What does προσδοκάω (prosdokáō) mean in the Bible?
Προσδοκάω means to wait for, look for, or expect someone or something. The Gospel writers use it for expectations ranging from ordinary waiting to questions of messianic identity and final judgment.
Greek · G4328
προσδοκάω
To anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await
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προσδοκάω G4328
Pronunciation prosdokáō
What does προσδοκάω (prosdokáō) mean in the Bible?
Προσδοκάω means to wait for, look for, or expect someone or something. The Gospel writers use it for expectations ranging from ordinary waiting to questions of messianic identity and final judgment.
Reader summary
Full entry for προσδοκάω (G4328) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G4328?
The BSB source-word alignment has 16 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include should we look for (3), as you anticipate (2), expecting (2), he does not expect (2), waiting for (2).
Where does προσδοκάω (prosdokáō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 11:3. Its strongest book concentrations include Luke (6), Acts (5), 2 Peter (3), Matthew (2).
What This Word Actually Means
Προσδοκάω means to wait for, look for, or expect someone or something. The Gospel writers use it for expectations ranging from ordinary waiting to questions of messianic identity and final judgment. John's disciples ask whether Jesus is the Coming One or whether another should be expected; Jesus answers by pointing to His kingdom works and the good news announced to the poor.
The crowd waits for Zechariah outside the temple, and the man at the Beautiful Gate expects a small gift before receiving healing in Jesus' name. Second Peter directs expectation toward the day of God and a life of holiness. The verb names anticipation, but the object and promise determine whether that expectation is informed, mistaken, patient, fearful, or hope-filled.
How the Bible Uses It
Προσδοκάω describes active expectation, from ordinary waiting to messianic and eschatological hope. Scripture tests expectation by God's revealed word and works rather than by desire alone.
- Matt.11.3
To ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”
John's question is answered through the deeds associated with God's promised salvation, directing expectation toward Jesus without shaming the imprisoned prophet's need for confirmation.
- Luke.1.21
Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he took so long in the temple.
The waiting crowd notices Zechariah's delay, an ordinary temporal expectation within the unfolding announcement of John's birth.
- Acts.3.5
So the man gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them.
The man expects money, but the apostles give what he did not anticipate: healing in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth.
- 2Pet.3.12
As you anticipate and hasten the coming of the day of God, when the heavens will be destroyed by fire and the elements will melt in the heat.
Expectation of God's day produces holiness and eager hope for the new heavens and new earth, not date-setting.
- Matt.24.50
The master of that servant will come on a day he does not expect and at an hour he does not anticipate.
The servant's failure is practical unbelief: he lives as though the master's return can be safely postponed.
Passage contextBook context
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 should we look for 3× Matthew 11:3, Luke 7:19, Luke 7:20
as you anticipate 2× 2 Peter 3:12, 2 Peter 3:14
expecting 2× Acts 3:5, Acts 10:24
he does not expect 2× Matthew 24:50, Luke 12:46
waiting for 2× Luke 1:21, Luke 8:40
[The islanders] were expecting 1× Acts 28:6
after waiting 1× Acts 28:6
in constant suspense 1× Acts 27:33
we are looking forward to 1× 2 Peter 3:13
were waiting expectantly 1× Luke 3:15
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 11:3 προσδοκῶμεν to should we look for Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural Matthew 24:50 προσδοκᾷ to he does not expect Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Luke 1:21 προσδοκῶν to waiting for Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Luke 3:15 Προσδοκῶντος to were waiting expectantly Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular Luke 7:19 προσδοκῶμεν to should we look for Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural Luke 7:20 προσδοκῶμεν to should we look for Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural Luke 8:40 προσδοκῶντες to waiting for Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural Luke 12:46 προσδοκᾷ to he does not expect Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Acts 3:5 προσδοκῶν to expecting Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular Acts 10:24 προσδοκῶν to expecting Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 11:3
Aligned rows 16
Books represented 4
Matthew 2 Luke 6 Acts 5 2 Peter 3
Source forms
προσδοκῶμεν 4x prosdokōmen Matthew 11:3, Luke 7:19, Luke 7:20, 2 Peter 3:13
προσδοκῶν 3x prosdokōn Luke 1:21, Acts 3:5, Acts 10:24
προσδοκῶντες 3x prosdokōntes Luke 8:40, Acts 27:33, 2 Peter 3:14
προσδοκᾷ 2x prosdoka Matthew 24:50, Luke 12:46
προσδοκῶντας 1x prosdokōntas 2 Peter 3:12
Προσδοκῶντος 1x Prosdokōntos Luke 3:15
προσδοκώντων 1x prosdokōntōn Acts 28:6
προσεδόκων 1x prosedokōn Acts 28:6
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural 4x Matthew 11:3, Luke 7:19, Luke 7:20, 2 Peter 3:13
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Plural 3x Luke 8:40, Acts 27:33, 2 Peter 3:14
Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular 3x Luke 1:21, Acts 3:5, Acts 10:24
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 2x Matthew 24:50, Luke 12:46
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural 1x Acts 28:6
Verb - Present Participle Active - Accusative Masculine Plural 1x 2 Peter 3:12
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Plural 1x Acts 28:6
Verb - Present Participle Active - Genitive Masculine Singular 1x Luke 3:15
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Distinguish promise-grounded hope from a character's limited assumption before treating an expectation as normative.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not use προσδοκάω to validate date-setting or confident predictions God has not revealed.
- Do not portray John's question as proof that doubt disqualifies faith; Jesus answers it through Scripture-shaped evidence and grace.
Evidence Summary
Greek word. to anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await
Strong's G4328
Lexical occurrences 16 verses Greek text appearances 16 times Word forms 2 forms 16 references Verse guides 0 guides
Source Gloss
to anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await
Extended definition Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith
(the simple verb exists only in the forms δοκέω, -εύω) [in LXX: Psa.104:27 (שָׂבַר pi.), etc. ;] to await, expect: Mat.24:50, Luk.3:15 12:46, Act.27:33 28:6; with accusative of person(s), Mat.11:3, Luk.1:21 7:19-20 8:40 Act.10:24; with accusative of thing(s), 2Pe.3:12-14; with accusative and inf., Act.28:6; with inf., Act.3:5.
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 11:3 Verb First Person Plural Present Active Indicative
προσδοκῶμεν; prosdokwmen
I expect, await
Read verse Matthew 24:50 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
προσδοκᾷ, prosdoka
I expect, await
Read verse Luke 1:21 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
προσδοκῶν prosdokwn
I expect, await
Read verse Luke 3:15 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Masculine
Προσδοκῶντος prosdokwntov
I expect, await
Read verse Luke 7:19 Verb First Person Plural Present Active Indicative
προσδοκῶμεν; prosdokwmen
I expect, await
Read verse Luke 7:20 Verb First Person Plural Present Active Indicative
προσδοκῶμεν; prosdokwmen
I expect, await
Read verse Luke 8:40 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
προσδοκῶντες prosdokwntev
I expect, await
Read verse Luke 12:46 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
προσδοκᾷ, prosdoka
I expect, await
Read verse Acts 3:5 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
προσδοκῶν prosdokwn
I expect, await
Read verse Acts 10:24 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
προσδοκῶν prosdokwn
I expect, await
Read verse Acts 27:33 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
προσδοκῶντες prosdokwntev
I expect, await
Read verse Acts 28:6 Verb Third Person Plural Imperfect Active Indicative
προσεδόκων prosedokwn
I expect, await
Read verse Acts 28:6 Verb Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine
προσδοκώντων, prosdokwntwn
I expect, await
Read verse 2 Peter 3:12 Verb Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masculine
προσδοκῶντας prosdokwntav
I expect, await
Read verse 2 Peter 3:13 Verb First Person Plural Present Active Indicative
προσδοκῶμεν, prosdokwmen
I expect, await
Read verse 2 Peter 3:14 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine
προσδοκῶντες, prosdokwntev
I expect, await
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 2 Aligned forms 16 Tenses Present, Imperfect 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 7×
Present Active Matt 11:3 · Luke 7:19 · Luke 7:20 · 2 Pet 3:13 · Matt 24:50 · Luke 12:46 6×
Imperfect Active Acts 28:6 1×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 9×
Present Active Luke 1:21 · Acts 3:5 · Acts 10:24 · Luke 8:40 · Acts 27:33 · 2 Pet 3:14 · Luke 3:15 · Acts 28:6 · 2 Pet 3:12 9×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 12 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 11 imperfect 1
Voice
active 12
Mood
indicative 7 participle 5
NT Occurrences
Matthew 11:3 προσδοκῶμεν present active indicative ongoing Matthew 24:50 προσδοκᾷ present active indicative ongoing Luke 3:15 Προσδοκῶντος present active participle participle Luke 7:19 προσδοκῶμεν present active indicative ongoing Luke 7:20 προσδοκῶμεν present active indicative ongoing Luke 12:46 προσδοκᾷ present active indicative ongoing Acts 3:5 προσδοκῶν present active participle participle Acts 27:33 προσδοκῶντες present active participle participle Acts 28:6 προσεδόκων imperfect active indicative background Acts 28:6 προσδοκώντων present active participle participle 2 Peter 3:13 προσδοκῶμεν present active indicative ongoing 2 Peter 3:14 προσδοκῶντες present active participle participle
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
προσδοκάω is built from this root:
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
Expectation reveals what a person believes is coming and what that future is allowed to demand in the present. John's disciples bring a messianic question to Jesus and receive an answer grounded in His works. The man at the temple gate fixes his hope on alms and encounters unexpected mercy. Second Peter joins expectation of God's day to holy conduct and patient trust, while Jesus' servant parable warns against living as though the master's delay cancels accountability.
These passages keep Christian expectation from becoming wishful thinking. Hope listens to God's promise, attends to Christ's works, and accepts that God's answer may exceed or redirect immediate desire. It also changes behavior now. Teachers should welcome honest questions, resist date-setting, and show that biblical waiting is neither passive fantasy nor anxious control.
It is attentive, obedient confidence in the God who keeps His word.
Anchor passage
Matt.11.3
Doctrinal connections
- Matthew 11:2-6, messianic expectation answered by Jesus' works
- Acts 3:1-10, limited expectation overtaken by healing in Jesus' name
- Matthew 24:45-51, readiness under the returning master
- Isaiah 35:4-6, promised saving signs echoed in Jesus' ministry
- 2 Peter 3:8-14, patient expectation and holy living
- Romans 8:18-25, creation and believers waiting in hope
Προσδοκάω combines a directional prefix with the language of expecting or supposing. It can take a direct object, infinitive, or clause indicating what is anticipated. The verb itself does not guarantee certainty; context shows whether the expectation is well founded.
From Old to New Testament
Israel waits for the Lord's salvation and the promised king, often learning that God's timing and manner exceed human assumptions. Jesus fulfills messianic expectation, gives the Spirit as pledge, and teaches His people to await His return in holiness and service.
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