Greek word · G2115

εὔθυμος

euthymos

cheerful

From eu ('well, good') + thymos ('spirit, heart, strong feeling'). It means 'in good spirits, cheerful, courageous, hopeful'. Greek writers use it for the steady confidence of someone who has decided things will turn out well, not for passing amusement.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

εὔ-θυμος, -ον

[in LXX: 2Ma.11:26 * ;]

1. kind (Hom.).

2. of good cheer (Æsch., al.): Acts 27:36.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 27:36

Range of meaning

From eu ('well, good') + thymos ('spirit, heart, strong feeling'). It means 'in good spirits, cheerful, courageous, hopeful'. Greek writers use it for the steady confidence of someone who has decided things will turn out well, not for passing amusement. The related verb euthymeō means 'to take heart, be of good courage'.

Against the English

KJV 'of good cheer' and WEB 'cheered up' can sound like mood or merriment to a modern ear. BSB and other modern versions use 'encouraged', which is closer to the sense of courage coming back after despair.

How it drifted

'Cheer' once meant one's face or bearing and so one's spirits ('be of good cheer' = keep your courage up). Today it leans toward festivity, which is lighter than the Greek.

Used elsewhere in the period

The word group is rare in the Greek New Testament: the verb appears in Acts 27:22, 25 and James 5:13, and the adverb euthymōs in Acts 24:10. In Greek literature it is common for calm confidence or good courage (Xenophon, Plutarch). In the papyri it shows up in letters reassuring family members.

Similar words

Where it appears

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 24:10 εὐθύμως encouraging

    When the governor motioned for Paul to speak, he began his response: “Knowing that you have been a judge over this nation for many years, I gladly make my defense.

  2. Acts 27:36 εὔθυμοι Encouraged

    They were all encouraged and took some food themselves.

    Here: Literally 'good-hearted': their courage and will to live came back. It is the first word of the sentence for emphasis, and it picks up Paul's repeated call to 'take heart' (euthymein) in 27:22 and 27:25. His appeal has now worked.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.