The Greek word euthyméō, represented by G2114, is a term for being cheerful or of good cheer. It appears 4 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. The word's base definition is to cheer up or, intransitively, to be cheerful.
In scripture, G2114 is used to call for cheerfulness, particularly in the face of difficult circumstances. Amid a perilous voyage, Paul exhorts his companions to be of good cheer Acts 27:22, basing this encouragement on his faith that God would preserve their lives as promised Acts 27:25. The term is also used in James, where being merry is presented as the direct opposite of being afflicted. The appropriate response to being afflicted is to pray, while the response to being merry is to sing psalms James 5:13.
Several related words help clarify the context and meaning of G2114:
- G2553 kakopathéō (to undergo hardship): This word for being afflicted is presented as the direct opposite of being merry in James 5:13, where each state is given a corresponding spiritual action.
- G3867 parainéō (to exhort): This is the action Paul takes before urging his shipmates to be of good cheer, showing that cheerfulness can be a result of godly encouragement Acts 27:22.
- G4100 pisteúō (to believe): The call to be of good cheer in Acts is founded upon belief. Paul states his reason for cheerfulness is because he believes God's promise Acts 27:25.
- G4336 proseúchomai (to pray): In James, this is the prescribed action for one who is afflicted, in contrast to the response for one who is merry James 5:13.
- G5567 psállō (to sing psalms): This is the prescribed outward expression for one who is merry James 5:13, connecting cheerfulness to worship.
The theological weight of G2114 is demonstrated in its application.
- Cheerfulness as a Response to Faith: The use of G2114 in Acts demonstrates that being of good cheer can be an act of faith. Paul's exhortation is not based on the visible circumstances of the storm but on his belief in God's promise (Acts 27:22, Acts 27:25).
- An Expression of Worship: James connects being merry directly to an act of worship: to sing psalms G5567. This frames cheerfulness not merely as a mood, but as a state that should lead to praising God James 5:13.
- A Counterpart to Hardship: By contrasting being merry with being afflicted G2553, the term highlights two fundamental spiritual states. One state leads to prayer, the other to praise, showing a spiritually appropriate response for different life situations James 5:13.
In summary, G2114 defines a state of being cheerful or merry. It is more than a simple emotion; scripture presents it as a conscious response rooted in faith during trials Acts 27:25 and as a condition that naturally leads to worship through song James 5:13. By its contrast with affliction, the word underscores the believer's call to direct their heart toward God in all circumstances, whether through prayer in suffering or praise in joy.
TRV