The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines it as “the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires.” While the Oxford dictionary defines it as “a feeling of great pleasure and happiness.”
Though the Bible similarly uses joy to describe a feeling of happiness, it differs in significant ways. For further understanding of biblical joy, lets’ look at the original Hebrew and Greek words.
Joy in Hebrew
The word joy appears over 100 times in the Old Testament with fifteen different Hebrew words. For instance, there is simchah [sim-khaw’], which means joy, gladness, or mirth. It is derived from samach [saw-makh’], which means to rejoice. Simchah appears 93 times in the Old Testament with its first occurrence in Genesis 31:27. And samach occurs 150 times.
Then there is sason [saw-sone’], which means exultation or rejoicing. It is derived from the root word sus [soos], which is a verb meaning to exult or rejoice. Sason appears 22 times in the Old Testament with its first occurrence in Esther 8:16, while sus appears 27 times.
All these Hebrew words generally mean to be happy or joyful and they have a variety of sources. For example, people rejoiced in each other (Song of Solomon 1:4, Proverbs 5:18), in their children (Psalm 113:9, Proverbs 23:24-25), in wine (Psalm 104:15), in abundant harvest, in victory (Isaiah 9:3), or an apt answer (Proverbs 15:23).
However, believers found their ultimate source of joy and satisfaction in Yahweh (Psalm 32:11). They rejoiced in Him because of His salvation (Psalm 40:16; 64:10; 63:11; 51:12), His justice (Proverb 21:15), His protection (Psalm 63:7), His word (Psalm 119:111, Jeremiah 15:16), etc.
Fun fact. In Jewish culture, significant events like childbirth or weddings are generally called simchah. An expression using simchah and sason, the two most used words for joy is said in all Jewish weddings. This expression comes from Jeremiah 33:11, which says, “the voice of mirth and the voice of gladness, the voice of the bridegroom and the voice of the bride.” It appears three more times in Jeremiah 7:34; 16:9; 25:10
Joy in Greek
There are eight Greek words for joy in the New Testament, but the most prevalent one is chara [khar-ah’]. It appears about 60 times in the New Testament, and its first occurrence is about the nativity of Jesus in Matthew 2:10, which says, “when they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy.”
According to Strong’s Concordance, chara means joy, calm delight, or inner gladness. It is related to chairo [khah’-ee-ro], which means to rejoice and charis [khar’-ece], which means grace.
Therefore, chara means to rejoice because of grace. It is the awareness of God’s grace or favors through Jesus, as well as our reaction to it.
Putting it all together
Biblical joy comes from the Lord. It is a perpetual gladness of the heart that comes from knowing, experiencing, and trusting Jesus. Martin Lloyd-Jones said, “joy, in other words, is the response and the reaction of the soul to a knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Moreover, biblical joy is not based on our possessions or circumstances like worldly joy. Warren Wiersbe defines joy as “that inward peace and sufficiency that is not affected by outward circumstances.” It, of course, doesn’t mean Christians must never feel or express their pain. The Christian life is wrought with afflictions, and like the psalmists, we should express our grief and pour out our hearts to God.
However, even during our difficult times, we can still choose to have joy because of our hope in Christ. Paul exemplified joy in suffering throughout his ministry. Though he was beaten, shipwrecked, imprisoned, and more, he still had joy. He called it “being full of sorrow and yet rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10) and said in 2 Corinthians 7:4 “in all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy.
How could Paul experience joy amid his tribulations? Well, Charles Spurgeon said it best, “believers are not dependent upon circumstances. Their joy comes not from what they have, but from what they are, not from where they are, but from whose they are, not from what they enjoy, but from that which was suffered for them by their Lord.”
People often separate joy from happiness, but the Bible doesn’t make any such distinction. Both words are used interchangeably throughout Scriptures along with other words like gladness, or mirth to refer to a happy feeling. The only difference is the source of our joy. There is a joy from the world, which is hollow and fleeting (Ecclesiastes 2:1-2, Hebrews 11:25), and joy from God, which brings contentment and is everlasting.
Why the birth of Christ is news of great joy
After God used Moses to deliver the children of Israel from Egypt, the first thing they did was to rejoice and sing to the Lord. They weren’t in the promised land yet, and their circumstances were not the best. Yet they rejoice in the salvation of the Lord who brought them out of slavery (Psalm 105:43).
Several years later, when the children of Israelite faced exile and captivity, Isaiah wrote of a time when God would raise a new prophet like Moses who would deliver his people. On that day, “the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11).
The Israelites waited for hundreds of years for the Messiah and joyfully expected His coming to deliver them from their oppressors. And Jesus is that messiah who will bring everlasting joy.
When the angel announced His birth to the shepherds, he said it was good news of great joy for all the people. (Luke 2:10), and when the shepherds saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy (Matthew 2:10). Even unborn John the Baptist leaped with joy at the coming of Jesus (Luke 1:44).
They all rejoiced because God had come to dwell with them as He did of old (Matthew 1:23). And like Moses, Jesus came to deliver Israel, but also gentiles (1 John 2:2). His rescue is more significant because he sets us free from sin, death, and judgment and makes us right with God (2 Corinthians 5:21).
If the children of Israel rejoiced from their physical freedom, how much more joy do we have from our spiritual freedom? It is good news of exceeding joy, indeed!
During Christmas, we celebrate the first coming of the Lord because it is the beginning of the good news. We joyfully expect His second coming when he will reign forever, and experience the fullness of His joy (Psalm 16:11). And on that day, we will sing and shout for joy as the Israelites did in the wilderness and worship our King eternally.
Biblical attributes of joy
Joy is a prevalent theme in the Bible; here are some Scriptures about it.
1. Repentance brings joy
Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
Luke 15:7
Just so, I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.
Luke 15:10
2. It is a gift from God
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
Galatians 5:22
You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound.
Psalm 4:7
3. Joy results from knowing Jesus
Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,
1 Peter 1:8
4. It gives us strength
Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
5. It is a choice
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
Rejoice always,
1 Thessalonians 5:16
6. We can rejoice even in trials
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
James 1:2-3
for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part.
2 Corinthians 8:2
7. The Word of God brings us joy
These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
John 15:11
Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart.
Psalm 119:111
8. Hope gives us joy
But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.
1 Peter 4:13
The hope of the righteous brings joy, but the expectation of the wicked will perish.
Proverbs 10:28
