"a glorying, boasting, 1 Cor. 5:6; a ground or matter of glorying or boasting, Rom. 4:2; joy, exultation, Phil. 1:26; complimentary testimony, 1 Cor. 9:15, 16; 2 Cor. 9:3"
Definition and meaning
a glorying, boasting, 1 Cor. 5:6; a ground or matter of glorying or boasting, Rom. 4:2; joy, exultation, Phil. 1:26; complimentary testimony, 1 Cor. 9:15, 16; 2 Cor. 9:3
In the original Greek the word is written: καύχημα
Historical context
Paul wrote Romans from Corinth, one of the most important commercial cities in the empire. Rome had a Jewish population of around 50,000. The letter addresses real tensions between Jewish believers with centuries of Torah tradition and Gentile believers with no such background. Emperor Nero was on the throne. Within ten years he would execute both Paul and Peter.
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 kauchema (G2745) across the King James Bible.
For if Abraham were justified by works, he hath whereof to glory; but not before God.
Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?
But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
As also ye have acknowledged us in part, that we are your rejoicing, even as ye also are ours in the day of the Lord Jesus.
For we commend not ourselves again unto you, but give you occasion to glory on our behalf, that ye may have somewhat to answer them which glory in appearance, and not in heart.
Yet have I sent the brethren, lest our boasting of you should be in vain in this behalf; that, as I said, ye may be ready:
But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.
That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
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Common questions
Strong's G2745 (kauchema) is a Greek word that means: a glorying, boasting, 1 Cor. 5:6; a ground or matter of glorying or boasting, Rom. 4:2; joy, exultation, Phil. 1:26; complimentary testimony, 1 Cor. 9:15, 16; 2 Cor. 9:3 It appears 11 times in the King James Bible.
The word kauchema (G2745) appears 11 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2745 is kauchema, a Greek word defined as: a glorying, boasting, 1 Cor. 5:6; a ground or matter of glorying or boasting, Rom. 4:2; joy, exultation, Phil. 1:26; complimentary testimony, 1 Cor. 9. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kauchema is a Greek word found in the New Testament.