Seba.Health
emotion

χάρις

charis

Grace, favor, gratitude — the gift economy of the divine

Etymology

From chairō ("to rejoice"). In Homer, charis is the reciprocal bond between gods and mortals, guest and host. In the NT, charis becomes "grace" — the unearned divine favor that replaces the contractual economy of sacrifice.

Why charis matters

The trajectory from Homeric charis (reciprocal gift) to Pauline charis (unilateral grace) marks one of the deepest transformations in the vocabulary of the soul. Homer's charis requires return; Paul's demands nothing. The feeling function evolves from transaction to reception.

charis in the corpus

899 instances
833 passages
56% in direct speech

Grammatical voice

When charis appears in the middle voice, the subject acts upon or for itself — the grammatical home of interiority.

20 mediopassive
13 middle
4 passive

Which characters in Homer use charis most?

Related terms

Distribution by work

Republic
138
Nicomachean Ethics
79
Meditations
71
Discourses
64
Gorgias
51
Timaeus
44
Rhetoric
40
Phaedrus
39
Symposium
37
Phaedo
35
Acts
23
Romans
18
Luke
17
2 Corinthians
16
The Odyssey
14
Apology
14
The Iliad
11
1 Corinthians
8
Galatians
8
Meno
8
Philippians
7
Hebrews
7
John
6
Ephesians
6
Colossians
6
Pythian Odes
6
Matthew
5
Works and Days
5
Olympian Odes
5
1 Thessalonians
4
2 Thessalonians
4
2 Timothy
4
Titus
4
Isthmian Odes
4
1 Timothy
3
Philemon
3
James
3
1 Peter
3
Revelation
2
Theogony
2
Hymn to Apollo
2
Nemean Odes
2
Mark
1
Hymn to Demeter
1
Hymn to Hermes
1
Hymn 7: To Dionysus
1
Hymn 24: To Hestia
1

Key passages

Showing 30 of 833 passages containing χάρις.

The Iliad 5.243–250 Sthenelus

Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ, ἄνδρʼ ὁρόω κρατερὼ ἐπὶ σοὶ μεμαῶτε μάχεσθαι ἶνʼ ἀπέλεθρον ἔχοντας· ὃ μὲν τόξων ἐῢ εἰδὼς Πάνδαρος, υἱὸς δʼ αὖτε Λυκάονος εὔχεται εἶναι· Αἰνείας δʼ υἱὸς μὲν ἀμύμον...

endued with measureless strength. The one is well skilled with the bow, even Pandarus, and moreover avoweth him to be the son of Lycaon; while Aeneas avoweth himself to be born of peerless Anchises, a...

The Iliad 5.826–834 Athena

Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ μήτε σύ γʼ Ἄρηα τό γε δείδιθι μήτε τινʼ ἄλλον ἀθανάτων, τοίη τοι ἐγὼν ἐπιτάρροθός εἰμι· ἀλλʼ ἄγʼ ἐπʼ Ἄρηϊ πρώτῳ ἔχε μώνυχας ἵππους, τύψον δὲ σχεδίην μηδʼ ἅζεο θοῦ...

and smite him in close fight, neither have thou awe of furious Ares that raveth here a full-wrought bane, a renegade, that but now spake with me and Hera, and made as though he would fight against the...

The Iliad 10.234–239 Agamemnon

Τυδεΐδη Διόμηδες ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ τὸν μὲν δὴ ἕταρόν γʼ αἱρήσεαι ὅν κʼ ἐθέλῃσθα, φαινομένων τὸν ἄριστον, ἐπεὶ μεμάασί γε πολλοί. μηδὲ σύ γʼ αἰδόμενος σῇσι φρεσὶ τὸν μὲν ἀρείω καλλείπειν, σὺ δὲ χείρ...

that man shalt thou choose as thy comrade, whomsoever thou wilt, the best of them that offer themselves, for many are eager. And do not thou out of reverent heart leave the better man behind, and tak...

The Iliad 11.16–30

Ἀργείους· ἐν δʼ αὐτὸς ἐδύσετο νώροπα χαλκόν. κνημῖδας μὲν πρῶτα περὶ κνήμῃσιν ἔθηκε καλὰς ἀργυρέοισιν ἐπισφυρίοις ἀραρυίας· δεύτερον αὖ θώρηκα περὶ στήθεσσιν ἔδυνε, τόν ποτέ οἱ Κινύρης δῶκε ξεινήϊον ε...

that on a time Cinyras had given him for a guest-gift. For he heard afar in Cyprus the great rumour that the Achaeans were about to sail forth to Troy in their ships, wherefore he gave him the breast...

The Iliad 11.608–615 Achilles

δῖε Μενοιτιάδη τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ νῦν ὀΐω περὶ γούνατʼ ἐμὰ στήσεσθαι Ἀχαιοὺς λισσομένους· χρειὼ γὰρ ἱκάνεται οὐκέτʼ ἀνεκτός. ἀλλʼ ἴθι νῦν Πάτροκλε Διῒ φίλε Νέστορʼ ἔρειο ὅν τινα τοῦτον ἄγει βεβλη...

for need has come upon them that may no longer be borne. Yet go now, Patroclus, dear to Zeus, and ask Nestor who it is that he bringeth wounded from out the war. Of a truth from behind he seemeth in...

The Iliad 13.620–639 Menelaus

λείψετέ θην οὕτω γε νέας Δαναῶν ταχυπώλων Τρῶες ὑπερφίαλοι δεινῆς ἀκόρητοι ἀϋτῆς, ἄλλης μὲν λώβης τε καὶ αἴσχεος οὐκ ἐπιδευεῖς ἣν ἐμὲ λωβήσασθε κακαὶ κύνες, οὐδέ τι θυμῷ Ζηνὸς ἐριβρεμέτεω χαλεπὴν ἐδεί...

ln such wise of a surety shall ye leave the ships of the Danaans, drivers of swift horses, ye overweening Trojans, insatiate of the dread din of battle. Aye, and of other despite and shame lack ye nau...

The Iliad 14.177–189

καλοὺς ἀμβροσίους ἐκ κράατος ἀθανάτοιο. ἀμφὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἀμβρόσιον ἑανὸν ἕσαθʼ, ὅν οἱ Ἀθήνη ἔξυσʼ ἀσκήσασα, τίθει δʼ ἐνὶ δαίδαλα πολλά· χρυσείῃς δʼ ἐνετῇσι κατὰ στῆθος περονᾶτο. ζώσατο δὲ ζώνῃ ἑκατὸν θυσάν...

and she pinned it upon her breast with brooches of gold, and she girt about her a girdle set with an hundred tassels, and in her pierced ears she put ear-rings with three clustering81.1 drops; and abu...

The Iliad 14.233–241 Hera

Ὕπνε ἄναξ πάντων τε θεῶν πάντων τʼ ἀνθρώπων, ἠμὲν δή ποτʼ ἐμὸν ἔπος ἔκλυες, ἠδʼ ἔτι καὶ νῦν πείθευ· ἐγὼ δέ κέ τοι ἰδέω χάριν ἤματα πάντα. κοίμησόν μοι Ζηνὸς ὑπʼ ὀφρύσιν ὄσσε φαεινὼ αὐτίκʼ ἐπεί κεν ἐγὼ...

and I will owe thee thanks all my days. Lull me to sleep the bright eyes of Zeus beneath his brows, so soon as I shall have lain me by his side in love. And gifts will I give thee, a fair throne, ever...

The Iliad 19.287–300 Briseis

Πάτροκλέ μοι δειλῇ πλεῖστον κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ ζωὸν μέν σε ἔλειπον ἐγὼ κλισίηθεν ἰοῦσα, νῦν δέ σε τεθνηῶτα κιχάνομαι ὄρχαμε λαῶν ἂψ ἀνιοῦσʼ· ὥς μοι δέχεται κακὸν ἐκ κακοῦ αἰεί. ἄνδρα μὲν ᾧ ἔδοσάν με πατ...

as I return thereto: thus for me doth evil ever follow hard on evil. My husband, unto whom my father and queenly mother gave me, I beheld mangled with the sharp bronze before our city, and my three br...

The Iliad 21.436–460 Poseidon

Φοῖβε τί ἢ δὴ νῶϊ διέσταμεν; οὐδὲ ἔοικεν ἀρξάντων ἑτέρων· τὸ μὲν αἴσχιον αἴ κʼ ἀμαχητὶ ἴομεν Οὔλυμπον δὲ Διὸς ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ. ἄρχε· σὺ γὰρ γενεῆφι νεώτερος· οὐ γὰρ ἔμοιγε καλόν, ἐπεὶ πρότερος γενό...

it were not meet for me, seeing I am the elder-born and know the more. Fool, how witless is the heart thou hast! Neither rememberest thou all the woes that we twain alone of all the gods endured at Il...

The Iliad 23.626–650 Nestor

ναὶ δὴ ταῦτά γε πάντα τέκος κατὰ μοῖραν ἔειπες· οὐ γὰρ ἔτʼ ἔμπεδα γυῖα φίλος πόδες, οὐδέ τι χεῖρες ὤμων ἀμφοτέρωθεν ἐπαΐσσονται ἐλαφραί. εἴθʼ ὣς ἡβώοιμι βίη τέ μοι ἔμπεδος εἴη ὡς ὁπότε κρείοντʼ Ἀμαρυγ...

as on the day when the Epeians were burying lord Amarynceus at Buprasium, and his sons appointed prizes in honour of the king. Then was there no man that proved himself my peer, neither of the Epeians...

The Odyssey 2.1–15

ἦμος δʼ ἠριγένεια φάνη ῥοδοδάκτυλος Ἠώς, ὤρνυτʼ ἄρʼ ἐξ εὐνῆφιν Ὀδυσσῆος φίλος υἱὸς εἵματα ἑσσάμενος, περὶ δὲ ξίφος ὀξὺ θέτʼ ὤμῳ, ποσσὶ δʼ ὑπὸ λιπαροῖσιν ἐδήσατο καλὰ πέδιλα, βῆ δʼ ἴμεν ἐκ θαλάμοιο θεῷ...

Soon as early Dawn appeared, the rosy-fingered, up from his bed arose the dear son of Odysseus and put on his clothing. About his shoulder he slung his sharp sword, and beneath his shining feet bound ...

The Odyssey 4.71–75 Telemachus

φράζεο, Νεστορίδη, τῷ ἐμῷ κεχαρισμένε θυμῷ, χαλκοῦ τε στεροπὴν κὰδ δώματα ἠχήεντα χρυσοῦ τʼ ἠλέκτρου τε καὶ ἀργύρου ἠδʼ ἐλέφαντος. Ζηνός που τοιήδε γʼ Ὀλυμπίου ἔνδοθεν αὐλή, ὅσσα τάδʼ ἄσπετα πολλά· σέ...

such untold wealth is here; amazement holds me as I look.” Now as he spoke fair-haired Menelaus heard him, and he spoke and addressed them with winged words: “Dear children, with Zeus verily n...

The Odyssey 8.15–25

ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ὤτρυνε μένος καὶ θυμὸν ἑκάστου. καρπαλίμως δʼ ἔμπληντο βροτῶν ἀγοραί τε καὶ ἕδραι ἀγρομένων· πολλοὶ δʼ ἄρʼ ἐθηήσαντο ἰδόντες υἱὸν Λαέρταο δαΐφρονα· τῷ δʼ ἄρʼ Ἀθήνη θεσπεσίην κατέχευε χάριν ...

So saying she roused the spirit and heart of each man, and speedily the place of assembly and the seats were filled with men that gathered. And many marvelled at the sight of the wise son of Laertes, ...

The Odyssey 8.536–586 Alcinous

κέκλυτε, Φαιήκων ἡγήτορες ἠδὲ μέδοντες, Δημόδοκος δʼ ἤδη σχεθέτω φόρμιγγα λίγειαν· οὐ γάρ πως πάντεσσι χαριζόμενος τάδʼ ἀείδει. ἐξ οὗ δορπέομέν τε καὶ ὤρορε θεῖος ἀοιδός, ἐκ τοῦ δʼ οὔ πω παύσατʼ ὀιζυρ...

from that time yon stranger has never ceased from sorrowful lamentation; surely, methinks, grief has encompassed his heart. Nay, let the minstrel cease, that we may all make merry, hosts and guest ali...

The Odyssey 10.31–45

ἔνθʼ ἐμὲ μὲν γλυκὺς ὕπνος ἐπήλυθε κεκμηῶτα, αἰεὶ γὰρ πόδα νηὸς ἐνώμων, οὐδέ τῳ ἄλλῳ δῶχʼ ἑτάρων, ἵνα θᾶσσον ἱκοίμεθα πατρίδα γαῖαν· οἱ δʼ ἕταροι ἐπέεσσι πρὸς ἀλλήλους ἀγόρευον, καί μʼ ἔφασαν χρυσόν τε...

and said that I was bringing home for myself gold and silver as gifts from Aeolus, the great-hearted son of Hippotas. And thus would one speak, with a glance at his neighbor: “‘Out on it, how belo...

The Odyssey 10.38–45 Companion Of Odysseus

ὦ πόποι, ὡς ὅδε πᾶσι φίλος καὶ τίμιός ἐστιν ἀνθρώποις, ὅτεών τε πόλιν καὶ γαῖαν ἵκηται. πολλὰ μὲν ἐκ Τροίης ἄγεται κειμήλια καλὰ ληίδος, ἡμεῖς δʼ αὖτε ὁμὴν ὁδὸν ἐκτελέσαντες οἴ...

Much goodly treasure is he carrying with him from the land of Troy from out the spoil, while we, who have accomplished the same journey as he, are returning, bearing with us empty hands. And now Aeolu...

The Odyssey 13.4–15 Alcinous

ὦ Ὀδυσεῦ, ἐπεὶ ἵκευ ἐμὸν ποτὶ χαλκοβατὲς δῶ, ὑψερεφές, τῷ σʼ οὔ τι παλιμπλαγχθέντα γʼ ὀΐω ἂψ ἀπονοστήσειν, εἰ καὶ μάλα πολλὰ πέπονθας. ὑμέων δʼ ἀνδρὶ ἑκάστῳ ἐφιέμενος τάδε εἴρω, ὅσσοι ἐνὶ μεγάροισι γε...

high-roofed house with floor of brass, thou shalt not, methinks, be driven back, and return with baffled purpose, even though thou hast suffered much. And to each man of you that in my halls are ever ...

The Odyssey 15.130–144

ὣς εἰποῦσʼ ἐν χερσὶ τίθει, ὁ δʼ ἐδέξατο χαίρων. καὶ τὰ μὲν ἐς πείρινθα τίθει Πεισίστρατος ἥρως δεξάμενος, καὶ πάντα ἑῷ θηήσατο θυμῷ· τοὺς δʼ ἦγε πρὸς δῶμα κάρη ξανθὸς Μενέλαος. ἑζέσθην δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα κ...

So saying, she placed it in his hands, and he took it gladly. And the prince Peisistratus took the gifts, and laid them in the box of the chariot, and gazed at them all wondering in his heart. Then fa...

The Odyssey 16.181–185 Telemachus

ἀλλοῖός μοι, ξεῖνε, φάνης νέον ἠὲ πάροιθεν, ἄλλα δὲ εἵματʼ ἔχεις, καί τοι χρὼς οὐκέθʼ ὁμοῖος. ἦ μάλα τις θεός ἐσσι, τοὶ οὐρανὸν εὐρὺν ἔχουσιν· ἀλλʼ ἵληθʼ, ἵνα τοι κεχαρισμένα δώομεν ἱρὰ ἠδὲ χρύσεα δῶρ...

and golden gifts, finely wrought; but do thou spare us.”

The Odyssey 17.57–71

ὣς ἄρʼ ἐφώνησεν, τῇ δʼ ἄπτερος ἔπλετο μῦθος. ἡ δʼ ὑδρηναμένη, καθαρὰ χροῒ εἵμαθʼ ἑλοῦσα, εὔχετο πᾶσι θεοῖσι τεληέσσας ἑκατόμβας ῥέξειν, αἴ κέ ποθι Ζεὺς ἄντιτα ἔργα τελέσσῃ. Τηλέμαχος δʼ ἄρʼ ἔπειτα διὲ...

that bring fulfillment, in the hope that Zeus would some day bring deeds of requital to pass. But Telemachus thereafter went forth through the hall with his spear in his hand, and with him went tw...

The Odyssey 18.290–304

ὣς ἔφατʼ Ἀντίνοος, τοῖσιν δʼ ἐπιήνδανε μῦθος· δῶρα δʼ ἄρʼ οἰσέμεναι πρόεσαν κήρυκα ἕκαστος. Ἀντινόῳ μὲν ἔνεικε μέγαν περικαλλέα πέπλον, ποικίλον· ἐν δʼ ἀρʼ ἔσαν περόναι δυοκαίδεκα πᾶσαι χρύσειαι, κληῗ...

So spoke Antinous, and his word was pleasing to them, and each man sent forth a herald to bring his gifts. For Antinous he brought a large and beautiful robe, richly broidered, and in it were golden b...

The Odyssey 19.386–400

ὣς ἄρʼ ἔφη, γρηῢς δὲ λέβηθʼ ἕλε παμφανόωντα τοῦ πόδας ἐξαπένιζεν, ὕδωρ δʼ ἐνεχεύατο πουλὺ ψυχρόν, ἔπειτα δὲ θερμὸν ἐπήφυσεν. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσεὺς ἷζεν ἐπʼ ἐσχαρόφιν, ποτὶ δὲ σκότον ἐτράπετʼ αἶψα· αὐτίκα γὰρ...

for he at once had a foreboding at heart that, as she touched him, she might note a scar, and the truth be made manifest. So she drew near and began to wash her lord, and straightway knew the scar of ...

The Odyssey 23.152–165

ὣς ἄρα τις εἴπεσκε, τὰ δʼ οὐκ ἴσαν ὡς ἐτέτυκτο. αὐτὰρ Ὀδυσσῆα μεγαλήτορα ᾧ ἐνὶ οἴκῳ Εὐρυνόμη ταμίη λοῦσεν καὶ χρῖσεν ἐλαίῳ, ἀμφὶ δέ μιν φᾶρος καλὸν βάλεν ἠδὲ χιτῶνα· αὐτὰρ κὰκ κεφαλῆς κάλλος πολὺ χεῦε...

and cast about him a fair cloak and a tunic; and over his head Athena shed abundant beauty, making him taller to look upon and mightier, and from his head she made locks to flow in curls like the hyac...

The Odyssey 24.281–301 Laertes

ξεῖνʼ, ἦ τοι μὲν γαῖαν ἱκάνεις, ἣν ἐρεείνεις, ὑβρισταὶ δʼ αὐτὴν καὶ ἀτάσθαλοι ἄνδρες ἔχουσιν· δῶρα δʼ ἐτώσια ταῦτα χαρίζεο, μυρίʼ ὀπάζων· εἰ γάρ μιν ζωόν γʼ ἐκίχεις Ἰθάκης ἐνὶ δήμῳ, τῷ κέν σʼ εὖ δώροι...

then would he have sent thee on thy way with ample requital of gifts and good entertainment; for that is the due of him who begins the kindness But come, tell me this, and declare it truly. How many y...

Matthew 2:9–16 Mary

οἱ δὲ ἀκούσαντες τοῦ βασιλέως ἐπορεύθησαν καὶ ἰδοὺ ὁ ἀστὴρ ὃν εἶδον ἐν τῇ ἀνατολῇ προῆγεν αὐτοὺς ἕως ἐλθὼν ἐστάθη ἐπάνω οὗ ἦν τὸ παιδίον ἰδόντες δὲ τὸν ἀστέρα ἐχάρησαν χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα καὶ ἐλθόντε...

Matthew 13:17–24 Unknown Speaker

ἀμὴν λέγω ὑμῖν ὅτι πολλοὶ προφῆται καὶ δίκαιοι ἐπεθύμησαν ἰδεῖν ἃ βλέπετε καὶ οὐκ ἴδαν καὶ ἀκοῦσαι ἃ ἀκούετε καὶ οὐκ ἤκουσαν ὑμεῖς οὖν ἀκούσατε τὴν παραβολὴν τοῦ σπείραντος παντὸς ἀκούοντος τὸν λόγον ...

Matthew 13:41–48

ἀποστελεῖ ὁ υἱὸς τοῦ ἀνθρώπου τοὺς ἀγγέλους αὐτοῦ καὶ συλλέξουσιν ἐκ τῆς βασιλείας αὐτοῦ πάντα τὰ σκάνδαλα καὶ τοὺς ποιοῦντας τὴν ἀνομίαν καὶ βαλοῦσιν αὐτοὺς εἰς τὴν κάμινον τοῦ πυρός ἐκεῖ ἔσται ὁ κλα...

Matthew 25:17–24 Unknown Speaker

ὡσαύτως ὁ τὰ δύο ἐκέρδησεν ἄλλα δύο ὁ δὲ τὸ ἓν λαβὼν ἀπελθὼν ὤρυξεν γῆν καὶ ἔκρυψεν τὸ ἀργύριον τοῦ κυρίου αὐτοῦ μετὰ δὲ πολὺν χρόνον ἔρχεται ὁ κύριος τῶν δούλων ἐκείνων καὶ συναίρει λόγον μετ’ αὐτῶν ...

Matthew 28:1–8 Mary

Ὀψὲ δὲ σαββάτων τῇ ἐπιφωσκούσῃ εἰς μίαν σαββάτων ἦλθεν Μαριὰμ ἡ Μαγδαληνὴ καὶ ἡ ἄλλη Μαρία θεωρῆσαι τὸν τάφον καὶ ἰδοὺ σεισμὸς ἐγένετο μέγας ἄγγελος γὰρ κυρίου καταβὰς ἐξ οὐρανοῦ καὶ προσελθὼν ἀπεκύλι...

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Explore charis in the texts

833 passages across Homer, Hesiod, Pindar, and the New Testament contain charis.

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