encourage, encouraged, encouraging, encouragement

Definition

The terms “encourage” and “encouragement” refer to saying and doing things to cause someone to have comfort, hope, confidence, and courage.

• A similar term is “exhort,” which means to urge someone to reject an activity that is wrong and to instead do things that are good and right.
• The apostle Paul and other New Testament writers taught Christians to encourage one another to love and serve others.

Translation Suggestions

• Depending on the context, ways to translate “encourage” could include “urge” or “comfort” or “say kind things” or “help and support.”
• The phrase “give words of encouragement” means “say things that cause other people to feel loved, accepted, and empowered.”

(See also: discourage, confidence, exhort)

Bible References

Word Data

• Strong’s: H2388