"useful, profitable; good, agreeable, Lk. 5:39; easy, as a yoke, Mt. 11:30; gentle, benign, kind, obliging, gracious, Lk. 6:35; Eph. 4:32; Rom. 2:4; 1 Pet. 2:3; good in character, disposition, etc., virtuous, 1 Cor. 15:33*"
Definition and meaning
useful, profitable; good, agreeable, Lk. 5:39; easy, as a yoke, Mt. 11:30; gentle, benign, kind, obliging, gracious, Lk. 6:35; Eph. 4:32; Rom. 2:4; 1 Pet. 2:3; good in character, disposition, etc., virtuous, 1 Cor. 15:33*
In the original Greek the word is written: χρηστός
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
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 chrestos (G5543) across the King James Bible.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.
No man also having drunk old wine straightway desireth new: for he saith, The old is better.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance?
Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.
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Common questions
Strong's G5543 (chrestos) is a Greek word that means: useful, profitable; good, agreeable, Lk. 5:39; easy, as a yoke, Mt. 11:30; gentle, benign, kind, obliging, gracious, Lk. 6:35; Eph. 4:32; Rom. 2:4; 1 Pet. 2:3; good in character, disposition, etc., vi... It appears 7 times in the King James Bible.
The word chrestos (G5543) appears 7 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5543 is chrestos, a Greek word defined as: useful, profitable; good, agreeable, Lk. 5:39; easy, as a yoke, Mt. 11:30; gentle, benign, kind, obliging, gracious, Lk. 6:35; Eph. 4:32; Rom. 2:4; 1 . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chrestos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.