Greek · G1209 · unreviewed

δέχομαι

To receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively)

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δέχομαι G1209
Pronunciation déchomai

What does δέχομαι (déchomai) mean in the Bible?

δέχομαι (déchomai) is a Greek word meaning "to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively)". δέχομαι, depon. Reveals covenant identification with Christ through reception of His messengers. This term runs through the canonical themes of Covenant, Faith, Messiah.

Full entry for δέχομαι (G1209) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively)
Extended definition

To receive with willingness or hospitality, emphasizing acceptance rather than mere acquisition.

to receive, accept;

1with accusative of thing(s), of taking or accepting what is offered: γράμματα, Luk.16:6, 7; id. in different sense, Act.28:21; ποτήριον, Luk.22:17; παιδίον (εἰς τ. ἀγκάλας), Luk.2:28; περικεφαλαίαν, μάχαιραν, Eph.6:17; ἐπιστολάς, Act.22:5; τ. βασιλείαν τ. Θεοῦ, Mrk.10:15, Luk.18:17; λογία ζῶντα, Act.7:38; εὐαγγέλιον, 2Co.11:4; τ. χάριν τ. Θεοῦ, 2Co.6:1; metaphorically, of mental acceptance, Mat.11:14; τ. λόγον, Luk.8:13, Act.8:14 11:1 17:11, 1Th.1:6 2:13, Jas.1:21; τὰ τ. πνεύματος, 1Co.2:14; τ. παράκλησιν, 2Co.8:17; τ. ἀγάπην τ. ἀληθείας, 2Th.2:10.
2with accusative of person(s), of receiving kindly or hospitably, Mat.10:14 40, 41, Mrk.6:11, Luk.9:5 53 10:8, 10, Jhn.4:45, 2Co.7:15 11:16, Gal.4:14, Col.4:10, Heb.11:31; παιδίον, Mat.18:5, Mrk.9:37, Luk.9:48; εἰς οἴκους, σκηνάς, Luk.16:4, 9; δέξαι τ. πνεῦμά μου, Act.7:59; ὃν δεῖ οὐρανὸν δέασθαι, Act.3:21 (cf. ἀνα-, ἀπο, δια-, εἰσ-, ἐκ-, ἀπ-εκ-, ἐν-, ἐπι-, παρα-, προσ-, ὑπο-δέχομαι; Cremer, 174).
Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Why This Word Matters
Reveals covenant identification with Christ through reception of His messengers. Luke 18:15–17
Describes the posture of saving faith. Mark 10:13–16
Defines salvation as reception of grace. Matthew 10:40–42
Grammatical Forms

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

Tenses
Aorist Present Perfect
Voices
Middle
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 14×
Aorist Middle Matt 10:14 · Matt 18:5 · Mark 6:11 · Mark 9:37 · Mark 10:15 · Luke 9:48 · Luke 18:17 · Luke 16:4 · Luke 16:9 10×
Present Middle Luke 9:5 · Luke 10:8 · Luke 10:10 · Mark 9:37
Indicative states a fact or reality 23×
Aorist Middle Luke 9:53 · John 4:45 · Acts 11:1 · Acts 17:11 · 2 Thess 2:10 · 2 Cor 7:15 · 2 Cor 11:4 · Gal 4:14 · 1 Thess 2:13 · Luke 2:28 · Acts 7:38 · 2 Cor 8:17 · Acts 28:21 13×
Present Middle Matt 10:40 · Matt 18:5 · Mark 9:37 · Luke 9:48 · 1 Cor 2:14 · Luke 8:13
Perfect Middle Acts 8:14
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality
Aorist Middle Luke 22:17 · Acts 22:5 · Phil 4:18 · 1 Thess 1:6 · Heb 11:31
Present Middle Matt 10:40 · Matt 10:41
Imperative command or strong request
Aorist Middle 2 Cor 11:16 · Eph 6:17 · Col 4:10 · Jas 1:21 · Luke 16:6 · Luke 16:7 · Acts 7:59
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract
Aorist Middle Matt 11:14 · Acts 3:21 · 2 Cor 6:1
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 56 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 13 ongoing 9 resultant 1 imperative 7 subjunctive 14 infinitive 3 participle 9
Tense
aorist 38 present 17 perfect 1
Voice
middle 56
Mood
indicative 23 subjunctive 14 participle 9 imperative 7 infinitive 3
NT Occurrences
Matthew 10:14 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 10:40 δεχόμενος present middle participle participle Matthew 10:40 δέχεται present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 10:40 δεχόμενος present middle participle participle Matthew 10:40 δέχεται present middle indicative ongoing Matthew 10:41 δεχόμενος present middle participle participle Matthew 10:41 δεχόμενος present middle participle participle Matthew 11:14 δέξασθαι aorist middle infinitive infinitive Matthew 18:5 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Matthew 18:5 δέχεται present middle indicative ongoing Mark 6:11 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Mark 9:37 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Mark 9:37 δέχεται present middle indicative ongoing Mark 9:37 δέχηται present middle subjunctive subjunctive Mark 9:37 δέχεται present middle indicative ongoing Mark 10:15 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 2:28 ἐδέξατο aorist middle indicative completed Luke 8:13 δέχονται present middle indicative ongoing Luke 9:48 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 9:48 δέχεται present middle indicative ongoing Luke 9:48 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 9:48 δέχεται present middle indicative ongoing Luke 9:5 δέχωνται present middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 9:53 ἐδέξαντο aorist middle indicative completed Luke 10:10 δέχωνται present middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 10:8 δέχωνται present middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 16:4 δέξωνταί aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 16:6 Δέξαι aorist middle imperative imperative Luke 16:7 Δέξαι aorist middle imperative imperative Luke 16:9 δέξωνται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 18:17 δέξηται aorist middle subjunctive subjunctive Luke 22:17 δεξάμενος aorist middle participle participle John 4:45 ἐδέξαντο aorist middle indicative completed Acts 3:21 δέξασθαι aorist middle infinitive infinitive Acts 7:38 ἐδέξατο aorist middle indicative completed Acts 7:59 δέξαι aorist middle imperative imperative Acts 8:14 δέδεκται perfect middle indicative resultant Acts 11:1 ἐδέξαντο aorist middle indicative completed Acts 17:11 ἐδέξαντο aorist middle indicative completed Acts 22:5 δεξάμενος aorist middle participle participle +16 more occurrences

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)

Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)
Sources