Greek word · G3579

ξενίζω

xenizō

to host

(1) To receive someone as a guest, to host or lodge a stranger. (2) To strike someone as strange, to surprise or astonish.

Appears 10 times in 10 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 24, 2026

What it means

ξενίζω

(ξένος), [in LXX: Esther 3:13, Sirach 29:25, 2Ma.9:6, 3Ma.7:3 * ;]

1. to receive as a guest, entertain: with accusative of person(s), Acts 10:23 28:7, Hebrews 13:2; pass., Acts 10:6, 18 10:32 21:16.

2. In late writers (Polyb., al.; 2Mac, l.with), to surprise, astonish by strangeness: Acts 17:20; pass., 1 Peter 4:4 4:12.†

(AS)

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

Range of meaning: (1) To receive someone as a guest, to host or lodge a stranger. (2) To strike someone as strange, to surprise or astonish.
Against the English: KJV/BSB/WEB/ESV/NASB/NLT 'entertained', NIV 'shown hospitality to'. In 1611 'entertain' meant to receive and keep a guest. Today it mostly means to amuse.
How it drifted: English 'entertain' comes from French entretenir, 'to hold together, maintain'. In early modern English 'to entertain' a guest meant to receive and provide for him. Over the following centuries its main sense became 'to amuse, put on a show'.
Used elsewhere in the period: Sense 1: Acts 10:6, 18, 23, 32; 21:16; 28:7 (Publius 'received us and hosted us three days'). Sense 2: Acts 17:20; 1 Peter 4:4, 12. LXX: Sirach 29:25. In Genesis 18–19 the scenes it recalls involve washing feet, preparing a meal and giving a night's shelter.

Range of meaning: Active: (1) to receive someone as a guest, to host a stranger (Acts 10:23; 28:7; Hebrews 13:2, 'some have entertained angels'); (2) to strike someone as strange, to surprise (Acts 17:20, 'you bring some strange things to our ears'). Passive: to be surprised or taken aback by something as unfamiliar, to 'think it strange' (1 Peter 4:4, 12). The root is xenos, 'foreigner, stranger', so the word carries the sense of meeting something alien.
Against the English: 'Be surprised' (BSB, NIV, ESV, NASB) and 'be astonished' (WEB) give the emotion. KJV and YLT's 'think it not strange' keep more of the root, since it ties to 'strange thing' later in the verse just as the Greek ties xenizesthe to xenou. Modern 'surprised' loses the sense that the thing seems foreign, as if it did not belong in a believer's life.
Used elsewhere in the period: In classical and Hellenistic Greek it is common for hospitality to strangers, and from there for anything 'strange' or novel (Polybius and others; LSJ). 2 Maccabees 9:6 uses the participle for 'unusual' or 'outlandish' torments. In the NT it means 'host' in Acts and Hebrews, and 'surprise' in Acts 17:20 and 1 Peter.

Range of meaning: From ξένος (xenos), "stranger, foreigner, guest". In the active voice it means to receive a stranger as a guest (Acts 10:6, 23; Heb 13:2). It can also mean to strike someone as foreign or startling (Acts 17:20, "strange things"). In the passive, as here, it means to be astonished or taken aback, to find something alien (BDAG s.v.; Polybius and other Hellenistic writers use the passive this way).
Against the English: "Think it strange" (KJV, WEB, YLT), "are surprised" (NIV, ESV, NASB) and "consider it strange" (BSB) all get the basic sense. They lose the root: what bothers the neighbours is the foreignness of the converts' new behaviour.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the NT it is used of hosting (Acts 10:6; 28:7; Heb 13:2) and of startling novelty (Acts 17:20, the Athenians hearing "strange things"). In 1 Peter 4:12 the same verb comes back with its root noun: "do not be surprised (μὴ ξενίζεσθε) at the fiery ordeal … as though something strange (ξένου) were happening to you."

Acts · 7

Acts 10:6 ξενίζεται lodges

He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.”
Acts 10:18 ξενίζεται.¶ is lodged.

They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.
Acts 10:23 ἐξένισεν. he lodged [them].

So Peter invited them in as his guests. And the next day he got ready and went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.
Acts 10:32 ξενίζεται lodges

Therefore send to Joppa for Simon, who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, by the sea.’
Acts 17:20 ξενίζοντα Strange things

For you are bringing some strange notions to our ears, and we want to know what they mean.”
Acts 21:16 ξενισθῶμεν, we may lodge,

Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us, and they took us to stay at the home of Mnason the Cypriot, an early disciple.
Acts 28:7 ἐξένισεν.¶ entertained [us].

Nearby stood an estate belonging to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us and entertained us hospitably for three days.

Hebrews · 1

Hebrews 13:2 ξενίσαντες have entertained

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have entertained angels without knowing it.

Here: 'Having taken in as guests.' It comes from xenos, 'stranger/guest', the same root as philoxenia, so the verb picks up the noun: those who loved strangers ended up hosting angels.

1 Peter · 2

1 Peter 4:4 ξενίζονται they think it strange

Because of this, they consider it strange of you not to plunge with them into the same flood of reckless indiscretion, and they heap abuse on you.

Here: Literally "they are struck as by something foreign". The present tense shows an ongoing bafflement. To the neighbours, the converts' behaviour feels alien, as if they had become foreigners in their own town.
1 Peter 4:12 ξενίζεσθε do be surprised

Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that has come upon you, as though something strange were happening to you.

Here: The word comes from xenos, 'foreign'. In the passive it means to be startled by something as alien and out of place. Peter uses the same verb in 4:4 for the pagan neighbours who 'think it strange' that believers no longer join their old ways. They are startled by the believers; the believers should not be startled by the hostility.

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