How Many Times is Joy Mentioned in the Bible?

In the New Testament, joy is listed as a fruit of the Spirit. I am a naturally joyful person because I know the Lord is in control of my life. But how many times is joy in the Bible?

True joy is much more than a happy feeling. Joy comes from deep within you while happiness is based on your outward circumstances.

How Many Times Joy Appears in the Bible

Joy appears 165 times in the King James Version (KJV), 218 times in the New International Version (NIV), and 182 times in the New American Standard (NASB).

However, “joy,” “joyful,” or “rejoice” appear 430 times in the English Standard Version (ESV). Compare that to “happy” or “happiness” which only appears ten times. Which would you rather have?

What is the Spiritual Meaning of Joy?

Biblical joy stems from the fruit of the Spirit given to you by God. The joy of the Lord provides comfort, contentment, and peace despite difficult circumstances.

You face trials of various kinds along this path of life, but God’s presence brings fullness of joy despite such things. Christ Jesus brought good news of great joy!

What is the Hebrew Meaning of Joy?

The Hebrew word for joy is expressed through many synonyms. The most common translations are “to shine,” “to leap,” “to exult,” and to “rejoice exceedingly.”

In the New Testament, Greek words for joy in the Christian life center around the Gospel. Pure joy is especially conspicuous in the Gospel of Luke.

What is the Biblical Version of Joy?

Earthly happiness is vastly different from God’s everlasting joy. The word “joy” can look like shouts of joy, great delight, a joyful heart, and songs of joy.

Christian joy can also look like the quiet peace of God despite difficult times. Followers of Christ need to be known for an abundance of joy!

Joy Verses in the Bible

Through the power of the Holy Spirit, our God of hope gives you and I much joy! The book of Philippians is called the “Book of Joy” despite the trials endured by the Apostle Paul. Joy verses abound!

God’s gift of joy is much more than a “concept of joy.” Temporary happiness is absent in difficult situations. There is no greater joy than knowing the Lord Jesus Christ walks with you.

Here are some of my favorite Bible verses that I keep in my journal from both the Old Testament and New Testament about this fruit of the Holy Spirit. Take joy in scrolling through them.

Peace and Joy

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope” (Romans 15:13).
“For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit” (Romans 14:17).
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:1-5).

Joy in God’s Presence

“You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Psalm 16:11).
“And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).
“But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy, and spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may exult in you” (Psalm 5:11).
“Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel” (Isaiah 12:6).
“You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence” (Acts 2:28).
“For you make him most blessed forever; you make him glad with the joy of your presence” (Psalm 21:6).
“For you are our glory and joy” (1 Thessalonians 2:20).
“Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his place” (1 Chronicles 16:27).

Joy and Rejoicing

“Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4)
“This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing” (Zephaniah 3:17).
“Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do” (Ecclesiastes 9:7).
“Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure” (Psalm 16:9).
“Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!” (Psalm 32:11)
“You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; you have loosed my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness” (Psalm 30:11).
“When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy” (Matthew 2:10).

God’s Joy

“I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth” (3 John 1:4).
“For the Lord takes pleasure in his people; he adorns the humble with salvation” (Psalm 149:4).

Deliverance Joy

“And in every province and in every city, wherever the king’s command and his edict reached, there was gladness and joy among the Jews, a feast and a holiday. And many from the people of the land declared themselves Jews, for fear of the Jews had fallen on them” (Esther 8:17).
“And they offered great sacrifices that day and rejoiced, for God had made them rejoice with great joy; the women and children also rejoiced. And the joy of Jerusalem was heard far away” (Nehemiah 12:43).
“And they kept the Feast of Unleavened Bread seven days with joy, for the Lord had made them joyful and had turned the heart of the king of Assyria to them, so that he aided them in the work of the house of God, the God of Israel” (Ezra 6:22).
“So he brought his people out with joy, his chosen ones with singing” (Psalm 105:43).

God’s People are Joyous

“Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 1:12).
“For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you” (Philemon 1:7).
“So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind” (Philippians 2:1-2).
“We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2).
“How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? How we thank God for you!” (1 Thessalonians 3:9).

Joy During Trials

“Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12).
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (James 1:2-3).
“So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you” (John 16:22).
“For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning” (Psalm 30:5).
“And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10b).
“Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy!” (Psalm 126:5)
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).

Serving the Lord with Joy

“His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master” (Matthew 25:21).
“And the disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:52).
“Not that we lord it over your faith, but we work with you for your joy, for you stand firm in your faith” (2 Corinthians 1:24).

Joy Despite Affliction

“I am acting with great boldness toward you; I have great pride in you; I am filled with comfort. In all our affliction, I am overflowing with joy” (2 Corinthians 7:4).
“And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
“Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:17-18).
“As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything” (2 Corinthians 6:10).
“Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice” (Psalm 51:8).

Following God’s Commands with Joy

“The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes” (Psalm 19:8).
“Your words were found, and I ate them, and your words became to me a joy and the delight of my heart, for I am called by your name, O Lord, God of hosts” (Jeremiah 15:16).

Joy in Suffering

“But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed” (1 Peter 4:13).
“For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).
“You are a hiding place for me; you preserve me from trouble; you surround me with shouts of deliverance” (Psalm 32:7).

Joy of Salvation

“Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory” (1 Peter 1:8).
“My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed” (Psalm 71:23).
“Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance” (Luke 15:7).
“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:2).
“Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit” (Psalm 51:12).
“And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; the children of Israel shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away” (Isaiah 35:10).
“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation” (Isaiah 12:3).

Worship with Joy

“I will be glad and exult in you; I will sing praise to your name, O Most High” (Psalm 9:2).
“And they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy” (Luke 24:52).

Will of God Brings Joy

“Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart” (Psalm 119:111).
“So that by God’s will I may come to you with joy and be refreshed in your company” (Romans 15:32).
“Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full” (John 16:24).

Joy in the Lord

“Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart” (Psalm 37:4).
“And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior” (Luke 1:47).
“Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad” (Psalm 126:2-3).
“May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you! May those who love your salvation say evermore, “God is great!” (Psalm 70:4).

God’s Strength Gives Joy

“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him” (Psalm 28:7).
“This is a sacred day before our Lord. Don’t be dejected and sad, for the joy of the Lord is your strength!” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Joy as a Gift

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5:22-23).
“Light is sown for the righteous, and joy for the upright in heart” (Psalm 97:11).
“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).

God faithfully provides you with joy from the inside out. I pray that you live in His joy today.

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About the Author
Donna is a sought-after author, speaker, and Bible teacher. Her path from being unchurched to becoming passionate about sharing Jesus was not easy. Read her God-breathed journey: “From Unchurched to Becoming a Multi-Published Author and Sought-After Speaker.” If you want to send Donna a quick message, then visit her here.

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