"pleasing show, charm; beauty, gracefulness; a pleasing circumstance, matter of approval, 1 Pet. 2:19, 20; kindly bearing, graciousness, Lk. 4:22; a beneficial opportunity, benefit, 2 Cor. 1:15; Eph. 4:29; a charitable act, generous gift, 1 Cor. 16:3; 2 Cor. 8:4, 6; an act of favo..."
Definition and meaning
pleasing show, charm; beauty, gracefulness; a pleasing circumstance, matter of approval, 1 Pet. 2:19, 20; kindly bearing, graciousness, Lk. 4:22; a beneficial opportunity, benefit, 2 Cor. 1:15; Eph. 4:29; a charitable act, generous gift, 1 Cor. 16:3; 2 Cor. 8:4, 6; an act of favor, Acts 25:3; favor, acceptance, Lk. 1:30, 52; Acts 2:47; 7:10, 46; free favor, free gift, grace, Jn. 1:14, 16, 17; Rom. 4:4, 16; 11:5, 6; Eph. 2:5, 8; 1 Pet. 3:7; free favor specially manifested by God towards man in the Gospel scheme, grace, Acts 15:11; Rom. 3:24; 5:15, 17, 20, 21; 6:1; 2 Cor. 4:15; a gracious provision, gracious scheme, grace, Rom. 6:14, 15; Heb. 2:9; 12:28; 13:9; gracious dealing from God, grace, Acts 14:26; 15:40; Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:4; 15:10; Gal. 1:15; a commission graciously devolved by God upon a human agent, Rom. 1:5; 12:3; 15:15; 1 Cor. 3:10; 2 Cor. 1:12; Gal. 2:9; Eph. 3:8; grace, graciously bestowed divine endowment or influence, Lk. 2:40; Acts 4:33; 11:23; Rom. 12:6; 2 Cor. 12:9; grace, Acts 11:43; Rom. 5:2; Gal. 5:4; 2 Pet. 3:18; an emotion correspondent to what is pleasing or kindly; sense of obligation, Lk. 17:9; a grateful frame of mind, 1 Cor. 10:30; thanks, Lk. 6:32, 33, 34; Rom. 6:17; 1 Cor. 15:57; χάριν or χάριτας καταθέσθαι, to oblige, gratify, Acts 24:27; 25:9
In the original Greek the word is written: χάρις
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of charis (G5485) across the King James Bible.
And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God.
And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.
And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?
For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.
And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.
Doth he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I trow not.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us,(and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
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Common questions
Strong's G5485 (charis) is a Greek word that means: pleasing show, charm; beauty, gracefulness; a pleasing circumstance, matter of approval, 1 Pet. 2:19, 20; kindly bearing, graciousness, Lk. 4:22; a beneficial opportunity, benefit, 2 Cor. 1:15; Eph. 4... It appears 145 times in the King James Bible.
The word charis (G5485) appears 145 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5485 is charis, a Greek word defined as: pleasing show, charm; beauty, gracefulness; a pleasing circumstance, matter of approval, 1 Pet. 2:19, 20; kindly bearing, graciousness, Lk. 4:22; a be. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
charis is a Greek word found in the New Testament.