To choose by lot
Reading a lexicon entry
What this page is: Each lexicon entry shows the original Hebrew or Greek word behind the English translation: its meaning, its range of use, and where it appears in Scripture.
Strong's number: The Strong's code (H- or G-) is the standard reference number for this word. It connects this entry to chapter and passage language tabs.
Where it appears: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
This lexicon entry is part of our ongoing editorial review. If you notice missing content, unclear wording, or a possible correction, please send us a note through the Connect page. Screenshots are helpful.
G2975 is a verb for obtaining something by lot or receiving an allotted share. Its four governed forms describe Zechariah being chosen by priestly lot, soldiers casting lots for Jesus' garment, Judas receiving a share in apostolic ministry, and believers receiving faith as precious as the apostles' in 2 Peter 1:1.
Reader summary
Full entry for λαγχάνω (G2975) · Open the biblical lexicon
G2975 is a verb for obtaining something by lot or receiving an allotted share. Its four governed forms describe Zechariah being chosen by priestly lot, soldiers casting lots for Jesus' garment, Judas receiving a share in apostolic ministry, and believers receiving faith as precious as the apostles' in 2 Peter 1:1.
The BSB source-word alignment has 4 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include have received (1), he was chosen by lot (1), let us cast lots (1), shared (1).
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Luke 1:9. Its strongest book concentrations include 2 Peter (1), Acts (1), John (1), Luke (1).
G2975 is a verb for obtaining something by lot or receiving an allotted share. Its four governed forms describe Zechariah being chosen by priestly lot, soldiers casting lots for Jesus' garment, Judas receiving a share in apostolic ministry, and believers receiving faith as precious as the apostles' in 2 Peter 1:1. The contexts range from an ordinary selection procedure to hostile appropriation, entrusted office, and gracious reception.
The verb does not tell readers whether the allotted thing is approved, deserved, random, providential, or saving. It also does not make the four recipients morally equivalent. The actor, object, method, and surrounding passage establish the claim and the appropriate response.
Four exact G2975 rows occur in four verses. Two concern casting or selection by lot, while two concern receiving an allotted share.
He was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Priestly custom and the narrative define this selection.
Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.
The soldiers' action concerns possession of the garment within John's passion account.
He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.
The share in ministry belongs to Peter's account of Judas before the replacement process.
To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
The reception of equally precious faith grounds the letter's address and is attributed to divine righteousness.
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders ItA compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
Greek word. Obtaining something by casting lots; God's providential selection through seemingly random means.
Obtaining something by casting lots; God's providential selection through seemingly random means.
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
4 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
I obtain by lot, cast lots
Read verseI obtain by lot, cast lots
Read verseI obtain by lot, cast lots
Read verseI obtain by lot, cast lots
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
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)
λαγχάνω is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
G2975 joins four passages through the idea of an allotted portion, yet the portions and outcomes sharply differ. Zechariah receives a customary priestly assignment and encounters a divine announcement. Soldiers use a lot to divide property at the cross, an action John places within Scripture fulfillment. Judas had genuinely received a share in ministry, but that office did not make betrayal impossible or faithful perseverance automatic.
Second Peter addresses people who received faith as precious as the apostles' and names divine righteousness as its basis. The word therefore supports careful teaching about reception and responsibility. It does not authorize divination, make every lot a direct message from God, or turn an assigned role into proof of character.
2Pet.1.1
The four governed forms include two aorist indicatives, one aorist participle, and one aorist subjunctive. Translation varies between being chosen by lot, casting lots, sharing, and receiving according to the object and syntax.
Israel's use of lots provides canonical background for assigned portions and decisions. A New Testament occurrence should still be interpreted through its own stated custom, action, or theological explanation.
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain