Makarios describes a person, group, or stated reality as fortunate or favored in the circumstances named by the verse.

The term predominantly marks people or groups as being in a favorable condition within the circumstance the clause names: kingdom, comfort, satisfaction, mercy, reward, watchfulness, faith, or endurance. The same evaluative use also qualifies God and hope, and appears in comparative statements about giving and a widow’s remaining as she is.

1. Pronounced fortunate in a stated circumstance · dominant

   Most occurrences use nominative forms in declarations about people or groups. In Matthew 5:3 the APB renders the clause “Blessed are the poor in spirit” and gives the kingdom as the stated reason; in Matthew 5:7 it names the merciful and their receiving mercy. The same pattern marks those who endure temptation in James 1:12, those who trust without seeing in John 20:29, and those found watchful in Revelation 16:15; Acts 26:2 applies the evaluation to the speaker’s opportunity to make a defense before the king.

   Matthew 5:3Matthew 5:7James 1:12John 20:29Revelation 16:15Acts 26:2

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB usually presents the term with “blessed” in declarative clauses, including statements about people, God, and hope. It also uses “more blessed” in comparative clauses and “fortunate” in Acts 26:2; these are verse-level renderings rather than definitions.