Greek · G1551 · unreviewed

ἐκδέχομαι

To wait for

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ἐκδέχομαι G1551
Pronunciation ekdéchomai

What does ἐκδέχομαι (ekdéchomai) mean in the Bible?

ἐκδέχομαι (ekdéchomai) is a Greek word meaning "to wait for". ἐκ-δέχομαι [in LXX for עֶרֶב, קָבַץ, etc.

Full entry for ἐκδέχομαι (G1551) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to wait for
Extended definition

Waiting with expectant reception; to await something's arrival with readiness to receive it.

1to take or receive from (Hom., Hdt., a1.).
2(Rare in cl.), to expect, await: with accusative of thing(s), Jhn.5:3, Heb.11:10, Jas.5:7; with accusative of person(s), Act.17:16, 1Co.11:33 16:11; before ἕως, Heb.10:13 (Cremer, 687).
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Grammatical Forms

How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.

Tenses
Present Imperfect
Voices
Middle
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Present Middle Acts 17:16 · Heb 10:13
Imperative command or strong request
Present Middle 1 Cor 11:33
Indicative states a fact or reality
Present Middle 1 Cor 16:11 · Jas 5:7
Imperfect Middle Heb 11:10
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 6 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
ongoing 2 imperative 1 background 1 participle 2
Tense
present 5 imperfect 1
Voice
middle 6
Mood
indicative 3 participle 2 imperative 1

Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.

Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)

Biblical Occurrences
Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources