Ephesians 4:32

The verb χαρίζομαι (fut. χαριῶ, aor. ἐχαρισάμην, pf. κεχάρισμαι) primarily denotes the act of saying or doing something agreeable to another, showing favor, kindness, or obliging, typically with a dative of the person favored. It frequently appears in the middle voice, indicating an active role in making oneself agreeable or compliant, rather than a mere passive state. Usage spans from simple acts of courtesy (e.g., χαριζομένη πόσεϊ in Homer) to judicial contexts (e.g., partial verdicts in Plato), and may be absolute—meaning to comply or yield agreeably. The aorist middle ἐχαρίσατο thus conveys a deliberate, volitional action of granting favor, supporting translations such as “actively agreeable” to reflect this dynamic, interpersonal engagement rather than passive agreeableness.

Forgiving?

χαρίζομαι does not literally mean “forgive” in a strict sense, the concept of forgiving “one another” can be seen as an extended or contextual use of χαρίζομαι, emphasizing the benevolent and concessive aspect of the word.

(cf. LSJ)