makarios

What it means

Describes someone in a good place, especially as God sees it. It's a declaration, not an instruction: Jesus isn't telling people to mourn, but saying that those who mourn are in God's favor. Some translations try "happy," which can sound too light.

Range of meaning

• FortunateWell off, to be congratulated.
• Blessed by GodIn God's favor, whatever things look like now.
• HappyIn ordinary Greek, simply happy or prosperous.

In Matthew

• Chapter 5

  The blessings that open the sermon (5:3-11).