19 Bible Verses About Joy

Hannah Lynn Miller
4d
5 min read

Bible Verses About Joy

Nehemiah 8:10 - "Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength."

Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Psalm 30:5 - "Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."

Psalm 126:5 - "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy."

Proverbs 17:22 - "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones."

Isaiah 12:3 - "With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."

Isaiah 35:10 - "They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

Jeremiah 15:16 - "When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight."

Habakkuk 3:17-18 - "Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Matthew 5:12 - "Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven."

Luke 2:10 - "But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.'"

John 15:11 - "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete."

John 16:22 - "So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - "Rejoice always."

James 1:2 - "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds."

1 Peter 1:8 - "Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy."

Greek and Hebrew Words for Joy

Hebrew Words for Joy

שִׂמְחָה (simchah) - Joy, gladness, mirth. This word refers to a deep-seated happiness and

celebration, often associated with festive occasions and God's blessings.

Example verse: Nehemiah 8:10 - "Do not grieve, for the joy [simchah] of the Lord is your strength."

גִּיל (gil) - Rejoicing, exultation. This term emphasizes an outward expression of joy, often

through singing or shouting.

Example verse: Psalm 16:11 - "You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy [simchah] in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

רִנָּה (rinnah) - A ringing cry, shout of joy. This word conveys the idea of vocal celebration

and praise.

Example verse: Psalm 126:5 - "Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy [rinnah]."

שָׂשׂוֹן (sason) - Gladness, joy, exultation. This word often appears in contexts of salvation and deliverance.

Example verse: Isaiah 35:10 - "They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy [simchah] will crown their heads. Gladness [sason] and joy [simchah] will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away."

עָלַץ (alats) - To exult, rejoice, triumph. This verb expresses triumphant joy and celebration.

Example verse: Habakkuk 3:18 - "Yet I will rejoice [alats] in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."

Greek Words for Joy

χαρά (chara) - Joy, gladness, delight. This is the most common New Testament word for joy, representing a deep spiritual gladness that comes from God.

Example verse: John 15:11 - "I have told you this so that my joy [chara] may be in you and that your joy [chara] may be complete."

ἀγαλλίασις (agalliasis) - Exultation, extreme joy, gladness. This word describes intense, exuberant joy.

Example verse: Luke 1:14 - "He will be a joy [chara] and delight [agalliasis] to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth."

χαίρω (chairo) - To rejoice, be glad. This is the verb form meaning to experience or express joy.

Example verse: Philippians 4:4 - "Rejoice [chairo] in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice [chairo]!"

εὐφραίνω (euphraino) - To make glad, cheer, rejoice. This word emphasizes making joyful or celebrating.

Example verse: Luke 15:32 - "But we had to celebrate [euphraino] and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found."

Hey friends! I wanted to pull together some of my favorite Bible verses about joy because, let's be honest, we all need a little reminder of where true joy comes from. Whether you're walking through a tough season or just need a pick-me-up, these verses are like a warm hug from God himself.

What I love about these scriptures is how they show us that joy isn't just about feeling happy when life is going well. Real, lasting joy comes from our relationship with God and knowing He's with us no matter what. From the Old Testament to the New Testament, we see this beautiful thread of joy woven throughout—joy in His presence, joy in salvation, joy even in the midst of trials.

I also included a deep dive into the Hebrew and Greek words for joy because understanding the original language adds such richness to these verses. Words like simchah and chara aren't just about surface-level happiness—they speak to a profound gladness that comes from God's presence and promises.

My hope is that these verses encourage you and remind you that joy is available to you right now, not because of your circumstances, but because of whose you are. So grab your Bible, sit with these scriptures, and let God fill you with His joy today!

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