διαδέχομαι

From the study of 4 Maccabees 4:15

Range of meaning

To receive something from another in turn: to take over an office, estate, or throne in succession; to relieve someone (as on a guard watch).

Against the English

"Succeeded to" is accurate. English loses the vivid present tense ("takes over") and the link to the Diadochi, the Successor kingdoms of Alexander, in which the Seleucids were a leading dynasty.

Used elsewhere in the period

Acts 7:45 ("received in turn" the tabernacle). Common in Hellenistic historians and papyri for succeeding to office. Josephus uses it for royal succession.

From the study of Acts 7:45

Range of meaning

To receive something from a predecessor; to succeed someone or take over in turn. It is used of offices, kingdoms, estates and duties passed from one holder to the next.

Against the English

YLT's 'having in succession received' is closest to the word. WEB's 'in their turn' and ESV and NASB's 'in turn' capture the handover. BSB's 'who received it' loses the sense of succession. KJV's 'that came after' keeps the generations but loses the receiving.

Used elsewhere in the period

The related noun diadochos, 'successor', gives us the 'Diadochi', the generals who succeeded Alexander the Great. Sirach 46:1 calls Joshua the diadochos of Moses, which is striking beside this verse. Josephus and other Greek writers of the period use the verb for succession to rule.