Original Word: ἀγαλλιάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: agalliaó
Pronunciation: ag-al-lee-ah'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (ag-al-lee-ah'-o)
KJV: be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly)
NASB: glad, greatly rejoice, rejoiced, rejoiced greatly, exultation, exulted, rejoice
Word Origin: [from agan "much" and G242 (ἅλλομαι - leaped)]

1. (properly) to jump for joy, i.e. exult

rejoice greatly.

From agan (much) and hallomai; properly, to jump for joy, i.e. Exult -- be (exceeding) glad, with exceeding joy, rejoice (greatly).

see GREEK hallomai

21 agalliáō (from agan, "much, very" and 242 /hállomai, "jump, leap") – properly, getting so glad one jumps in celebration; to exult (boast) because so experientially joyful.

Word Origin
from agallomai (to make glorious, exalt)
Definition
to exult, rejoice greatly
NASB Translation
exultation (1), exulted (1), glad (2), greatly rejoice (2), rejoice (1), rejoiced (2), rejoiced greatly (2).

STRONGS NT 21: ἀγαλλιάομαι

ἀγαλλιάομαι, see ἀγαλλιάω.

STRONGS NT 21: ἀγαλλιάωἀγαλλιάω, (ῶ, and (but the active is not used except in Luke 1:47 (ἠγαλλίασα), in Revelation 19:7 (ἀγαλλιῶμεν) L T Tr WH (and in 1 Peter 1:8 WH Tr marginal reading (ἀγαλλιᾶτε), cf. WH's Appendix, p. 169)); 1 aorist ἠγαλλιασάμην, and (with a middle significance) ἠγαλλιάθην (John 5:35; Rec. ἠγαλλιάσθην); a word of Hellenistic coinage (from ἀγάλλομαι to rejoice, glory (yet cf. Buttmann, 51 (45))), often in the Sept. (for גִּיל, עָלַץ, רָנַן, שׂוּשׂ), to exult, rejoice exceedingly: Matthew 5:12; Luke 10:21; Acts 2:26; Acts 16:34; 1 Peter 1:8; 1 Peter 4:13; ἔν τίνι, 1 Peter 1:6, dative of the thing in which the joy originates (cf. Winers Grammar, § 33 a.; B. 185 (160)); but John 5:35 means, 'to rejoice while his light shone' (i. e. in (the midst of) etc.). ἐπί τίνι, Luke 1:47; followed by ἵνα, John 8:56 that he should see, rejoiced because it had been promised him that he should see. This divine promise was fulfilled to him at length in paradise; cf. Winers Grammar, 339 (318); B. 239 (206). On this word see Gelpke in the Studien und Kritiken for 1849, p. 645f.

Overview of New Testament Usage

The verb translated “rejoice exceedingly” appears eleven times in the Greek New Testament. Its settings range from the lips of Jesus and Mary to the praise of heaven in Revelation. In every context it conveys more than an inner feeling; it is an outward, Spirit-borne exultation rooted in God’s saving work and future hope.

Joy in the Face of Persecution

Matthew 5:12 inaugurates the Sermon on the Mount with a striking command: “Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven.” Peter echoes the same tone for suffering believers: “You rejoice in this, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials” (1 Peter 1:6) and again, “Rejoice insofar as you share in the sufferings of Christ” (1 Peter 4:13). New-covenant exultation therefore is not circumstantial; it is anchored in a promised inheritance that remains “undefiled, unfading, kept in heaven” (1 Peter 1:4).

Eschatological Joy

Peter connects present rejoicing with future revelation: “Though you have not seen Him, you love Him… you rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy, receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls” (1 Peter 1:8-9). The final occurrence erupts at the consummation: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory! For the marriage of the Lamb has come” (Revelation 19:7). The word thus brackets the church age—from those who first believed without seeing to the multitudes who will see the Lamb.

Christ’s Own Exultation

Luke records the Son’s rejoicing: “At that time Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and declared, ‘I praise You, Father…’” (Luke 10:21). Here the incarnate Lord exults in the Spirit to the Father, revealing Trinitarian fellowship as the fountainhead of redeemed joy. By participating in Christ, believers share in the same Spirit-energized delight.

Exultation in Salvation History

• Mary’s Magnificat: “My spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47) celebrates covenant mercy extending from Abraham to every generation.
• Abraham’s anticipation: “Your father Abraham rejoiced that he would see My day; he saw it and was glad” (John 8:56). The patriarch’s forward-looking exultation bridges Old and New Covenants.
• David’s prophetic voice: Peter cites Psalm 16 concerning Messiah, “My heart was glad and my tongue rejoiced” (Acts 2:26). The resurrection validates David’s Spirit-inspired confidence.
• John the Baptist’s ministry: Jesus notes that the crowd was “willing for a time to rejoice in John’s light” (John 5:35), but lasting joy belongs to those who heed John’s testimony to the Lamb.

Communal and Household Rejoicing

In Acts 16:34 the Philippian jailer “rejoiced because he had come to believe in God with his whole household.” The gospel turns a midnight crisis into a family festival. Such scenes illustrate how salvation breaks chains of sin and fear, replacing them with public celebration.

Liturgical and Eschatological Worship

The verb surfaces in corporate doxology: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him the glory!” (Revelation 19:7). Heavenly liturgy sets the pattern for earthly worship: joy that is God-centered, Christ-exalting, and future-directed.

Theological Significance

1. Trinitarian Source: Luke 10:21 roots exultation in the Holy Spirit’s work, mediated through the Son to the Father.
2. Christological Focus: The object of joy is consistently the person and work of Christ—His incarnation (Luke 1:47), revelation (John 8:56), resurrection (Acts 2:26), present reign (1 Peter 1:8), and coming marriage supper (Revelation 19:7).
3. Eschatological Assurance: Future reward energizes present obedience amid persecution (Matthew 5:12; 1 Peter 4:13).
4. Missional Impulse: Joy accompanies gospel advance—whether among crowds (John 5:35) or households (Acts 16:34)—affirming that evangelism is not mere duty but delight in salvation shared.

Pastoral and Practical Implications

• Suffering congregations are to be reminded that rejoicing is not incompatible with trials; indeed, it is commanded as an act of faith.
• Corporate worship should include expressions that mirror heavenly celebration, teaching believers to look beyond present circumstances.
• Discipleship must emphasize the Holy Spirit as the present wellspring of joy, guarding against both emotionalism without truth and orthodoxy without affection.
• Evangelism that flows from delight, not obligation, becomes naturally contagious, as illustrated by the jailer’s household.

Related Old Testament Background

The Septuagint frequently employs the same verb to translate Hebrew terms for jubilant exaltation (e.g., Psalm 32:11; Isaiah 61:10). This continuity shows that the New Testament does not invent a new kind of joy but amplifies the covenant joy found whenever God acts to save His people.

Application for Contemporary Ministry

Believers facing marginalization can cling to the sure reward awaiting them. Leaders should cultivate a culture where testimony of salvation is met with open celebration. Worship planning may intentionally include songs and readings that rehearse God’s redemptive acts, encouraging the congregation to “rejoice with an inexpressible and glorious joy” (1 Peter 1:8). Such practices align the church on earth with the church in heaven, where rejoicing never ceases.

αγαλλιαθηναι ἀγαλλιαθῆναι αγαλλιάσεται αγαλλιασθε αγαλλιάσθε ἀγαλλιᾶσθε αγαλλιασθήναι αγαλλιάσθω αγαλλιάσθωσαν αγαλλιάσομαι αγαλλιασόμεθα αγαλλιάσονται αγαλλιασώμεθα αγαλλιάσωνται αγαλλιώμεθα αγαλλιωμεν ἀγαλλιῶμεν αγαλλιωμενοι αγαλλιώμενοι ἀγαλλιώμενοι αγαλλιώμενος αγάλματα ηγαλλιασάμεθα ηγαλλιάσαντο ηγαλλιασατο ηγαλλιάσατο ἠγαλλιάσατο ηγαλλίασε ηγαλλιασεν ἠγαλλίασεν ηγαλλιώμεθα agalliasthe agalliâsthe agalliathenai agalliathênai agalliathēnai agalliathē̂nai agalliomen agalliômen agalliōmen agalliō̂men agalliomenoi agalliōmenoi agalliṓmenoi egalliasato egalliásato ēgalliasato ēgalliásato egalliasen egallíasen ēgalliasen ēgallíasenInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts