# Is “Joy” in the Bible? > Yes. “Joy” is in the Bible. It appears 245 times in the Lumin Translation and 165 times in the King James Bible. Source: https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/joy By Andrew Kittridge · November 11, 2026 Joy is one of the Bible’s great words. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Psalm 16:11 says that in God’s presence is joy in full measure, and Nehemiah 8:10 says “the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.” - Lumin Translation: 245, first in Genesis 31:27 - King James Version: 165, first in 1 Samuel 18:6 ## Where it appears 231 verses in 43 books (Old Testament 173, New Testament 72). > Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, instead of telling me? I would have sent you off with joy and songs, with tambourines and lyres. > > — [Genesis 31:27](https://www.lumin.faith/read/genesis/31#27) (Lumin Translation) > Fire came out from Yahweh’s presence and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell on their faces. > > — [Leviticus 9:24](https://www.lumin.faith/read/leviticus/9#24) (Lumin Translation) > For seven days celebrate the festival to Yahweh your God in the place that Yahweh will choose, for Yahweh your God will bless you in all your produce and in all the work of your hands, and you will be full of joy. > > — [Deuteronomy 16:15](https://www.lumin.faith/read/deuteronomy/16#15) (Lumin Translation) > When a man has recently married, he is not to go out with the army or be assigned any other duty. He is to be free to stay at home for one year and bring joy to the wife he has married. > > — [Deuteronomy 24:5](https://www.lumin.faith/read/deuteronomy/24#5) (Lumin Translation) > Because you did not serve Yahweh your God with joy and gladness of heart when you had plenty of everything, > > — [Deuteronomy 28:47](https://www.lumin.faith/read/deuteronomy/28#47) (Lumin Translation) ## Common questions ### Is “Joy” in the Bible? Yes. “Joy” is in the Bible. It appears 245 times in the Lumin Translation and 165 times in the King James Bible. Joy is one of the Bible’s great words. It is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Psalm 16:11 says that in God’s presence is joy in full measure, and Nehemiah 8:10 says “the joy of Yahweh is your stronghold.” ### How many times is “Joy” in the Bible? Joy appears 245 times in the Lumin Translation and 165 times in the King James Bible. Counts are of exact word forms. ### Where is “Joy” first mentioned in the Bible? In the Lumin Translation, joy first appears in Genesis 31:27: “Why did you run away secretly and deceive me, instead of telling me? I would have sent you off with joy and songs, with tambourines and lyres.” ## More - [Is “Missionary” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/missionary.md) - [Is “Purgatory” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/purgatory.md) - [Is “Sabbath” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/sabbath.md) - [Is “Teenager” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/teenager.md) - [Is “Unicorn” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/unicorn.md) - [Is “Cleanliness is next to godliness” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/cleanliness-is-next-to-godliness.md) - [Is “To thine own self be true” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/to-thine-own-self-be-true.md) - [Is “The eyes are the window to the soul” in the Bible?](https://www.lumin.faith/is-it-in-the-bible/the-eyes-are-the-window-to-the-soul.md) - [Check any word or a whole song](https://www.lumin.faith/bible-verse-checker)