Topical Encyclopedia
The concept of being cheerful is woven throughout the Bible, often associated with joy, gratitude, and a positive disposition that reflects trust in God. In the Scriptures, cheerfulness is not merely an emotional state but a reflection of one's faith and relationship with God.
Old Testament ReferencesIn the Old Testament, cheerfulness is often linked with joy and gladness, which are seen as gifts from God.
Proverbs 15:13 states, "A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit." Here, a cheerful demeanor is portrayed as a natural outcome of inner joy, which is contrasted with the heaviness of a sorrowful heart.
The Psalms frequently express themes of joy and gladness in the presence of God.
Psalm 100:2 encourages worshipers to "Serve the LORD with gladness; come into His presence with joyful songs." This verse highlights the importance of approaching God with a cheerful heart, reflecting gratitude and reverence.
New Testament TeachingsIn the New Testament, cheerfulness is closely associated with the Christian virtues of generosity and love. The Apostle Paul, in his second letter to the Corinthians, emphasizes the value of a cheerful giver: "Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not out of regret or compulsion. For God loves a cheerful giver" (
2 Corinthians 9:7). This passage underscores the importance of giving willingly and joyfully, as an expression of faith and trust in God's provision.
Cheerfulness is also linked to the believer's attitude in trials and tribulations.
James 1:2-3 encourages believers to "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, when you encounter trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance." Here, cheerfulness is not a denial of hardship but a recognition of God's purpose and presence in the midst of challenges.
Theological ImplicationsFrom a theological perspective, cheerfulness is seen as a fruit of the Spirit, reflecting the inner transformation that occurs through a relationship with Christ.
Galatians 5:22-23 lists joy as a fruit of the Spirit, indicating that a cheerful heart is a result of the Holy Spirit's work in a believer's life.
Cheerfulness is also an expression of hope and trust in God's promises.
Romans 15:13 offers a benediction of joy and peace: "Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." This verse connects cheerfulness with the hope that comes from faith in God's faithfulness and future promises.
Practical ApplicationIn practical terms, Christians are encouraged to cultivate a cheerful heart through prayer, worship, and fellowship with other believers.
Philippians 4:4 exhorts, "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" This command to rejoice is a call to maintain a cheerful spirit, regardless of circumstances, by focusing on the goodness and sovereignty of God.
Cheerfulness, therefore, is not merely a fleeting emotion but a steadfast attitude rooted in the assurance of God's love and the hope of eternal life. It is a testimony to the world of the transformative power of the Gospel and the joy that comes from living in communion with God.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
a.) Having or showing good spirits or joy; cheering; cheery; contented; happy; joyful; lively; animated; willing.
Greek
2431. hilaros -- cheerful ... cheerful. Part of Speech: Adjective Transliteration: hilaros Phonetic Spelling:
(hil-ar-os') Short Definition: joyous,
cheerful Definition: joyous,
cheerful ... //strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2431.htm - 6k2115. euthumos -- of good cheer
... good cheer. Part of Speech: Adjective; Adverb, Comparative Transliteration: euthumos
Phonetic Spelling: (yoo'-thoo-mos) Short Definition: cheerful, having good ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2115.htm - 6k
2114. euthumeo -- to be of good cheer
... to be of good cheer. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: euthumeo Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-thoo-meh'-o) Short Definition: I am cheerful Definition: I keep up ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2114.htm - 7k
5281. hupomone -- a remaining behind, a patient enduring
... enduring, patience, steadfast. From hupomeno; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance,
constancy -- enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/5281.htm - 7k
2432. hilarotes -- cheerfulness
... Cognate: 2432 (a noun, derived from 2431 , "already won over, approving") -- "cheerful
readiness" (J. Thayer), ie the attitude that is ready to respond from a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2432.htm - 6k
2436. hileos -- propitious
... Perhaps from the alternate form of haireomai; cheerful (as attractive), ie Propitious;
adverbially (by Hebraism) God be gracious!, ie (in averting some calamity ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/2436.htm - 7k
Strong's Hebrew
2896. towb -- pleasant, agreeable, good... Definition: beautiful. beautiful, best, better, bountiful,
cheerful, at ease,
fair word, be in favor, From towb; good (as an adjective
... /hebrew/2896.htm - 6k 5107. nub -- to bear fruit
... root Definition to bear fruit NASB Word Usage flourish (1), flows (1), increase
(1), yield fruit (1). bring forth fruit, make cheerful, increase. ...
/hebrew/5107.htm - 6k
1082. balag -- to gleam, smile
... 1081, 1082. balag. 1083 . to gleam, smile. Transliteration: balag Phonetic
Spelling: (baw-lag') Short Definition: cheerful. Word Origin a prim. ...
/hebrew/1082.htm - 6k
3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... 1), glad (1), go well (6), goes well (1), good (1), good (2), good that i do (1),
good reason (3), happy (1), joyful (1), make (1), makes a cheerful (1), makes ...
/hebrew/3190.htm - 7k
5102. nahar -- to flow, stream
... A primitive root; to sparkle, ie (figuratively) be cheerful; hence (from the sheen
of a running stream) to flow, ie (figuratively) assemble -- flow (together ...
/hebrew/5102.htm - 5k
7797. sus -- to exult, rejoice
... be glad, greatly, joy, make mirth, rejoice. Or siys {sece}; a primitive root; to
be bright, ie Cheerful -- be glad, X greatly, joy, make mirth, rejoice. ...
/hebrew/7797.htm - 6k
6670. tsahal -- to neigh, cry shrilly
... bellow, cry aloud out, lift up, neigh, rejoice, make to shine, shout A prim
root; to gleam, ie (figuratively) be cheerful; by transf. ...
/hebrew/6670.htm - 5k
2896a. tob -- pleasant, agreeable, good
... pleasant, agreeable, good NASB Word Usage beautiful (11), beneficial (1), best
(7), better (75), better a good (1), charming* (1), cheerful (3), choice (2 ...
/hebrew/2896a.htm - 6k
1319. basar -- to bear tidings
... A primitive root; properly, to be fresh, ie Full (rosy, (figuratively) cheerful);
to announce (glad news) -- messenger, preach, publish, shew forth, (bear ...
/hebrew/1319.htm - 6k
1308. Besor -- a stream in Palestine
... NASB Word Usage Besor (3). Besor. From basar; cheerful; Besor, a stream of Palestine --
Besor. see HEBREW basar. 1307b, 1308. Besor. 1309 . Strong's Numbers
/hebrew/1308.htm - 6k
Library
SM *Watts. Cheerful Worship.
... I. PUBLIC WORSHIP. 3. SM *Watts. Cheerful Worship. 1 Come, ye who love
the Lord! And let your joys be known; Join in a song with ...
/.../various/book of hymns for public and private devotion/3 s m watts cheerful.htm
Hail the Morn! Let Praises Cheerful
... CHRISTMAS II Hail the morn! Let praises cheerful. 8,7,8,3. Hail the morn!
Let praises cheerful. Scatter night and brooding fear; ...
/.../brownlie/hymns of the russian church/ii hail the morn let.htm
"Come Let us Join Our Cheerful Songs. "
... Nuhguhmoowin 18. CM "Come let us join our cheerful songs.". Nuh qua uh
muh wah dah nig suh Ish pe ming a yah jig; Kuh ke nuh moo ...
/.../nuhguhmoowin 18 c m come.htm
Psalm 50:6. To the Old Proper Tune. The Last Judgment.
... spread, Thro' distant worlds, and regions of the dead: The trumpet sounds; hell
trembles; heaven rejoices; Lift up your heads, ye saints, with cheerful voices. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watts/the psalms of david/psalm 50 6 0 to the old.htm
Psalm 50 the Last Judgment.
... The trumpet sounds; hell trembles; heav'n rejoices. Lift up your heads, ye saints,
with cheerful voices. ... When Christ returns, wake every cheerful passion. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/psalm 50 the last judgment.htm
What the Redbird Told Me
... and the winter winds, of the bird's uncertain supply of food, of his many enemies,
and considered that, in spite of all this, he could be so cheerful and gay ...
//christianbookshelf.org/naylor/heart talks/talk seventeen what the redbird.htm
The Christian Urged To, and Assisted In, an Express Act of Self ...
... 1. The advantages of such a surrender are briefly suggested." 2, 3, 4. Advice for
the manner of doing it; that it be deliberate, cheerful, entire, perpetual ...
/.../chapter xvii the christian urged.htm
The Ancestral Home
... "First. In my father's old age was to be seen the beauty of a cheerful spirit.
I never remember to have heard him make a gloomy expression. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/fagg/forty years in south china/i the ancestral home.htm
Grace
... told them,"You are quite right in thinking that grace comes from heaven, and is
God's gift; that it is God who makes people amiable, cheerful, lovely, and ...
/.../kingsley/all saints day and other sermons/sermon xx grace.htm
Joy, a Duty
... That is the meaning of the precept, that we should be cheerful; more than that,
that we should be thankful; more than that, that we should rejoice. ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 41 1895/joy a duty.htm
Thesaurus
Cheerful (13 Occurrences)... willing. Multi-Version Concordance
Cheerful (13 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians
5:6 We have therefore a
cheerful confidence. We know
.../c/cheerful.htm - 10kCheer (22 Occurrences)
... 6. (vt) To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; -- often with up. ... 9.
(vi) To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; -- usually with up. 10. ...
/c/cheer.htm - 16k
Reluctantly (2 Occurrences)
... "It is a cheerful giver that God loves." (WEY RSV NIV). 1 Peter 5:2 Be
shepherds of God's flock which is among you. Exercise the ...
/r/reluctantly.htm - 7k
Medicine (4 Occurrences)
... half of the verse. In any case the meaning is that a cheerful disposition
is a powerful remedial agent. In the figurative account ...
/m/medicine.htm - 11k
Brighten (3 Occurrences)
... 3. (v.) To improve or relieve by dispelling gloom or removing that which obscures
and darkens; to shed light upon; to make cheerful; as, to brighten one's ...
/b/brighten.htm - 7k
Banished (19 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (imp. & pp) of Banish. Multi-Version Concordance Banished
(19 Occurrences). 2 Corinthians 5:6 We have therefore a cheerful confidence. ...
/b/banished.htm - 12k
Cheerfully (4 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (adv.) In a cheerful manner, gladly. Multi-Version
Concordance Cheerfully (4 Occurrences). Acts 24:10 When ...
/c/cheerfully.htm - 7k
Confidence (103 Occurrences)
... 2 Corinthians 3:4 Such confidence we have through Christ toward God; (WEB WEY ASV
DBY NAS RSV NIV). 2 Corinthians 5:6 We have therefore a cheerful confidence. ...
/c/confidence.htm - 39k
Merry (38 Occurrences)
... 2. (superl.) Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy. ... Proverbs 15:13 A merry heart maketh
a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. ...
/m/merry.htm - 18k
Countenance (67 Occurrences)
... Samuel 14:27 Daniel 1:15); in 1 Samuel 16:12, literally, "fair of eyes"; "comely"
(Songs 2:14); "beautiful" (to'ar, 1 Samuel 25:3); "cheerful" (panim, Proverbs ...
/c/countenance.htm - 30k
Resources
How can I become a more cheerful giver? | GotQuestions.orgDoes the Bible support Communism? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is “The Secret”? What is the law of attraction? | GotQuestions.orgCheerful: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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