Topical Encyclopedia
The term "merry" in the Bible often conveys a sense of joy, gladness, and festivity. It is associated with a state of happiness and contentment, frequently in the context of celebration or divine blessing. The concept of being merry is woven throughout Scripture, reflecting both the human experience of joy and the spiritual joy found in God's presence.
Old Testament UsageIn the Old Testament, the Hebrew word often translated as "merry" is "שָׂמֵחַ" (sameach), which means joyful or glad. One of the notable instances is found in the context of feasting and celebration. For example, in
1 Samuel 25:36, we read about Nabal, who "was holding a feast in his house, like the feast of a king. And Nabal’s heart was merry within him, for he was very drunk." Here, merriment is associated with a festive occasion, though it also serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of excess.
The book of Ecclesiastes also touches on the theme of merriment, often juxtaposing it with the vanity of earthly pleasures.
Ecclesiastes 8:15 states, "So I commended the enjoyment of life, because there is nothing better for a man under the sun than to eat and drink and be merry. For this will accompany him in his labor during the days of his life that God gives him under the sun." This verse highlights the transient nature of earthly joy while acknowledging its place in human life.
New Testament UsageIn the New Testament, the Greek word "εὐφραίνω" (euphrainō) is often used to convey the idea of being merry or joyful. A well-known passage is the parable of the prodigal son in
Luke 15:23-24, where the father says, "Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let us eat and be merry. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." Here, merriment is a response to reconciliation and restoration, symbolizing the joy of salvation and forgiveness.
The New Testament also warns against a superficial or misplaced merriment. In
James 5:5, the apostle admonishes those who live in luxury and self-indulgence: "You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened your hearts in the day of slaughter." This serves as a reminder that true joy and merriment should be rooted in righteousness and the things of God.
Spiritual SignificanceFrom a spiritual perspective, true merriment is found in the presence of the Lord.
Psalm 16:11 declares, "You make known to me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore." This verse underscores the belief that ultimate joy and contentment are found in a relationship with God.
The Bible also encourages believers to find joy in their salvation and in the community of faith.
Romans 14:17 states, "For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking, but of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." This highlights the spiritual dimension of merriment, which transcends mere earthly pleasures and is rooted in the work of the Holy Spirit.
In summary, the concept of being merry in the Bible encompasses both the joy found in everyday life and the deeper, spiritual joy that comes from knowing and serving God. It serves as a reminder of the blessings of life, the joy of salvation, and the ultimate fulfillment found in God's presence.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
superl.) Laughingly gay; overflowing with good humor and good spirits; jovial; inclined to laughter or play ; sportive.
2. (superl.) Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy.
3. (superl.) Causing laughter, mirth, gladness, or delight; as, / merry jest.
4. (n.) A kind of wild red cherry.
Greek
2165. euphraino -- to cheer, makemerry... to cheer, make
merry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: euphraino Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-frah'-ee-no) Short Definition: I cheer, am glad, make
merry...2167. euphrosune -- gladness
... faith (cf. Phil 2:2-5 with 1 Jn 4:17). 2167 ("amerry outlook") brings
Spirit-defined as we with a inner sense triumph. The believer...
2431. hilaros -- cheerful
... cheerful. From the same as hileos; propitious ormerry ("hilarious"), ie Prompt
or willing -- cheerful. see GREEK hileos. (ilaron) -- 1 Occurrence. 2430, 2431...
2114. euthumeo -- to be of good cheer
... be of good cheer. From euthumos; to cheer up, ie (intransitively) be cheerful; neuter
comparative (adverbially) more cheerfully -- be of good cheer (merry)....
Strong's Hebrew
8056. sameach -- glad, joyful,merry... glad, joyful,
merry. Transliteration: sameach Phonetic Spelling: (saw-may'-akh)
Short Definition: joyful.
... be glad, joyful, making
merry-hearted, rejoicing.
...8055. samach -- rejoice, be glad
... 2), make them joyful (1), make us glad (1), make glad (2), makes a glad (2), makes
his glad (1), makes it glad (1), makes...glad (1), makes...merry (1),merry...
7832. sachaq -- to laugh
... deride, have in derision, laugh, makemerry, mocker, play, rejoice, laugh to
scorn,. A primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction...
3820. leb -- inner man, mind, will, heart
... 1), heart (396), heart's (2), hearts (40), Himself (1), himself (6), imagination
(1), inspiration (2), intelligence (1), kindly (5), life (1),merry-hearted* (1...
1974. hillul -- a rejoicing, praise
...merry, praise. From halal (in the sense of rejoicing); a celebration of thanksgiving
for harvest --merry, praise. see HEBREW halal. 1973, 1974. hillul. 1975...
7937. shakar -- to be or become drunk or drunken
... be filled with drink abundantly, be, make drunken, bemerry. A primitive
root; to become tipsy; in a qualified sense, to satiate...
3190. yatab -- to be good, well, glad, or pleasing
... 1), good (1), good (2), good that i do (1), good reason (3), happy (1), joyful
(1), make (1), makes a cheerful (1), makes...acceptable (1),merry (3), pleasant...
2896. towb -- pleasant, agreeable, good
... fair (word), (be in) favour, fine, glad, good (deed, -lier, -liest, -ly, -ness,
-s), graciously, joyful, kindly, kindness, liketh (best), loving,merry, X most...
2895. tob -- to be pleasing or good
... Definition to be pleasing or good NASB Word Usage any (1), did well (2), done well
(1), fair (1), go well (1), good (1), good (5), high (1),merry (3), please...
2416. chay -- alive, living
... age, alive, appetite, (wild) beast, company, congregation, life(-time), live(-ly),
living (creature, thing), maintenance, +merry, multitude, + (be) old, quick...
Library
April 8. "AMerry Heart Doeth Good Like a Medicine" (Prov. xvii....
... APRIL 8. "Amerry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Prov. xvii. 22). "A
merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22)....
Thus You See I Can MakeMerry with Calamities
... THE THIRD CENTURY 48 Thus you see I can makemerry with calamities. Thus
you see I can makemerry with calamities, and while I grieve...
1872-1874. Letter from Rev. AMW Christopher --Letter from Gulf of...
... Lawrence-Mrs. Birt's Sheltering Home, Liverpool"Letter to Mrs.Merry"Letter from
Canada"Miss Macpherson's return to England" Letter of cheer for Dr...
The Prodigal Son.
... and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring
hither the fatted calf, and kill it: and let us eat, and bemerry: for this my...
A Lament
... Themerry merry lark was up and singing, And the hare was out and feeding on the
lea; And themerry merry bells below were ringing, When my child's laugh rang...
The Prodigal Son.
... robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet: and
bring the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and makemerry: for this my...
And There came unto Him Publicans and Sinners to Hear his Word. .....
... it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and put on him shoes on his feet: [1835]
and bring and [25] slay a fatted ox, that we may eat and makemerry: [1836] for...
Chapter ii.
... For he flees from those who sorrow. "And to mirth, What doest thou?" Why dost
thou repair to those who are not at liberty to bemerry?...
But Let us Come to These Two Commentaries which He Alone Excepts...
... And first of all, as to these poor weak women about whom he makes himselfmerry,
because they say that after the resurrection they will not have their frail...
God's Love Even for Sinners
... And bring the fatted calf, kill it, and let us eat and bemerry; for this son of
mine was dead but has come back to life, he was lost but has been found.' So...
Thesaurus
Merry (38 Occurrences)... 2. (superl.) Cheerful; joyous; not sad; happy. 3. (superl.) Causing laughter, mirth,
gladness, or delight; as, /
merry jest.
...Merry (38 Occurrences).
...Merry-hearted (1 Occurrence)
Merry-hearted. Merryhearted,Merry-hearted. Merrymakers . Multi-Version
ConcordanceMerry-hearted (1 Occurrence). Isaiah 24:7 The new wine mourns....
Fare (13 Occurrences)
... The Greek is euphrainomai, "bemerry," and occurs 14 times in the New Testament,
10 in a good sense (Luke 15:23, 14, 29, 32, all referring to themerry-making...
Merrymakers (3 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Merrymakers (3 Occurrences). Isaiah 24:7 The new wine
faileth, the vine fadeth; all themerry-hearted do sigh. (See NIV)....
Drank (70 Occurrences)
... They drank, and weremerry with him.... Ruth 3:7 And Boaz ate and drank, and his heart
wasmerry, and he went to lie down at the end of the heap of corn....
Joke (1 Occurrence)
... 3. (vt) To makemerry with; to make jokes upon; to rally; to banter; as,
to joke a comrade. 4. (vi) To do something for sport, or...
Lady's (8 Occurrences)
... ate, and drank, both of them together: and the young lady's father said to the man,
"Please be pleased to stay all night, and let your heart bemerry." (WEB)....
Ease (46 Occurrences)
... take thine ease, eat, drink, bemerry" (Luke 12:19). Walter G. Clippinger.... Take your
ease, eat, drink, bemerry."' (WEB KJV WEY ASV WBS NAS RSV)....
Damsel's (8 Occurrences)
... eat and drink both of them together: for the damsel's father had said unto the man,
Be content, I pray thee, and tarry all night, and let thine heart bemerry....
Cheer (22 Occurrences)
... Cheerful occurs in Proverbs 15:13, 15 (the King James Version "merry"); Zechariah
8:19; Zechariah 9:17 the King James Version; Sirach 30:25; 2 Corinthians 9:7...
Resources
Is “eat, drink, and be merry” a biblical concept? | GotQuestions.orgHow should Christians respond to the "War on Christmas"? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is Carnival? | GotQuestions.orgMerry: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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