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καύχησις

kaúchēsis

G2746 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Boasting; the act or state of expressing pride, exultation, or confidence in something or someone. Primarily denotes the outward expression of personal pride or confidence, often through speech, but can also refer to the content or source of that pride. In various contexts, may signify either positive exultation or self-satisfaction, or negative arrogance and empty self-praise, depending on the speaker’s intent and the object of boasting.

Semantic Range

boasting, exultation, pride, cause or ground of pride, self-satisfaction, arrogant self-praise, legitimate glorying, exultant confidence

Root / Etymology

From Greek καυχάομαι (to boast, exult, glory), itself of uncertain etymology; possibly onomatopoeic or related to expressions of exultation or vocal pride. The abstract noun formation is regular with the suffix -σις, indicating an action or process.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καύχησις appears rarely and generally conveys a negative nuance—boastfulness, empty pride, or self-aggrandizement—but can also mean pride that is justified by circumstances. In Hellenistic and Koine usage, especially in the letters of Paul in the New Testament, the term is used with considerable nuance: it may have a positive sense (legitimate exultation or commendation, often 'boasting in the Lord' or in what God has done) or a negative one (arrogant or self-centered boasting). Paul frequently contrasts καύχησις based on human accomplishment and that which is rooted in divine action, often subverting traditional Greco-Roman values of honor and glory. English terms like 'boasting,' 'pride,' 'glorying,' or 'exultation' do not always capture the full range of both pejorative and laudatory senses present in the Koine context. The closely related word καύχημα refers more to the cause or ground for boasting, while καύχησις emphasizes the act, manner, or state. In the LXX, the term is rare and lacks the specific theological inflection found in Pauline literature.

Translation Consistency

primary "boast" 11 occurrences

'Boast' is the natural, common English root that captures the act/state expressed by καύχησις (boasting, pride, glorying). As a base verb it allows consistent inflection (boasting, boasted, boastful) and fits both positive ‘glorying’ and negative ‘arrogant self‑praise’ senses in context.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from καυχάομαι; boasting (properly, the act; by implication, the object), in a good or a bad sense:--boasting, whereof I may glory, glorying, rejoicing.

Root Family

καυχ- (katakaucháomai) — to boast, to take pride, to exult

Root καυχ- to boast, to take pride, to exult
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G2620 κατακαυχάομαι you boast over
G2744 καυχάομαι you boast for yourself
G2745 καύχημα ground for boasting

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G2746-03 καύχησις kauchesis N NOM F SG boasting boasting boasting 6
G2746-01 καυχήσεως kaucheseos N GEN F SG boasting of boasting of boasting 3
G2746-02 καύχησιν kauchesin N ACC F SG boasting boasting boasting 2

Occurrences in Scripture

11 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G2746-03 Romans 3:27 καύχησις kauchesis N NOM F SG boasting boasting boasting
G2746-02 Romans 15:17 καύχησιν kauchesin N ACC F SG reason for boasting boasting boasting
G2746-02 1 Corinthians 15:31 καύχησιν kauchesin N ACC F SG boasting boasting boasting
G2746-03 2 Corinthians 1:12 καύχησις kauchesis N NOM F SG boast boasting boasting
G2746-03 2 Corinthians 7:4 καύχησις kauchesis N NOM F SG boasting boasting boasting
G2746-03 2 Corinthians 7:14 καύχησις kauchesis N NOM F SG boasting boasting boasting
G2746-01 2 Corinthians 8:24 καυχήσεως kaucheseos N GEN F SG boasting of boasting of boasting
G2746-03 2 Corinthians 11:10 καύχησις kauchesis N NOM F SG boasting boasting boasting
G2746-01 2 Corinthians 11:17 καυχήσεως kaucheseos N GEN F SG boasting of boasting of boasting
G2746-01 1 Thessalonians 2:19 καυχήσεως kaucheseos N GEN F SG of boasting of boasting of boasting
G2746-03 James 4:16 καύχησις kauchesis N NOM F SG boasting boasting boasting
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