καυχάομαι
kaucháomai
G2744 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To take pride in, to boast, to express or feel a sense of exultation or confidence based on a person, achievement, relationship, or situation. While the core sense is 'to boast' or 'to glory,' καυχάομαι can be used both positively—expressing legitimate confidence or suitable pride—and negatively—implying empty boasting or self-exaltation. Context determines whether the sense is favorable (legitimate pride, rejoicing, exulting) or unfavorable (empty vaunting, arrogance).
Semantic Range
to boast, to glory, to exult (in someone or something), to take pride in, to rejoice in, to vaunt oneself, to claim as a ground for pride or confidence, to express or feel joy through association
Root / Etymology
Etymology uncertain. The verb is of obscure origin; it does not have a clear parent word in classical Greek but is possibly related by sound or meaning to the verb κεὐχάομαι or εὔχομαι ('to pray, vow'), with a sense-shift to boasting or exulting, but direct derivation is unattested. The pre-Koine Greek root is not clearly established.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Καυχάομαι appears primarily in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, with rare or no occurrences in classical literature, and is frequent in the Septuagint and New Testament. It often translates Hebrew terms for 'boasting' or 'taking pride,' especially in the Psalms, prophets, or wisdom literature, sometimes in the context of inappropriate self-glorification (cf. Jeremiah 9:23–24 LXX) and elsewhere for appropriate exultation in God or in relationships. In the New Testament, especially Paul, καυχάομαι often expresses 'spiritual boasting,' i.e., boasting in the Lord or Christ, in contrast to boasting in human status, achievement, or heritage. English versions often translate as 'boast,' 'glory,' or 'rejoice,' but the nuance is broader—ranging from celebratory exultation to inappropriate self-praise depending on context. Related nouns include καύχημα and καύχησις (boasting, pride, object of boasting). The term often carries a contextual connotation: it can mark either a proper, humble exultation or an improper, arrogant boasting.
Translation Consistency
'Boast' is the most common and natural English rendering of καυχάομαι in the data and in standard translations. It covers the full semantic range (to glory in, to take pride in, to exult or to vaunt oneself) while allowing context to determine positive or negative force. It yields simple, regular English forms (boast, boasts, boasted, boasting) for consistent use across all SIDANCE forms.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from some (obsolete) base akin to that of (to boast) and εὔχομαι; to vaunt (in a good or a bad sense):--(make) boast, glory, joy, rejoice.
Root Family
καυχ- (katakaucháomai) — to boast, to take pride, to exult
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2620 | κατακαυχάομαι | you boast over |
| G2745 | καύχημα | ground for boasting |
| G2746 | καύχησις | of boasting |
Word Forms
16 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2744-07 |
καυχήσωμαι | kauchesomai | V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG |
I will boast | I may boast | I may boast | 8 |
G2744-04 |
καυχάσθω | kauchastho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
let him boast | let him boast | let him boast | 4 |
G2744-01 |
καυχᾶσαι | kauchasai | V PRS MID IND 2P SG |
boast | you boast for yourself | you boast for yourself | 3 |
G2744-02 |
καυχᾶσθαι | kauchasthai | V PRS MID INF |
to boast | to take pride | to boast (of oneself) | 3 |
G2744-11 |
καυχώμενοι | kauchomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
boasting | those taking pride | those boasting | 3 |
G2744-05 |
καυχήσασθαι | kauchesasthai | V AOR MID INF |
to boast | to boast | to boast | 2 |
G2744-06 |
καυχήσηται | kauchesetai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG |
should boast | may boast | may boast | 2 |
G2744-12 |
καυχώμενος | kauchomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
boasts | boasting | boasting | 2 |
G2744-14 |
καυχώμεθα | kauchometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
we glory | we boast | we boast | 2 |
G2744-15 |
καυχῶνται | kauchontai | V PRS MID IND 3P PL |
boast | they boast | boast | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
37 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2744-01 |
Romans 2:17 | καυχᾶσαι | kauchasai | V PRS MID IND 2P SG |
boast | you boast for yourself | you boast for yourself |
G2744-01 |
Romans 2:23 | καυχᾶσαι | kauchasai | V PRS MID IND 2P SG |
boast | you boast for yourself | you boast for yourself |
G2744-14 |
Romans 5:2 | καυχώμεθα | kauchometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
we rejoice | we boast | we boast |
G2744-14 |
Romans 5:3 | καυχώμεθα | kauchometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
we glory | we boast | we boast |
G2744-11 |
Romans 5:11 | καυχώμενοι | kauchomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
rejoicing | those taking pride | boasting |
G2744-06 |
1 Corinthians 1:29 | καυχήσηται | kauchesetai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG |
should boast | may boast | may boast |
G2744-12 |
1 Corinthians 1:31 | καυχώμενος | kauchomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
boasts | boasting | boasting |
G2744-04 |
1 Corinthians 1:31 | καυχάσθω | kauchastho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
let him boast | let him boast | let him boast |
G2744-04 |
1 Corinthians 3:21 | καυχάσθω | kauchastho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
boast | let him boast | let him boast |
G2744-01 |
1 Corinthians 4:7 | καυχᾶσαι | kauchasai | V PRS MID IND 2P SG |
do-you-boast | you boast for yourself | you boast for yourself |
G2744-07 |
1 Corinthians 13:3 | καυχήσωμαι | kauchesomai | V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG |
I may boast | I may boast | I may boast |
G2744-13 |
2 Corinthians 5:12 | καυχωμένους | kauchomenous | V PRS MID PTCP ACC M PL |
who glory | boasting themselves | boasting |
G2744-16 |
2 Corinthians 7:14 | κεκαύχημαι | kekauchemai | V PRF MID IND 1P SG |
I have boasted | I have taken pride | I have taken pride |
G2744-10 |
2 Corinthians 9:2 | καυχῶμαι | kauchomai | V PRS MID IND 1P SG |
I boast | I take pride | I boast |
G2744-07 |
2 Corinthians 10:8 | καυχήσωμαι | kauchesomai | V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG |
I boast | I may boast | I may boast |
G2744-08 |
2 Corinthians 10:13 | καυχησόμεθα | kauchesometha | V FUT MID IND 1P PL |
will boast | we will boast | we will boast |
G2744-11 |
2 Corinthians 10:15 | καυχώμενοι | kauchomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
boasting | those taking pride | those boasting |
G2744-05 |
2 Corinthians 10:16 | καυχήσασθαι | kauchesasthai | V AOR MID INF |
to boast | to boast | to boast |
G2744-12 |
2 Corinthians 10:17 | καυχώμενος | kauchomenos | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG |
who boasts | boasting | boasting |
G2744-04 |
2 Corinthians 10:17 | καυχάσθω | kauchastho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
let him boast | let him boast | let him boast |
G2744-15 |
2 Corinthians 11:12 | καυχῶνται | kauchontai | V PRS MID IND 3P PL |
they boast | they boast | they boast |
G2744-07 |
2 Corinthians 11:16 | καυχήσωμαι | kauchesomai | V AOR MID SUBJ 1P SG |
may boast | I may boast | I may boast |
G2744-15 |
2 Corinthians 11:18 | καυχῶνται | kauchontai | V PRS MID IND 3P PL |
boast | they boast | boast |
G2744-07 |
2 Corinthians 11:18 | καυχήσομαι | kauchesomai | V FUT MID IND 1P SG |
will boast | I may boast | will boast |
G2744-02 |
2 Corinthians 11:30 | καυχᾶσθαι | kauchasthai | V PRS MID INF |
to boast | to take pride | to boast (of oneself) |
G2744-07 |
2 Corinthians 11:30 | καυχήσομαι | kauchesomai | V FUT MID IND 1P SG |
I will boast | I may boast | I will boast |
G2744-02 |
2 Corinthians 12:1 | καυχᾶσθαι | kauchasthai | V PRS MID INF |
to boast | to take pride | to boast (of oneself) |
G2744-07 |
2 Corinthians 12:5 | καυχήσομαι | kauchesomai | V FUT MID IND 1P SG |
I will boast | I may boast | I may boast |
G2744-07 |
2 Corinthians 12:5 | καυχήσομαι | kauchesomai-2 | V FUT MID IND 1P SG |
I will boast | I may boast | I may boast |
G2744-05 |
2 Corinthians 12:6 | καυχήσασθαι | kauchesasthai | V AOR MID INF |
to boast | to boast | to boast |
G2744-07 |
2 Corinthians 12:9 | καυχήσομαι | kauchesomai | V FUT MID IND 1P SG |
I will boast | I may boast | I will boast |
G2744-09 |
Galatians 6:13 | καυχήσωνται | kauchesontai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL |
they may boast | they might boast for themselves | they might boast for themselves |
G2744-02 |
Galatians 6:14 | καυχᾶσθαι | kauchasthai | V PRS MID INF |
to boast | to take pride | to boast (of oneself) |
G2744-06 |
Ephesians 2:9 | καυχήσηται | kauchesetai | V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG |
may boast | may boast | may boast |
G2744-11 |
Philippians 3:3 | καυχώμενοι | kauchomenoi | V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL |
glory | those taking pride | those boasting |
G2744-04 |
James 1:9 | καυχάσθω | kauchastho | V PRS MID IMP 3P SG |
let him boast | let him boast | let him boast |
G2744-03 |
James 4:16 | καυχᾶσθε | kauchasthe | V PRS MID IND 2P PL |
you boast | you are boasting | you are boasting |