JOY

JOY is an agreeable affection of the soul, 1 Sam 18:6, arising from the possession or prospect of good. Ezr 6:16; Esth 8:16. It is reckoned among "the fruit of the Spirit," Gal 5:22, and is chiefly used by the sacred writers, especially of the N.T., to signify a religious emotion. That which springs from a sense of pardoned sin and a union of the soul to Christ is pure, Luke 15:9-10; certain, John 16:22; unspeakable, 1 Pet 1:8; and eternal. Isa 61:7. "Believers are commanded to rejoice, Phil 3:1;Phil 4:4, but there is also a worldly, foolish, or hypocritical joy. Job 20:5; Prov 15:21. That which has no better source than in vanity or sin will in the end be turned to bitterness." — Ayre.

Part of speech: noun (n.)

1. The passion or emotion excited by the acquisition or expectation of good; pleasurable feelings or emotions caused by success, good fortune, and the like, or by a rational prospect of possessing what we love or desire; gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight. Her heavenly form beheld, all wished her joy. Dryden. Glides the smooth current of domestic joy. Johnson. Who, for the joy that was set before him, endured the cross, despising the shame. Heb. xii. 2. Tears of true joy for his return. Shak. Joy is a delight of the mind, from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of a good. Locke.

2. That which causes joy or happiness. For ye are our glory and joy. 1 Thess. ii. 20. A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Keats.

3. The sign or exhibition of joy; gayety; mirth; merriment; festivity. Such joy made Una, when her knight she found. Spenser. The roofs with joy resound. Dryden.

Synonyms: Gladness; pleasure; delight; happiness; exultation; transport; felicity; ecstasy; rapture; bliss; gayety; mirth; merriment; festivity; hilarity.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

To rejoice; to be glad; to delight; to exult. I will joy in the God of my salvation. Hab. iii. 18. In whose sight all things joy. Milton.

Part of speech: verb (v.)

1. To give joy to; to congratulate. [Obs.] "Joy us of our conquest." Dryden. To joy the friend, or grapple with the foe. Prior.

2. To gladden; to make joyful; to exhilarate. [Obs.] Neither pleasure's art can joy my spirits. Shak.

3. To enjoy. [Obs.] See Enjoy. Who might have lived and joyed immortal bliss. Milton.