Greek word · G1184

δεκτός

dektos

acceptable

Acceptable, welcome, favorable. In biblical Greek it is mostly the Septuagint's word for Hebrew ratson, 'goodwill, favor, pleasure', above all God's favorable acceptance of a worshipper or an offering ('it shall be accepted for him', Leviticus 1:3-4; 22:19-21).

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

δεκτός, -ή, -όν

verbal adj. of δέχομαι, [in LXX chiefly for רָצוֹן: Proverbs 11:1, al. ;]

acceptable: Luke 4:19 (LXX) 24, Acts 10:35, 2 Corinthians 6:2" (LXX), Philippians 4:18 (cf. εὐπροσδ-).†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Corinthians 6:2

Range of meaning

Acceptable, welcome, favorable. In biblical Greek it is mostly the Septuagint's word for Hebrew ratson, 'goodwill, favor, pleasure', above all God's favorable acceptance of a worshipper or an offering ('it shall be accepted for him', Leviticus 1:3-4; 22:19-21).

Against the English

KJV 'accepted', WEB/NASB 'acceptable', ESV 'favorable', BSB/NIV 'favor'. In modern English 'acceptable' usually means 'good enough, passable'. The Greek and Hebrew mean the opposite of grudging: 'welcomed, gladly received, the object of goodwill'.

How it drifted

'Acceptable' weakened in English over the last few centuries from 'welcome, pleasing' to 'tolerable, adequate'. The older sense survives in phrases like 'an acceptable gift'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Isaiah 49:8; 58:5 ('a day acceptable to the LORD'); 61:2 ('to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor', LXX eniauton kyriou dekton), which Jesus reads in Luke 4:19 and declares fulfilled 'today' (4:21). Leviticus 1:3; 19:5; 22:19-21 LXX for acceptable sacrifices. Philippians 4:18 'an acceptable sacrifice'.

From the study of Acts 10:35

Range of meaning

Acceptable, welcome, pleasing, favourably received. Very often used in the Septuagint for sacrifices and persons God accepts, and for a 'time of favour' (Isa 49:8; 61:2).

Against the English

KJV 'accepted with him' and NIV/NLT 'accepts' can be heard today as 'saved' or 'justified'. ESV/WEB 'acceptable to him' and NASB 'welcome to Him' stay closer to 'welcome, favourably received'.

How it drifted

In later Christian vocabulary 'accepted by God' often means 'saved for eternity'. The Greek word is broader: received with favour, like an offering God is pleased with.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint Leviticus uses δεκτός for offerings that are 'acceptable' before the Lord (e.g. Lev 1:3-4; 22:19-21). Isa 56:6-7 LXX promises that the offerings of foreigners who join themselves to the LORD 'will be acceptable (δεκταί) on my altar', 'for my house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations'. Luke uses the word in Jesus' Nazareth sermon: 'the acceptable year of the Lord' and 'no prophet is acceptable in his hometown' (Luke 4:19, 24). Paul calls the Philippians' gift 'an acceptable sacrifice' (Phil 4:18).

From the study of Philippians 4:18

Range of meaning

Dektos means acceptable, welcome or favorably received (Luke 4:19 'the acceptable year of the Lord'; Luke 4:24). Euarestos means well-pleasing or delightful (Rom 12:1–2; 14:18; Eph 5:10).

Against the English

'Acceptable' (KJV, ESV, NIV, BSB, WEB) is the standard rendering. To a modern ear it can mean 'good enough, passable.'

How it drifted

English 'acceptable' has weakened to 'satisfactory, not objectionable.' In Bible usage it meant an offering that God gladly receives.

Used elsewhere in the period

Dektos is common in the Greek Old Testament for offerings that are 'accepted' (Lev 1:3–4; 22:19–21, translating Hebrew lirṣôn, 'for favor'; Isa 56:7). Euarestos appears in Hellenistic honorific inscriptions of citizens who were 'well-pleasing' to their city, and in Wis 4:10.

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 4:19 δεκτόν. favor.

    to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

    Here: 'Welcome, received with favor.' It translates Isaiah's Hebrew ratson, 'favor, goodwill.' The year is marked by God's favor toward his people. The same word comes back a few lines later: 'no prophet is dektos (welcome) in his hometown' (4:24).

  2. Luke 4:24 δεκτός acceptable

    Then He added, “Truly I tell you, no prophet is accepted in his hometown.

    Here: 'Welcome, favorably received.' It is the same word as the 'acceptable (favorable) year of the Lord' Jesus has just read in v.19. The town that heard the year of favor announced will not show favor to the one announcing it.

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 10:35 δεκτὸς acceptable

    but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right.

    Here: 'Acceptable, welcome', a word often used for offerings God accepts. The person, not just his gifts, is welcome before God.

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 6:2 δεκτῷ acceptable

    For He says: “In the time of favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is the time of favor; now is the day of salvation!

    Here: In the Greek Old Testament this word translates Hebrew ratson, God's goodwill or favor. So it means 'a time of welcome' or 'a time when God is gracious', not 'an adequate time'.

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 4:18 δεκτὴν acceptable

    I have all I need and more, now that I have received your gifts from Epaphroditus. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

    Here: Priestly language: an offering 'accepted' by God, one that finds favor rather than being rejected. It has nothing to do with being merely adequate.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.