Word Study for G2292 (θαῤῥέω)

tharrhéō /thar-hreh'-o/ Ask about this word

Meaninganother form for θαρσέω; to exercise courage

KJV usagebe bold, X boldly, have confidence, be confident. Compare τολμάω.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of tharrhéō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word tharrhéō, represented by G2292, means to exercise courage and is often translated as to be bold or have confidence. It appears 6 times in 6 unique verses, highlighting a specific type of assurance rooted in faith. The word's definition notes a comparison to G5111 tolmáō, suggesting a subjective feeling of courage.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G2292 describes a confidence that stems from one's relationship with God and others. Paul uses the term to express his confidence in the Corinthian believers, which is a source of his joy 2 Corinthians 7:16. He also speaks of a boldness he possesses in his apostolic role, even while appealing with meekness 2 Corinthians 10:1-2. The word's most profound use relates to eternal hope, where believers are described as being confident and willing to be "absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5:8. This confidence allows one to boldly declare that the Lord is their helper, nullifying the fear of man Hebrews 13:6.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help clarify the nature of this confidence:

G5111 tolmáō (to venture, be courageous): This word for being bold is used alongside G2292 in 2 Corinthians 10:2, where Paul speaks of the confidence that makes him think "to be bold" against certain people, suggesting that the inner state of confidence (tharrhéō) enables the outward act of daring (tolmáō).
G5399 phobéō (to be afraid, fear): This word is presented as a direct contrast. Because the Lord is a helper, believers can be bold and not fear what man can do Hebrews 13:6.
G4006 pepoíthēsis (reliance, confidence, trust): This noun form appears with G2292 to specify the source of boldness. Paul states he can "be bold" with a certain confidence 2 Corinthians 10:2.
G1553 ekdēméō (be absent) and G1736 endēméō (be at home): This pair provides the context for the believer's confidence, which is a certainty about being absent from the body and at home with the Lord (2 Corinthians 5:6, 2 Corinthians 5:8).

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G2292 centers on the source and effect of Christian courage.

Confidence in God's Help: The ability to "be bold" is not self-generated but comes from the assurance that "The Lord is my helper" G998, as stated in Hebrews 13:6. This divine assistance is the foundation of a believer's courage.
Assurance Over Fear: A primary theme is the victory of this God-given confidence over fear. The boldness of G2292 directly counters the state of being afraid (phobéō), empowering a believer's testimony Hebrews 13:6.
Eternal Hope: The word is used to describe the believer's firm assurance regarding death. It is a confidence that transforms the departure from earthly life into a desirable event—being "present with the Lord" 2 Corinthians 5:8.
Relational Confidence: The term also functions within the church community. Paul's joy is linked to the confidence he has in other believers 2 Corinthians 7:16, and his apostolic authority includes a readiness to "be bold" when necessary 2 Corinthians 10:2.

Summary

In summary, G2292 is more than simple bravery; it is a profound confidence that arises from faith in God's presence and promises. It enables believers to overcome fear, to relate to one another in trust, and to face eternity with a joyful and willing assurance. This courage is a defining characteristic of a life lived in reliance on the Lord as the ultimate helper.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 6 occurrences, inflected in 5 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Indicative 1st Singular 2×
Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
Present Active Indicative 1st Plural 1×
Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
1st: First person — the speaker ("I"/"we").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Related Words

Other entries the study above points to — each one is drawn from a reference it makes. Follow the trail to see how the words connect.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 6 verses across 2 of the 27 books. Most frequent in 2 Corinthians (5 verses); never once in the other 25.

2 Corinthians

Hebrews

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.