Greek · G1680, G2192 · unreviewed

ἐλπίδα μὴ ἔχοντες

Expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence · to have/be

These lexicon entries are being actively developed. If you notice missing content, incorrect definitions, or have suggestions, we'd love to hear from you. Share a note on our Connect page and include a screenshot if helpful.

Words in this compound — expand to study each participant

ἐλπίς G1680 expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence
Pronunciation elpís
Hope anchored in God's character and future promises, not mere wishful thinking or human optimism
Open lexicon entry →
ἔχω G2192 to have/be
Pronunciation échō
Possesses or holds; in periphrasis expresses qualities, relationships, or states more vividly than simple verbs alone
Open lexicon entry →

What does ἐλπίδα μὴ ἔχοντες (elpida mē echontes) mean in the Bible?

ἐλπίς · ἔχω is a Greek word meaning "expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence".

Full entry for ἐλπίδα μὴ ἔχοντες (G1680, G2192) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence
Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Feminine Acts 16:19 · Acts 27:20 · Rom 5:5 · Rom 8:24 · 1 Cor 13:13 · 2 Cor 1:7 · Eph 1:18 · Col 1:27 · 1 Thess 2:19 10×
Genitive · Singular · Feminine Acts 23:6 · Acts 26:7 · Acts 28:20 · Rom 15:13 · Col 1:23 · 1 Thess 1:3 · 1 Tim 1:1 · Heb 3:6 · Heb 6:11 · Heb 6:18 · Heb 7:19 · Heb 10:23 · 1 Pet 3:15 13×
Dative · Singular · Feminine Acts 2:26 · Acts 26:6 · Rom 4:18 · Rom 5:2 · Rom 8:20 · Rom 8:24 · Rom 12:12 · Rom 15:13 · 1 Cor 9:10 · Eph 4:4 · Titus 1:2 12×
Accusative · Singular · Feminine Acts 24:15 · Rom 4:18 · Rom 5:4 · Rom 15:4 · 2 Cor 3:12 · 2 Cor 10:15 · Gal 5:5 · Eph 2:12 · Phil 1:20 · Col 1:5 · 1 Thess 4:13 · 1 Thess 5:8 · 2 Thess 2:16 · Titus 2:13 · Titus 3:7 · 1 Pet 1:3 18×
Discourse Aspect

How this verb appears across 697 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).

Aspect
completed 11 ongoing 296 prospective 12 resultant 4 imperative 11 background 51 subjunctive 44 infinitive 28 participle 238 optative 2
Tense
present 610 imperfect 51 aorist 19 future 12 perfect 5
Voice
active 692 middle 5
Mood
indicative 374 participle 238 subjunctive 44 infinitive 28 imperative 11 optative 2
NT Occurrences
Matthew 1:18 ἔχουσα present active participle participle Matthew 1:23 ἕξει future active indicative prospective Matthew 3:14 ἔχω present active indicative ongoing Matthew 3:4 εἶχεν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 3:9 ἔχομεν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 4:24 ἔχοντας present active participle participle Matthew 5:23 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 5:46 ἔχετε present active indicative ongoing Matthew 6:1 ἔχετε present active indicative ongoing Matthew 6:8 ἔχετε present active indicative ongoing Matthew 7:29 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 8:16 ἔχοντας present active participle participle Matthew 8:20 ἔχουσιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 8:20 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 8:9 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 9:12 ἔχουσιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 9:12 ἔχοντες present active participle participle Matthew 9:36 ἔχοντα present active participle participle Matthew 9:6 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 11:15 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 11:18 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 12:10 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 12:11 ἕξει future active indicative prospective Matthew 13:12 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:12 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:12 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:21 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:27 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:43 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 13:44 ἔχει present active indicative ongoing Matthew 13:46 εἶχεν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 13:5 εἶχεν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 13:5 ἔχειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 13:6 ἔχειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 13:9 ἔχων present active participle participle Matthew 14:16 ἔχουσιν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 14:17 ἔχομεν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 14:35 ἔχοντας present active participle participle Matthew 14:4 ἔχειν present active infinitive infinitive Matthew 14:5 εἶχον imperfect active indicative background +657 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)

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.

1 Corinthians 5 — Purge the Evil, Keep the Feast, and Guard the Holiness of the Church Acts 23 — The Lord Stands Near Paul and Preserves His Witness Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment Acts 26 — Paul Before Agrippa: The Risen Christ Sends Light to Jews and Gentiles Acts 27 — The Storm, the Shipwreck, and the Promise of God Acts 28 — Paul in Rome: The Kingdom Proclaimed Without Hindrance Colossians 1 — The Supremacy of Christ and the Gospel of Reconciliation John 14 — The Way, the Truth, and the Life, the Father Revealed in the Son, and the Promise of the Spirit John 19 — The Crucified King: Behold the Man, Behold Your King, It Is Finished, and the Pierced Son Mark 11 — The King Comes to Jerusalem: Fig Tree, Temple Judgment, Faith, Forgiveness, and Authority Mark 12 — The Rejected Son, the Greatest Commandment, the Lord of David, and the Widow’s Offering Mark 2 — The Son of Man Has Authority: Forgiveness, Fellowship, and Lordship Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 9 — Authority to Forgive, Mercy for Sinners, and Compassion for the Harvest Romans 12 — Living Sacrifices, Renewed Minds, Humble Service, and Love Without Hypocrisy Romans 15 — Bearing with the Weak, Welcoming One Another, and Paul’s Priestly Mission to the Gentiles Romans 5 — Peace with God, Rejoicing in Grace, and Life Through the One Man Jesus Christ Romans 8 — No Condemnation, Life in the Spirit, and the Unbreakable Love of God in Christ

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

Sources