Bible Dictionaries
Rejoice

Vine's Expository Dictionary of NT Words

"to rejoice," is most frequently so translated. As to this verb, the following are grounds and occasions for "rejoicing," on the part of believers: in the Lord, Philippians 3:1; 4:4; His incarnation, Luke 1:14; His power, Luke 13:17; His presence with the Father, John 14:28; His presence with them, John 16:22; 20:20; His ultimate triumph, John 8:56; hearing the gospel, Acts 13:48; their salvation, Acts 8:39; receiving the Lord, Luke 19:6; their enrollment in Heaven, Luke 10:20; their liberty in Christ, Acts 15:31; their hope, Romans 12:12 (cp. Romans 5:2; Revelation 19:7 ); their prospect of reward, Matthew 5:12; the obedience and godly conduct of fellow believers, Romans 16:19 , RV, "I rejoice" (AV, "I am glad"); 2 Corinthians 7:7,9; 13:9; Colossians 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 John 1:4; 3 John 1:3; the proclamation of Christ, Philippians 1:18; the gospel harvest, John 4:36; suffering with Christ, Acts 5:41; 1 Peter 4:13; suffering in the cause of the gospel, 2 Corinthians 13:9 (1st part); Philippians 2:17 (1st part); Colossians 1:24; in persecutions, trials and afflictions, Matthew 5:12; Luke 6:23; 2 Corinthians 6:10; the manifestation of grace, Acts 11:23; meeting with fellow believers, 1 Corinthians 16:17 , RV, "I rejoice;" Philippians 2:28; receiving tokens of love and fellowship, Philippians 4:10; the "rejoicing" of others, Romans 12:15; 2 Corinthians 7:13; learning of the well-being of others, 2 Corinthians 7:16 . See FAREWELL , GLAD , GREETING , etc.

"to rejoice with" (sun, and No. 1), is used of "rejoicing" together in the recovery of what was lost, Luke 15:6,9; in suffering in the cause of the gospel, Philippians 2:17 (2nd part),18; in the joy of another, Luke 1:58; in the honor of fellow believers, 1 Corinthians 12:26; in the triumph of the truth, 1 Corinthians 13:6 , RV, "rejoiceth with."

"to rejoice greatly, to exult," is used, (I) in the Active Voice, of "rejoicing" in God, Luke 1:47; in faith in Christ, 1 Peter 1:8 , RV (Middle Voice in some mss.), "ye rejoice greatly;" in the event of the marriage of the Lamb, Revelation 19:7 , "be exceeding glad," RV; (II) in the Middle Voice, (a) of "rejoicing" in persecutions, Matthew 5:12 (2nd part); in the light of testimony for God, John 5:35; in salvation received through the gospel, Acts 16:34 , "he rejoiced greatly," RV; in salvation ready to be revealed, 1 Peter 1:6; at the revelation of His glory, 1 Peter 4:13 , "with exceeding joy," lit., "ye may rejoice (see No. 1) exulting;" (b) of Christ's "rejoicing" (greatly) "in the Holy Spirit," Luke 10:21 , RV; said of His praise, as foretold in Psalm 16:9 , quoted in Acts 2:26 (which follows the Sept., "My tongue"); (c) of Abraham's "rejoicing," by faith, to see Christ's day, John 8:56 .

in the Active Voice, "to cheer, gladden" (eu, "well," phren, "the mind"), signifies in the Passive Voice "to rejoice, make merry;" it is translated "to rejoice" in Acts 2:26 , RV, "was glad," AV, "did ... rejoice," of the heart of Christ as foretold in Psalm 16:9 [cp. No. 3, II (b)]; in Acts 7:41 , of Israel's idolatry; in Romans 15:10 (quoted from the Sept. of Deuteronomy 32:43 , where it is a command to the Gentiles to "rejoice" with the Jews in their future deliverance by Christ from all their foes, at the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom) the Apostle applies it to the effects of the gospel; in Galatians 4:27 (touching the barrenness of Sarah as referred to in Isaiah 54:1 , and there pointing to the ultimate restoration of Israel to God's favor, cp. Isaiah 51:2 ), the word is applied to the effects of the gospel, in that the progeny of grace would greatly exceed the number of those who had acknowledged allegiance to the Law; grace and faith are fruitful, law and works are barren as a means of salvation; in Revelation 12:12 , it is used in a call to the heavens to "rejoice" at the casting out of Satan and the inauguration of the Kingdom of God in manifestation and the authority of His Christ; in Revelation 18:20 , of a call to heaven, saints, apostles, prophets, to "rejoice" in the destruction of Babylon. See GLAD , No. 3, MERRY, No. 1.

"to boast, to glory," is rendered "to rejoice," (a) Romans 5:2 , in hope of the glory of God; (b) Romans 5:3 , RV (AV "glory"), in tribulation; (c) Romans 5:11 , RV (AV, "we joy"), in God; (d) Philippians 3:3 , RV, "glory" (AV, "rejoice") in Christ Jesus; (e) James 1:9 (RV, "glory," AV, "rejoice"), the brother of low degree in his high estate; the rich brother in being made low; (f) James 4:16 , of evil glorying. See GLORY (to boast).

Notes: (1) In James 2:13 , AV, katakauchaomai, "to glory, boast against," is translated "rejoiceth against" (RV, "glorieth against"). See GLORY (to boast), A, No. 2. (2) The nouns kauchema, kauchesis, signifying "glorying, boasting," are always so rendered in the RV, where the AV has "rejoicing," the former in 2 Corinthians 1:14; Galatians 6:4; Philippians 1:26; 2:16; Hebrews 3:6; the latter in 1 Corinthians 15:31; 2 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Thessalonians 2:19; James 4:16 . See GLORY , B, Nos. 1 and 2.