χαίρω

From the study of 2 Corinthians 13:11

Range of meaning

To rejoice or be glad. In the imperative or infinitive it is also the standard Greek greeting, "hail / hello," and the parting word, "farewell."

Against the English

KJV and NRSV have "farewell"; BSB, WEB, ESV and NIV have "rejoice." Each English word catches one half of a word that held both.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek letters normally begin with chairein ("greetings"), as in Acts 15:23 and Jas 1:1. Chaire/chairete was used for greeting and for parting in everyday speech (e.g. Matt 28:9). Paul uses "rejoice" as a command elsewhere (Phil 3:1; 4:4; 1 Thess 5:16), and Phil 3:1 has the same pairing "loipon… chairete."

From the study of 2 Corinthians 6:10

Range of meaning

To be glad, rejoice, take delight. As an imperative or infinitive it is the standard greeting ("Hail!", "Greetings!"). It belongs to the same word family as χάρα (joy) and χάρις (grace, favour).

Against the English

"Rejoicing" is accurate, though in English it can sound like a festive or church word. The Greek is ordinary gladness, used every day.

Used elsewhere in the period

Letter greetings: χαίρειν, "greetings" (Acts 15:23; James 1:1; countless papyrus letters). Paul pairs joy with affliction repeatedly: 2 Cor 7:4 ("I overflow with joy in all our affliction"), Phil 4:4, 1 Thess 1:6 ("in much affliction, with joy").

From the study of James 1:1

Range of meaning

The verb chairō means to rejoice, be glad. The infinitive chairein was the standard opening of Greek letters, 'A to B, chairein', meaning roughly 'greetings' or 'joy to you'. As a spoken greeting, chaire meant 'hail!'.

Against the English

'Greetings' is accurate as convention. It loses the literal 'rejoice', which James plays on in the very next word: chairein … pasan charan, 'Greetings … count it all joy' (1:2). YLT's 'Hail!' keeps something of the verb's force.

Used elsewhere in the period

Thousands of papyrus letters; 1 Macc 10:18, 25; 2 Macc 1:10. In the New Testament it appears as a letter opening only here, in Acts 23:26 (a Roman officer's letter), and in Acts 15:23, the Jerusalem council's letter to gentile believers, which follows a speech by James (Acts 15:13–21). Paul's letters use charis, 'grace', instead.