What does λαγχάνω (lanchánō) mean in the Bible?
Λαγχάνω (lanchánō) describes obtaining something by lot or receiving an allotted share. In Luke 1:9 Zechariah is chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense.
Greek · G2975
λαγχάνω
To choose by lot
Reading a lexicon entry
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λαγχάνω G2975
Pronunciation lanchánō
What does λαγχάνω (lanchánō) mean in the Bible?
Λαγχάνω (lanchánō) describes obtaining something by lot or receiving an allotted share. In Luke 1:9 Zechariah is chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense.
Reader summary
Full entry for λαγχάνω (G2975) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2975?
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).
Where does λαγχάνω (lanchánō) appear in Scripture?
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).
What This Word Actually Means
Λαγχάνω (lanchánō) describes obtaining something by lot or receiving an allotted share. In Luke 1:9 Zechariah is chosen by lot to enter the temple and burn incense. In John 19:24 the soldiers refuse to tear Jesus' tunic and cast lots to determine who will receive it. Acts 1:17 uses the word for Judas sharing in the apostolic ministry, and 2 Peter 1:1 speaks of believers receiving a faith as precious as that of the apostles.
The word's range therefore moves beyond the modern idea of luck. A lot may be the means of selection, while the object received can also be a portion, office, or privilege. John 19 does not praise the soldiers' method or teach Christians to make decisions by lots. The evangelist's concern is that their action fulfills Scripture concerning the Messiah's garments.
For teaching, the verb helps distinguish providence from superstition. Scripture can narrate lots without presenting chance as sovereign, and it can speak of receiving a share without describing a random process. Believers should receive ministry and faith as gifts under God's rule, while ordinary decisions should be guided by Scripture, wisdom, prayer, and accountable counsel rather than attempts to force divine direction through chance.
Canonical parallelPassage contextEditorial synthesis
How the Bible Uses It
The verb describes priestly selection, the soldiers' lot at the cross, an allotted ministry, and the reception of precious faith.
- Luke.1.9
He was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
The priestly custom assigns Zechariah a service in which God's redemptive announcement interrupts ordinary duty.
- John.19.24
So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it. Instead, let us cast lots to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill the Scripture: “They divided My garments among them, and cast lots for My clothing.” So that is what the soldiers did.
The soldiers' ordinary action becomes part of John's Scripture-fulfillment witness at the cross.
- Acts.1.17
He was one of our number and shared in this ministry.”
The verb describes Judas receiving an allotted share in apostolic ministry, emphasizing real office without excusing betrayal.
- 2Pet.1.1
Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours:
Faith is received as a precious gift shared with the apostles, not achieved as a superior status.
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It have received 1× 2 Peter 1:1
he was chosen by lot 1× Luke 1:9
let us cast lots 1× John 19:24
shared 1× Acts 1:17
Show sample aligned rows
Luke 1:9 ἔλαχε to he was chosen by lot Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular John 19:24 λάχωμεν to let us cast lots Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural Acts 1:17 ἔλαχεν to shared Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 2 Peter 1:1 λαχοῦσιν to have received Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Luke 1:9
Aligned rows 4
Books represented 4
Luke 1 John 1 Acts 1 2 Peter 1
Source forms
ἔλαχε 1x elache Luke 1:9
ἔλαχεν 1x elachen Acts 1:17
λαχοῦσιν 1x lachousin 2 Peter 1:1
λάχωμεν 1x lachōmen John 19:24
Parsing patterns
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 2x Luke 1:9, Acts 1:17
Verb - Aorist Participle Active - Dative Masculine Plural 1x 2 Peter 1:1
Verb - Aorist Subjunctive Active - 1st Person Plural 1x John 19:24
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Narratives involving lots should not replace Scripture-shaped wisdom, prayer, and accountable counsel as the ordinary pattern for Christian decisions.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that John 19:24 commands believers to cast lots for guidance. John records the soldiers' action as fulfillment of Scripture, not as discipleship instruction.
- Do not claim that λαγχάνω always means random selection. Acts 1:17 and 2 Peter 1:1 emphasize receiving a share or gift.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. Obtaining something by casting lots; God's providential selection through seemingly random means.
Strong's G2975
Lexical occurrences 4 verses Greek text appearances 4 times Word forms 3 forms 4 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
to choose by lot
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
Obtaining something by casting lots; God's providential selection through seemingly random means.
1to obtain by lot, to obtain (in cl., with genitive): with inf. art. (B1., § 36, 3; 71, 3), Luk.1:9; with accusative of thing(s), Act.1:17, 2Pe.1:1.
2to draw lots: before περί, Jhn.19:24
Greek Text Appearances
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.
Luke 1:9 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔλαχε elacen
I obtain by lot, cast lots
Read verse John 19:24 Verb First Person Plural Second Aorist Active Subjunctive
λάχωμεν lacwmen
I obtain by lot, cast lots
Read verse Acts 1:17 Verb Third Person Singular Second Aorist Active Indicative
ἔλαχε elacen
I obtain by lot, cast lots
Read verse 2 Peter 1:1 Verb Second Aorist Active Participle Dative Plural Masculine
λαχοῦσι lacousin
I 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.
Grammatical Forms
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.
Form groups 3 Aligned forms 4 Tenses Aorist Voices Active
Verse guides are not available for this word yet, so verse references remain plain evidence markers.
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 2×
Aorist Active Luke 1:9 · Acts 1:17 2×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 1×
Aorist Active John 19:24 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 1×
Aorist Active 2 Pet 1:1 1×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 4 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
aorist 4
Voice
active 4
Mood
indicative 2 participle 1 subjunctive 1
NT 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 Origins
λαγχάνω is a primary verb - no further derivation.
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
λαγχάνω reminds readers that receiving and assigning are not the same as controlling. Zechariah receives a priestly duty by lot, soldiers receive Jesus' clothing through a lot, Judas had an allotted ministry, and believers receive precious faith. The passages place human action under God's larger providence without making randomness divine or every lot morally approved.
In John 19, the soldiers act for their own gain while Scripture is fulfilled through what they do. Teachers can use this tension to explain providence carefully: God remains sovereign without becoming the author of sinful motives. Christian confidence rests in His revealed character and promises, not in superstitious techniques for decoding hidden choices.
Anchor passage
John.19.24
Doctrinal connections
- Psalm 22:18 - garments divided and lots cast
- Luke 1:5-23 - priestly service and divine announcement
- Acts 1:15-26 - apostolic vacancy and prayer
- 2 Peter 1:1-4 - received faith and divine provision
The verb may emphasize selection by lot or the resulting receipt of an allotted share. Context determines whether the mechanism or the portion is foregrounded.
From Old to New Testament
The casting of lots appears in Israel's worship and allocation practices, while Psalm 22 supplies John's direct passion connection. The canon affirms providence without commanding lots as the normal means of Christian guidance.
Sources
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