Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:Cheer, in the biblical context, often refers to a state of gladness, joy, or encouragement. It is an emotional and spiritual condition that reflects a positive outlook, often rooted in faith and trust in God. The concept of cheer is closely associated with hope, comfort, and the assurance of God's presence and promises.
Biblical References:1.
John 16:33 : "I have told you these things so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take courage; I have overcome the world!"
· In this passage, Jesus encourages His disciples to be of good cheer despite the tribulations they will face. The cheer comes from the assurance of Christ's victory over the world, providing believers with peace and courage.
2.
Acts 27:22 : "But now I urge you to keep up your courage, because not a single one of you will be lost, only the ship will be destroyed."
· Paul, speaking to those aboard the ship during a storm, encourages them to be of good cheer, assuring them of their safety through divine revelation. This highlights the role of faith and divine assurance in fostering cheer.
3.
Proverbs 15:13 : "A joyful heart makes a cheerful countenance, but sorrow of the heart crushes the spirit."
· This proverb illustrates the connection between inner joy and outward cheerfulness. A heart filled with joy, often stemming from righteousness and wisdom, naturally results in a cheerful demeanor.
4.
2 Corinthians 9:7 : "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."
· Cheerfulness in giving is emphasized here, indicating that God values the attitude of the heart in acts of generosity. A cheerful giver reflects a heart aligned with God's love and grace.
Theological Significance:Cheer is not merely an emotional response but a spiritual state that reflects a deep trust in God's sovereignty and goodness. It is often associated with the joy of salvation and the hope of eternal life. In the New Testament, cheer is linked to the presence of the Holy Spirit, who provides comfort and encouragement to believers.
Practical Application:Believers are encouraged to cultivate a spirit of cheerfulness, even in difficult circumstances, by focusing on God's promises and faithfulness. This involves a conscious decision to trust in God's plan and to find joy in His presence. Cheerfulness can be a powerful witness to others, demonstrating the transformative power of faith in Christ.
Related Concepts:·
Joy: While closely related, joy is often seen as a deeper, more abiding state that underpins cheerfulness. Joy is a fruit of the Spirit (
Galatians 5:22) and is rooted in the believer's relationship with God.
·
Encouragement: Cheer often involves encouraging others, lifting their spirits, and pointing them to the hope found in Christ.
·
Hope: A key component of cheer, hope in God's promises and future glory sustains believers through trials and tribulations.
Historical Context:In biblical times, expressions of cheer were often communal, shared in celebrations, feasts, and worship. The early church emphasized mutual encouragement and cheer as a means of building up the body of Christ, especially during times of persecution and hardship.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
n.) The face; the countenance or its expression.
2. (n.) Feeling; spirit; state of mind or heart.
3. (n.) Gayety; mirth; cheerfulness; animation.
4. (n.) That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared for a feast; entertainment; as, a table loaded with good cheer.
5. (n.) A shout, hurrah, or acclamation, expressing joy enthusiasm, applause, favor, etc.
6. (v. t.) To cause to rejoice; to gladden; to make cheerful; -- often with up.
7. (v. t.) To infuse life, courage, animation, or hope, into; to inspirit; to solace or comfort.
8. (v. t.) To salute or applaud with cheers; to urge on by cheers; as, to cheer hounds in a chase.
9. (v. i.) To grow cheerful; to become gladsome or joyous; -- usually with up.
10. (v. i.) To be in any state or temper of mind.
11. (v. i.) To utter a shout or shouts of applause, triumph, etc.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
CHEER; CHEERFULNESScher, cher'-fool-nes: The English word "cheer" meant:
(1) originally face, countenance (Greek kara, "head," through Old French, chere, "face"),
(2) then the expression on the face, especially
(3) the expression of good spirits, and finally
(4) good spirits, without any reference to the facial expression.
The noun "cheer" in English Versions of the Bible is only found with adjective "good" (except 1 Esdras 9:54, "great cheer"), the word not having quite lost its earlier neutral character (any face expression, whether joyous or otherwise). In Old Testament, Tobh, is translated "cheer," "let thy heart cheer thee" (see GOOD); sameach, "to rejoice" is so translated inDeuteronomy 24:5, "shall cheer his wife" (the King James Version "cheer up his wife"), andJudges 9:13, "wine, which cheereth God ('elohim) and man." The phrase "of good cheer" occurs in Old Testament inJob 9:27 (the King James Version "comfort"); in Apocrypha, 1 Esdras 9:54; The Wisdom of Solomon 18:6; Baruch 4:5, 30; Sirach 18:32 the King James Version (the Revised Version (British and American) "luxury"); in New Testament for Greek euthumeo, euthumos, inActs 27:22, 25, 36, and for tharseo inMatthew 9:2, 22. (the King James Version "comfort");Matthew 14:27;Mark 6:50;Mark 10:49 (RV; "comfort" in the King James Version);John 16:33Acts 23:11. "Cheer" as verb transitive occurs inEcclesiastes 11:9Deuteronomy 24:5Judges 9:13.
Cheerful occurs inProverbs 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.
Cheerfully,Acts 24:10.
Cheerfulness,Romans 12:8.
D. Miall Edwards
Greek
2114. euthumeo -- to be of goodcheer... 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
...2165. euphraino -- tocheer, make merry
... tocheer, make merry. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: euphraino Phonetic Spelling:
(yoo-frah'-ee-no) Short Definition: Icheer, am glad, make merry...
2115a. euthumos -- of goodcheer
... of goodcheer. Transliteration: euthumos Short Definition: encouraged. Word Origin
from eu and thumos Definition of goodcheer NASB Word Usage encouraged (1)....
2115. euthumos -- of goodcheer
... of goodcheer. Part of Speech: Adjective; Adverb, Comparative Transliteration: euthumos
Phonetic Spelling: (yoo'-thoo-mos) Short Definition: cheerful, having...
2293. tharseo -- to be of good courage
... to be of good courage. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tharseo Phonetic Spelling:
(thar-seh'-o) Short Definition: be of goodcheer Definition: I am of...
404. anapsucho -- to refresh
... properly, bring cooling (reviving, with fresh air); (figuratively) bring much-needed
(much-) , "causing someone to recover a state ofcheer or encouragement...
2292. tharreo -- to be of good courage
... of good courage. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: tharreo Phonetic Spelling:
(thar-hreh'-o) Short Definition: I am courageous, of goodcheer Definition: I...
2174. eupsucheo -- to be of good courage
... to be of good courage. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: eupsucheo Phonetic
Spelling: (yoo-psoo-kheh'-o) Short Definition: I am of goodcheer Definition: I...
5463. chairo -- to rejoice, be glad
... A primary verb; to be "cheer"ful, ie Calmly happy or well-off; impersonally, especially
as salutation (on meeting or parting), be well -- farewell, be glad...
Strong's Hebrew
1906. hed -- a shout, shouting,cheer... 1905, 1906. hed. 1907 . a shout, shouting,
cheer. Transliteration: hed
Phonetic Spelling: (hade) Short Definition: shouting. Word
...1959. hedad -- a shout, shouting,cheer
... 1958, 1959. hedad. 1960 . a shout, shouting,cheer. Transliteration: hedad
Phonetic Spelling: (hay-dawd') Short Definition: shouting....
8055. samach -- rejoice, be glad
...cheer up, be make glad, have, make joyful, be make merry, cause to, make
to rejoice, very. A primitive root; probably to brighten...
2895. tob -- to be pleasing or good
... be do better,cheer, be do, seem good, make goodly, please, be, do,. A
primitive root, to be (transitively, do or make) good (or...
1082. balag -- to gleam, smile
... Word Origin a prim. root Definition to gleam, smile NASB Word Usage cheerful (1),
flashes forth (1), have acheer (1), smile (1). comfort, recover strengthen....
Library
Be of GoodCheer.
... Be of GoodCheer. "BE of goodcheer; it is I; be not afraid" (Matthew 14:27).... These
precious words of comfort andcheer came from His loving heart and lips....
Cheer for Despondency
...Cheer for Despondency. A sermon (No.3183) published on Thursday, February 3, 1910,
delivered by CH Spurgeon at the Metropolitan Tabernacle, Newington....
The Note ofCheer
... BOOK I. THE MAN. CHAPTER V. The Note ofCheer. The chapter now to be added
is written under the influence of a Sabbath afternoon...
December the Twenty-Fifth ChristmasCheer
... DECEMBER The Twenty-fifth CHRISTMASCHEER. "Good will toward men!" "Luke
2:8-20.... Let that holy thought make our Christmascheer....
Holy Father,Cheer Our Way
... I. DAILY PRAYER: Morning Daily Prayer: Evening 16. Holy Father,cheer our way.
7.7.7.5... John Stainer, 1875. Richard H. Robinson, 1869. Holy Father,cheer our way....
Cheer Up, My Comrades!
...Cheer Up, My Comrades!... Did you not try tocheer a poor neighbour the other day by
telling of the Lord's goodness to you when you were very sick yourself?...
"Three Manners of Looking Seen in Our Lord's Countenance"
... "Three manners of looking seen in our Lord's Countenance" GLAD and joyous and sweet
is the Blissful lovelyCheer [292] of our Lord to our souls....
What the Redbird Told Me
... This is what he said to me: "You, you, you,cheer up,cheer up,cheer up." He hopped
about from limb to limb, wiping his beak, picking at pieces of bark, but...
"As Long as we be Meddling with any Part of Sin we Shall Never See...
... And thus was the BlissfulCheer of our Lord shewed in Pity: [295] in which Shewing
I saw that sin is most contrary,"so far forth that as long as we be....
Christ's Encouragements
... CHRIST'S ENCOURAGEMENTS. 'Son, be of goodcheer.'"Matthew 9:2. This word
of encouragement, which exhorts to both cheerfulness and...
Thesaurus
Cheer (22 Occurrences)... 4. (n.) That which promotes good spirits or cheerfulness; provisions prepared
for a feast; entertainment; as, a table loaded with good
cheer.
...Cheerfulness (1 Occurrence)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary (n.) Good spirits; a state of moderate joy or gayety;
alacrity. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.CHEER; CHEERFULNESS....
Comfort (130 Occurrences)
... 3. (vt) To impart strength and hope to; to encourage; to relieve; to console;
tocheer. 4... assistance. To comfort is tocheer and encourage....
Seeing (442 Occurrences)
... Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic, "Son,cheer up!... (DBY). Matthew
9:22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Daughter,cheer up!...
Spake (704 Occurrences)
... YLT). Matthew 14:27 But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of
goodcheer; it is I; be not afraid. (KJV ASV YLT). Matthew...
Spoke (799 Occurrences)
... Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up!... But he
immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up!...
Afraid (361 Occurrences)
... (WEY NIV). Matthew 14:27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying "Cheer up!...
But he immediately spoke with them, and said to them, "Cheer up!...
Book (211 Occurrences)
... 5. Words ofCheer to Israel: The general thought that pervades the section, Baruch
4:5-5:9, is words ofcheer to Israel (ie Judah) in exile, but we have here...
Baruch (24 Occurrences)
... 5. Words ofCheer to Israel: The general thought that pervades the section, Baruch
4:5-5:9, is words ofcheer to Israel (ie Judah) in exile, but we have here...
Daughter (320 Occurrences)
... Matthew 9:22 But Jesus, turning around and seeing her, said, "Daughter,cheer up!...
Luke 8:48 He said to her, "Daughter,cheer up. Your faith has made you well....
Resources
What does the Bible say about courage? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I turn all my worries and problems over to God? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does it mean that Noah was a preacher of righteousness (2 Peter 2:5)? | GotQuestions.orgCheer: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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