Greek word · G603

ἀποκαραδοκία

apokaradokia

eager expectation

Intent, focused expectation. The word combines apo ('away, from'), kara ('head') and dokeō/dokaō ('watch, look for'): watching with the head stretched forward, eyes fixed on one point. It is attested only rarely.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀπο-καραδοκία, -ας, ἡ

(ἀποκαραδοκέω, used by Aq. in Psalms 37:7 for חוּל; ἀπό, κάρα the head, δοκέω, in Ion., to watch),

to watch with outstretched head, watch anxiously (Polyb., π.; see Deiss., LAE, 374.5, 377 f.), Romans 8:19, Philippians 1:20 (Lft., in l; Cremer, 177).†

(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 Romans 8:19

Range of meaning

Intent, focused expectation. The word combines apo ('away, from'), kara ('head') and dokeō/dokaō ('watch, look for'): watching with the head stretched forward, eyes fixed on one point. It is attested only rarely. In the New Testament it appears only here and in Philippians 1:20 ('my eager expectation and hope').

Against the English

'Eager expectation' (BSB, WEB) and 'earnest expectation' (KJV) get the intensity right but lose the body-picture. Young's 'earnest looking out' keeps the image best. 'Eager longing' (ESV) is close. 'Anxious longing' (NASB 1995) brings in worry. That nuance is debated (see debates).

Used elsewhere in the period

The noun is not found before Paul. Some scholars think he may have coined it, or that it came from everyday speech. The related verb apokaradokeō appears in Polybius (2nd century BC) and Josephus (Jewish War 3.264) for people intently watching how events turn out. The simpler karadokeō means 'to watch for, await'. In Philippians 1:20 Paul pairs the noun with elpis, 'hope', which suggests confident expectation rather than dread.

From the study of Philippians 1:20

Range of meaning

Eager, intent expectation: waiting with full attention for something you are sure is coming. The usual explanation of the word's parts is kara 'head' plus dokeō/dechomai 'watch, wait for': craning your neck to watch for something. That picture is attractive, but it is a guess from the word's parts and should not be pushed too far.

Against the English

KJV, YLT and WEB have 'earnest expectation'. BSB and NIV turn the noun into verbs: 'I eagerly expect'. Both are accurate. English 'expectation' alone can sound calm and passive; the Greek is intense.

Used elsewhere in the period

The noun first appears in Paul (Phil 1:20; Rom 8:19, where 'the eager expectation of creation' waits for God's children to be revealed). The related verb apokaradokeō turns up in Polybius and Josephus (e.g. Jewish War 3.264) and in Aquila's Greek version of Psalm 37(36):7, usually meaning to watch intently for an outcome. One scholar (D. R. Denton, 1982) argued the word implies anxious waiting, but most lexicons (BDAG) give 'eager expectation'. The positive pairing with 'hope' supports that.

Where it appears

Romans · 1

  1. Romans 8:19 ἀποκαραδοκία earnest expectation

    The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God.

    Here: A vivid word made up of 'away', 'head' and 'watch'. It pictures someone craning the neck and fixing the eyes on the horizon. Here it is the grammatical subject: the longing itself is said to wait, which makes the personification stronger.

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 1:20 ἀποκαραδοκίαν earnest expectation

    I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have complete boldness so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

    Here: A rare, intense word for looking forward with all your attention fixed on what is coming. Paul uses it only here and in Romans 8:19, where all creation waits for God's children to be revealed.

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