χαριτόω (charitoō)
charitoō
to favor
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb charitoō means to endow someone with grace or divine favor. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both in Luke and Ephesians, describing a specific act of God bestowing unmerited kindness upon individuals.
In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel addresses Mary as one who has been "highly favored" or graced by God. This usage highlights a personal, transformative blessing rather than a general state. Similarly, Ephesians 1:6 speaks of believers being accepted in the Beloved through this same grace-filled favor.
Derived from charis (grace), the word emphasizes the active bestowal of favor by God. It is not merely about receiving goodwill but being made gracious or acceptable through divine initiative. This rare term underscores the profound, personal nature of God's favor in salvation history.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
This rare Greek word describes a specific moment when God’s unmerited kindness lands on a person. In Luke 1:28, the angel Gabriel uses it to greet Mary, marking her as one uniquely chosen for a sacred role. It is not about her own merit but about God’s active choice to bless her.
Paul later applies this same concept in Ephesians 1:6, showing that believers are also recipients of this favor. You are accepted in Christ not because of what you have done, but because of who He is. This word reminds us that our standing before God rests entirely on His gracious initiative.
When you feel unworthy or unsure of your place, remember that this favor is a gift. It does not depend on your performance. Instead, it anchors your identity in the love of the Father, giving you peace and confidence in your daily walk.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you graciously favored;1×
- He has freely given1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐχαρίτωσεν1×
- κεχαριτωμένη·1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 1:28
Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!”
The angel uses this verb to identify Mary as the specific recipient of God's chosen favor for the incarnation.
-
Ephesians 1:6
to the praise of the glory of his grace, by which he freely gave us favor in the Beloved.
Paul connects this favor directly to believers' acceptance in Christ, highlighting it as the basis for praising God's glory.