"to laugh, smile; by impl. to be merry, happy, to rejoice, Lk. 6:21, 25*"
Definition and meaning
to laugh, smile; by impl. to be merry, happy, to rejoice, Lk. 6:21, 25*
In the original Greek the word is written: γελάω
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 gelao (G1070) across the King James Bible.
Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye that weep now: for ye shall laugh.
Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep.
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Common questions
Strong's G1070 (gelao) is a Greek word that means: to laugh, smile; by impl. to be merry, happy, to rejoice, Lk. 6:21, 25* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word gelao (G1070) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1070 is gelao, a Greek word defined as: to laugh, smile; by impl. to be merry, happy, to rejoice, Lk. 6:21, 25*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
gelao is a Greek word found in the New Testament.