor (notably of Mary in Luke 1:28; the participle κεχαριτωμένη, 'one endowed with grace/favor'). English translations often render this as 'highly favored' or 'accepted,' but these may not capture the fullness of being actively made the recipient of gracious favor. The verb differs from εὐδοκέω (to be well-pleased with) in emphasizing the act of endowment rather than mere approval.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from χάρις; to grace, i.e. indue with special honor:--make accepted, be highly favoured.

Root Family

χαριτόω (charitoō) — to show favor, to bestow grace, to endow with favor, to regard with goodwill

Root χαριτ- to show favor, to endow with grace, to regard with favor

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5487-02`	κεχαριτωμένη	kecharitomene	`V PRF PASS PTCP VOC F SG`	favored one	having been endowed with favor	having been endowed with favor	1
`G5487-01`	ἐχαρίτωσεν	echaritosen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he freely bestowed	he bestowed favor	he bestowed favor	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5487-02`	Luke 1:28	κεχαριτωμένη	kecharitomene	`V PRF PASS PTCP VOC F SG`	favored one	having been endowed with favor	having been endowed with favor
`G5487-01`	Ephesians 1:6	ἐχαρίτωσεν	echaritosen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he freely bestowed	he bestowed favor	he bestowed favor

← G5486 Greek Lexicon G5488 →