Greek word · G1551

ἐκδέχομαι

ekdechomai

to wait for

To wait for, expect, look forward to something that is anticipated. In classical Greek it can also mean 'to receive' or 'take up', but in Koine the sense 'await' dominates.

Appears 6 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐκ-δέχομαι

[in LXX for עֶרֶב, קָבַץ, etc. ;]

1. to take or receive from (Hom., Hdt., a1.).

2. (Rare in cl.), to expect, await: with accusative of thing(s), John 5:3, Hebrews 11:10, James 5:7; with accusative of person(s), Acts 17:16, 1 Corinthians 11:33 16:11; before ἕως, Hebrews 10:13 (Cremer, 687).†

(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 Hebrews 11:10

Range of meaning

To wait for, expect, look forward to something that is anticipated. In classical Greek it can also mean 'to receive' or 'take up', but in Koine the sense 'await' dominates.

Against the English

KJV 'looked for' and WEB/YLT 'was looking for' can sound to a modern ear like searching for something lost. BSB/NIV/ESV 'looking forward to' keeps the sense of expectation better.

How it drifted

In 1611 'look for' commonly meant 'expect' (as in 'I look for him tomorrow'). Modern English has mostly narrowed it to 'search for'.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hebrews 10:13 uses the same verb for Christ 'waiting' until his enemies are made his footstool. James 5:7 uses it for the farmer waiting for the harvest, and Acts 17:16 for Paul waiting at Athens. The related, stronger verb apekdechomai is used in Heb 9:28 for those who 'eagerly wait' for Christ.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 17:16 ἐκδεχομένου is waiting for

    While Paul was waiting for them in Athens, he was deeply disturbed in his spirit to see that the city was full of idols.

    Here: A present participle: 'while he was waiting'. Paul is in Athens between stages, waiting for his co-workers. He did not come on a planned preaching campaign. The tense shows that what follows happened over a stretch of days.

1 Corinthians · 2

  1. 1 Corinthians 11:33 ἐκδέχεσθε· do wait for;

    So, my brothers, when you come together to eat, wait for one another.

  2. 1 Corinthians 16:11 ἐκδέχομαι I am expecting

    No one, then, should treat him with contempt. Send him on his way in peace so that he can return to me, for I am expecting him along with the brothers.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 10:13 ἐκδεχόμενος awaiting

    Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet,

  2. Hebrews 11:10 ἐξεδέχετο He was awaiting

    For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.

    Here: An imperfect tense, so it describes ongoing action in the past: 'he kept waiting for'. It means expectant waiting for something sure to come, not searching for something lost. It describes Abraham's whole life in tents as one long wait.

James · 1

  1. James 5:7 ἐκδέχεται awaits

    Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil—how patient he is for the fall and spring rains.

    Here: Present tense, describing what a farmer always does: waits in expectation for something sure to come, not hoping vaguely.

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