Study
Word study

Word study

Greek

Grace

χάριςStrong’s G5485

charis

Appears in 146 verses of the New Testament

In short

Favour given freely to someone who has not earned it. Paul sets it against works: "by grace are ye saved through faith ... not of works" (Ephesians 2:8-9).

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”
Ephesians 2:8 KJV
Meaning

Usually translated “grace”, “thanks” and “favor”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.

How it's translated
  • grace 115
  • of grace 9
  • thanks 6
  • by grace 6
  • favor 5
  • credit 3
  • thankful 2
  • a favor 2

Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.

Where it's used most
  • Romans 22
  • Acts 17
  • 2 Corinthians 17
  • Ephesians 12
  • 1 Peter 10
  • Luke 8

23 books in all.

Related words
Explore in Scripture
All 146 verses, by book
Philippians 3
1:21:74:23
Colossians 5
1:21:63:164:64:18
1 Thessalonians 2
1:15:28
2 Thessalonians 4
1:21:122:163:18
1 Timothy 3
1:21:121:14
2 Timothy 5
1:21:31:92:14:22
Philemon 2
1:31:25
James 1
4:6
2 Peter 2
1:23:18
2 John 1
1:3
Jude 1
1:4
Revelation 2
1:422:21
Greek dictionary

χάρις charis · grace

χάρις, -ιτος, ἡ Abbott-Smith does not include the article here., accusative, χάριν (χάριτα in Act.24:27, Ju 4; see WH, App., 157), [in LXX chiefly for חֵן ;] 1. objectively, that which causes favourable regard, gracefulness, grace, loveliness of form, graciousness of speech (cl.; Ecc.10:12, Sir.21:16, al.): Col.4:6; λόγοι τ. χάριτος (genitive qual.), Luk.4:22. 2. Subjectively, …

From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).

Webster's 1828 Dictionary

How the English word “grace” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.

GRACE, noun

[Latin gratia, which is formed on the Celtic; Eng. agree, congruous, and ready. The primary sense of gratus, is free, ready, quick, willing, prompt, from advancing.]

  1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace
  2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.“And if by grace then it is no more of works” Romans 11:6
  3. Favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin.“My grace is sufficient for thee” 2 Corinthians 12:9
  4. The application of Christ's righteousness to the sinner.“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” Romans 5:20
All definitions and other forms of “grace”
  1. A state of reconciliation to God. Romans 5:2
  2. Virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, etc. proceeding from divine influence.
  3. Spiritual instruction, improvement and edification. Ephesians 4:29
  4. Apostleship, or the qualifications of an apostle. Ephesians 3:8
  5. Eternal life; final salvation. 1 Peter 1:13
  6. Favor; mercy; pardon.
  7. Favor conferred.
  8. Privilege.
  9. That in manner, deportment or language which renders it appropriate and agreeable; suitableness; elegance with appropriate dignity.
  10. Natural or acquired excellence; any endowment that recommends the possessor to others; as the graces of wit and learning.
  11. Beauty; embellishment; in general, whatever adorns and recommends to favor; sometimes, a single beauty.
  12. Beauty deified; among pagans, a goddess.
  13. Virtue physical; as the grace of plants. [Not used.]
  14. The title of a duke or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England, meaning your goodness or clemency.
  15. A short prayer before or after meat; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered.
  16. In music, graces signifies turns, trills and shakes introduced for embellishment.

GRACE, verb transitive

To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.

  1. To dignify or raise by act of favor; to honor.
  2. To favor; to honor.
  3. To supply with heavenly grace

Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.

Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.