By repeating something you can emphasize what you really want to say. Whenever you hear somebody reapeating something this may give you a clue to what he or she is really aiming at.

As you seek to interpret a poem or as you study a text of the bible looking for words or phrases that are repeated can be helpful too. In 1 Corinthians 6:13 in the King James Version we can easily discover one word that is used twice: Rejoice!

As you look at the Greek text of this verse you will find the same wordstem twice, but the second time it is enlarged by a prefix. Thus, here we find both, a word empasised and a measure of poetic variety.

Today I want to have a look at these two Greek words. I do not intend to boar you with a lot of technical staff. Yet as Ihave read the explanations in Strong’s lexicon of New Testament Greek, I have discovered some details worth mentioning.

• “Chairo” means “to be calmly happy or to be well off”. The word can especially refer to the joy you can have as you salute somebody in meeting or parting.

As you greet somebody you show that you value that person. You either say “Happy to meet you” or “Sorry to let you go! Looking forward to meeting you again!”

Thus our verse puts us before the question: What are we looking for in other people as we meet and greet each other one by one? What are our true emotions as we greet somebody? What makes us like or dislike meeting another person?

• “Sunchairo”. The prefix “sun” denotes a close union or togetherness. The whole word refers to the glad sympathy we have with somebody. It also can meen “to congratulate”.

What makes us be sympathetic with others? What sympathies do we entertain? What sympathies do we nourish?