GRATITUDE (εὐχαριστία, G2374, [1] thankfulness, gratitude; [2] the rendering of thanks, thanksgiving; [3] Lord’s Supper, Eucharist, 1 Cor 10:16). The condition or quality of being grateful; an emotion or sentiment of thankfulness. A warm sense of appreciation for a kindness received; accompanied by a feeling of good will toward the benefactor, and a desire to repay the favor.

The term “gratitude” is absent from the KJV and occurs only once in the RSV (Acts 24:3) where it is a tr. of eucharistía. This Gr. word appears fifteen times in the NT and four times in the LXX (Esth 8:13; Wisd Sol 16:28; Ecclus 37:11; 2 Macc 2:27)—thus only one time in the canonical OT, and this in a disputed passage. (See the copy of Artaxerxes’ letter in the text of the LXX.) In the KJV NT eucharistía is tr. “thanksgiving” nine times (2 Cor 4:15; 9:11, 12; Phil 4:6; Col 2:7; 4:2; 1 Tim 4:3, 4; Rev 7:12), “giving of thanks” three times (1 Cor 14:17; Eph 5:4; 1 Tim 2:1), “thanks” two times (1 Thess 3:9; Rev 4:9), and “thankfulness” one time (Acts 24:3).

Eucharistía has been employed since the time of Hippocrates (5th-4th cent. b.c.) and Menander (4th cent. b.c.). It is found in both Philo and Josephus. It is common in the inscrs., but there is perhaps only one known example in the papyri, viz., in a letter to a Gymnastic Club by the Emperor Claudius: he expresses gratification for games which were performed in his honor. In profane Gr. eucharistía never occurs in the sense of “thanks” or “giving of thanks”; in Biblical Gr. this usage is confined always to a religious sense. Origen equates εὐχαριστία, G2374, with εὐχαριτία, “the mark of fine training.”

No motif more adequately recalls the nature of Biblical faith than “gratitude” (or thanksgiving). With three insignificant exceptions (Luke 17:9; Acts 24:3; Rom 16:4) thanks invariably is rendered unto God. It appears only within the context of the covenant relationship. Moreover, it is always prompted by a concrete act of the covenant God in human affairs.

In the OT the verb “give thanks” is יָדָה֮, H3344, the basic meaning of which is “throw” or “cast”; the fem. noun is תּﯴדָה, H9343, (“thanksgiving”). Thanksgiving comprises the special note of the Psalter; yet Israel’s gratitude to Jehovah rings throughout her history. King David appointed certain Levites “to invoke, to thank, and to praise the Lord” (1 Chron 16:4). This practice was continued by Solomon (2 Chron 5:13; 7:6), Hezekiah (31:2), and by the exiles who returned from Babylon (Neh 11:17).

Thanksgiving was prominent in Israel’s cultic worship. Festival processions en route to Zion filled the air “with glad shouts and songs of thanksgiving” (Ps 42:4). Their entrance into the Temple was with thanksgiving (95:2; 100:4); the service itself contained melodies of gratitude (147:7). All the tribes ascended to Jerusalem “to give thanks to the name of the Lord” (122:4).

Israel thanked Jehovah because He ever remained faithful to His covenant with His people (100:4). God’s faithfulness was manifested in many ways as He protected the Jewish nation from external foes (7:17).

In the NT thanksgiving to God both for His work (Luke 17:16) and for His person (Luke 2:38) is a major theme. The concept of thanksgiving abounds in Paul’s epistles (Rom 1:8; 7:25; 2 Cor 9:15; Col 1:12; 1 Tim 1:12). The NT writers urged their fellow Christians to be grateful (Eph 5:4; Col 3:15; Heb 13:15; James 1:2, 9; 1 Pet 4:12-14). Among the Gentiles a lack of gratitude was coupled with an absence of the true faith (Rom 1:21).

Gratitude is pleasing to God (Ps 92:1) because (1) it is commanded (Ps 50:14; Phil 4:6), (2) Christ set the example (Matt 11:25; 26:27; John 6:11; 11:41), and (3) the heavenly host is engaged in it (Rev 4:9; 7:11, 12; 11:16, 17). It appears in psalms (1 Chron 16:7) and ministers were appointed to express it publicly (1 Chron 16:4, 7; 23:30; 2 Chron 31:2).

Gratitude should be offered (1) to God (Ps 50:14), (2) to Christ (1 Tim 1:12), (3) through Christ (Rom 1:8; Col 3:17; Heb 13:15), (4) in the name of Christ (Eph 5:20), (5) in both private (Dan 6:10) and public worship (Ps 35:18), (6) at the remembrance of God’s holiness (Ps 30:4; 97:12), (7) before eating (John 6:11; Acts 27:35), (8) upon the completion of great tasks (Neh 12:31, 40), (9) in everything (1 Thess 5:18), and (10) at all times (Eph 1:16; 5:20; 1 Thess 1:2).

Gratitude can be expressed for (1) the goodness and mercy of God (Ps 106:1; 107:1; 136:1-3), (2) the gift of Christ (2 Cor 9:15), (3) Christ’s power and reign (Rev 11:17), (4) deliverance from indwelling sin (Rom 7:23-25), (5) the nearness of God’s presence (Ps 75:1), (6) our desire to give for God’s work (1 Chron 29:6-14), (7) the supply of our physical needs (Rom 14:6, 7; 1 Tim 4:3, 4), (8) victory over death and the grave (1 Cor 15:57), (9) wisdom and might (Dan 2:23), (10) triumph of the Gospel (2 Cor 2:14), (11) the reception of God’s Word (1 Thess 2:13), (12) conversion of souls (Rom 6:17), (13) faith (Rom 1:8; 2 Thess 1:3), love (2 Thess 1:3), and zeal (2 Cor 8:16) manifested in others, (14) grace bestowed upon others (1 Cor 1:4; Phil 1:3-5; Col 1:3-6), (15) ministers appointed by God (1 Tim 1:12), (16) all men (1 Tim 2:1), and (17) everything God permits (2 Cor 9:11; Eph 5:20).

Gratitude ought to be accompanied by (1) intercession for others (1 Tim 2:1; 2 Tim 1:3; Philem 4), (2) prayer (Neh 11:17; Phil 4:6; Col 4:2), and (3) praise (Ps 92:1; Heb 13:15).

Believers are exhorted to be grateful (Ps 105:1; Col 3:15). They should (1) resolve to offer (Ps 18:49; 30:12), (2) abound in faith with (Col 2:7), (3) magnify the Lord by (Ps 69:30), (4) enter God’s house with (100:4), (5) come before God with (95:2), (6) offer habitually (Dan 6:10), and (7) present sacrifices of (Ps 116:17).

The wicked are averse to thanksgiving (Rom 1:21); hypocrites mar it with boasting (Luke 18:11). Biblical examples of true gratitude are (1) the Levites (2 Chron 5:12), (2) David (1 Chron 29:13), (3) Jonah (Jonah 2:9), (4) Daniel (Dan 2:33), (5) Simeon (Luke 2:28), (6) Anna (Luke 2:38), and (7) Paul (Acts 28:15). Gratitude lay at the very heart of Biblical faith because it formed the only proper response to what God had done for His people.

The Dead Sea scroll of Thanksgiving Psalms or Hodayoth (1QH) contains c. thirty-five fragmentary or complete hymns in which the author renders thanks for acts of God’s kindness. Most of these psalms begin with the expression, “I thank thee, O Lord.” Their style is reminiscent of the Heb. Psalter.

Bibliography J. Smith and R. Lee, Handfuls On Purpose, VI (1947), 70; J. Calvin, The Institutes of the Christian Religion (1949), II. viii. 16; III. xx. 28; W. G. Scroggie, The Psalms, IV (1951), 251; M. Luther, Lectures On Galatians, Vol. XXVI in Works (c1963), 43, 138, 283, 376f.; H. H. Rowly, A Companion to the Bible (1963), 132; W. Eichrodt, Theology of the Old Testament, II (1964), 271, 299, 372; G. Von Rad, Old Testament Theology, I (1967), 224-226.