ἀγαλλίασις
exultation, exhilaration
Definition
ἀγαλλίασις refers to a profound, overflowing joy that is often expressed outwardly. It describes an ecstatic delight or exultation, typically rooted in a spiritual cause, such as God's salvation or presence. In Luke 1:14 and 1:44, it denotes the great joy surrounding the births of John the Baptist and Jesus. In Hebrews 1:9 and Jude 24, it is associated with the joy of God Himself or the joy of believers in His presence. Acts 2:46 shows it as the gladness of the early church in fellowship.
Biblical Usage
This word appears five times in the New Testament, primarily in contexts of divinely inspired celebration. In Luke's Gospel (Luke 1:14, 44), it describes the jubilation at the fulfillment of God's promises through miraculous births. In Acts 2:46, it characterizes the joyful unity of the first believers. The usage in Hebrews 1:9 (quoting Psalm 45:7) and Jude 24 connects this joy directly to God's character and the ultimate salvation of the faithful.
Etymology
Derived from the verb ἀγαλλιάω (agalliaō, G21), meaning 'to rejoice exceedingly.' The noun form intensifies the sense of exultation. It is related to words expressing leaping or skipping for joy, conveying a physical, unrestrained expression of gladness.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it describes a joy that originates from God's actions and character. It is not mere happiness but a deep, Spirit-empowered exultation in salvation (Luke 1:14, 44), Christian community (Acts 2:46), and eschatological hope (Jude 24). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical joy is often a communal, celebratory response to God's work.
In the Greco-Roman world, public festivals and religious ceremonies involved exuberant celebration. ἀγαλλίασις captures this cultural concept of outward, communal joy, but the New Testament uniquely anchors it in the monotheistic worship of Yahweh and the events of the Christian gospel.
χαρά (chara, G5479) — a more general term for joy or gladness, often internal. εὐφροσύνη (euphrosynē, G2167) — mirth, cheerfulness, often in festive contexts. ἀγαλλιάω (agalliaō, G21) — the verbal form, 'to rejoice greatly.'
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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