δέχομαι (G1209) — Greek Lexicon

δέχομαι

déchomai

G1209 verb

SILEX Entry

Root δέχ- to receive, to accept, to welcome

Definition

To receive, accept, or welcome something or someone; to accept into one’s presence or possession. In its primary sense, denotes the act of taking or receiving what is offered or given, whether material objects (e.g., gifts, food), persons (hospitality, guests or messengers), information (e.g., teaching, message), or abstract things (e.g., favor, authority). The sense ranges from physical reception to acceptance or acknowledgment of more abstract entities such as words or news.

Semantic Range

to receive (material objects, news, or persons), to welcome (in hospitality), to accept (teachings, authority, gifts), to acknowledge or admit (abstract things such as words, favor), to take into possession

Root / Etymology

From root δέχ-, with original sense 'to take, receive'. The verb is middle/passive in form and function in Koine but was originally active in early Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δέχομαι is used primarily in the sense of 'to receive' (physical objects, people, or news), as opposed to λαμβάνω (to take, often implying intention or initiative). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, δέχομαι commonly expresses not just the physical act of reception but also the notion of welcoming or accepting (as in receiving a message, teaching, or person). In the New Testament and Septuagint, it can refer to: (1) extending hospitality (receiving someone into one's house), (2) accepting or acknowledging teaching, news, or authority, and (3) receiving benefits or gifts. English translations often use 'receive,' 'accept,' or 'welcome,' but the nuance is sometimes lost: δέχομαι often involves an active willingness and warmth in accepting what is offered, contrasting with λαμβάνω, which can mean to seize or take. In NT contexts, δέχομαι may stress positive reception (e.g., of the good news or an envoy), whereas λαμβάνω may be more neutral or focus on the act of taking. The verb can also be used metaphorically for receiving sayings, authority, or divine favor. Earliest attestations are in Homeric and classical literature, where the main sense is material or hospitable reception; in Koine, the usage expands to more abstract acceptances.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively):--accept, receive, take. Compare λαμβάνω.

Root Family

δέχομαι (dechomai) — to receive, to accept, to welcome

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G1209-01`	δέχεται	dechetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	receives	receives	9
`G1209-11`	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	he/she might receive for oneself	8
`G1209-14`	ἐδέξαντο	edexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	received	they received for themselves	5
`G1209-10`	δέξασθέ	dexasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	welcome	receive for yourselves	4
`G1209-15`	ἐδέξασθε	edexasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	received	you received	4
`G1209-02`	δεχόμενος	dechomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`		the one receiving	4
`G1209-03`	δέχονται	dechontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	they receive	they are receiving for themselves	4
`G1209-08`	δεξάμενος	dexamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	having received	having received for himself	3
`G1209-16`	ἐδέξατο	edexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	received	he received for himself	3
`G1209-09`	δέξασθαι	dexasthai	`V AOR MID INF`	receive	to receive for oneself	3
`G1209-05`	δέξαι	dexai	`V AOR MID IMP 2P SG`	Take	Receive for yourself	3
`G1209-12`	δέξωνταί	dexontai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL`	they may receive	they might receive for themselves	2
`G1209-06`	δεξαμένη	dexamene	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM F SG`		having received for herself	1
`G1209-07`	δεξάμενοι	dexamenoi	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL`	having received	having received for themselves	1
`G1209-13`	ἐδεξάμεθα	edexametha	`V AOR MID IND 1P PL`	have received	we received for ourselves	1
`G1209-04`	δέδεκται	dedektai	`V PRF MID IND 3P SG`	had received	has received	1

Occurrences in Scripture

56 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G1209-11`	Matthew 10:14	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`		he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-02`	Matthew 10:40	δεχόμενος	dechomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`		the one receiving
`G1209-01`	Matthew 10:40	δέχεται	dechetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`		receives
`G1209-02`	Matthew 10:40	δεχόμενος	dechomenos-2	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`		the one receiving
`G1209-01`	Matthew 10:40	δέχεται	dechetai-2	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`		receives
`G1209-02`	Matthew 10:41	δεχόμενος	dechomenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`		the one receiving
`G1209-02`	Matthew 10:41	δεχόμενος	dechomenos-2	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`		the one receiving
`G1209-09`	Matthew 11:14	δέξασθαι	dexasthai	`V AOR MID INF`		to receive for oneself
`G1209-11`	Matthew 18:5	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`		he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-01`	Matthew 18:5	δέχεται	dechetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`		receives
`G1209-11`	Mark 6:11	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-11`	Mark 9:37	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-01`	Mark 9:37	δέχεται	dechetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	receives	receives
`G1209-01`	Mark 9:37	δέχηται	dechetai-2	`V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	receives
`G1209-01`	Mark 9:37	δέχεται	dechetai-3	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	receives	receives
`G1209-11`	Mark 10:15	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-16`	Luke 2:28	ἐδέξατο	edexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	took	he received for himself
`G1209-03`	Luke 8:13	δέχονται	dechontai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	receive	they are receiving for themselves
`G1209-03`	Luke 9:5	δέχωνται	dechontai	`V PRS MID SUBJ 3P PL`	receive	they are receiving for themselves
`G1209-11`	Luke 9:48	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-01`	Luke 9:48	δέχεται	dechetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	receives	receives
`G1209-11`	Luke 9:48	δέξηται	dexetai-2	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-01`	Luke 9:48	δέχεται	dechetai-2	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	receives	receives
`G1209-14`	Luke 9:53	ἐδέξαντο	edexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	receive	they received for themselves
`G1209-03`	Luke 10:8	δέχωνται	dechontai	`V PRS MID SUBJ 3P PL`	they receive	they are receiving for themselves
`G1209-03`	Luke 10:10	δέχωνται	dechontai	`V PRS MID SUBJ 3P PL`	they receive	they are receiving for themselves
`G1209-12`	Luke 16:4	δέξωνταί	dexontai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL`	they may receive	they might receive for themselves
`G1209-05`	Luke 16:6	δέξαι	dexai	`V AOR MID IMP 2P SG`	Take	Receive for yourself
`G1209-05`	Luke 16:7	δέξαι	dexai	`V AOR MID IMP 2P SG`	Take	Receive for yourself
`G1209-12`	Luke 16:9	δέξωνται	dexontai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL`	they may receive	they might receive for themselves
`G1209-11`	Luke 18:17	δέξηται	dexetai	`V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG`	receives	he/she might receive for oneself
`G1209-08`	Luke 22:17	δεξάμενος	dexamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	having taken	having received for himself
`G1209-14`	John 4:45	ἐδέξαντο	edexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	received	they received for themselves
`G1209-09`	Acts 3:21	δέξασθαι	dexasthai	`V AOR MID INF`	receive	to receive for oneself
`G1209-16`	Acts 7:38	ἐδέξατο	edexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	received	he received for himself
`G1209-05`	Acts 7:59	δέξαι	dexai	`V AOR MID IMP 2P SG`	receive	Receive for yourself
`G1209-04`	Acts 8:14	δέδεκται	dedektai	`V PRF MID IND 3P SG`	had received	has received
`G1209-14`	Acts 11:1	ἐδέξαντο	edexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	had received	they received for themselves
`G1209-14`	Acts 17:11	ἐδέξαντο	edexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	received	they received for themselves
`G1209-08`	Acts 22:5	δεξάμενος	dexamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	having received	having received for himself
`G1209-13`	Acts 28:21	ἐδεξάμεθα	edexametha	`V AOR MID IND 1P PL`	have received	we received for ourselves
`G1209-01`	1 Corinthians 2:14	δέχεται	dechetai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	receives	receives
`G1209-09`	2 Corinthians 6:1	δέξασθαι	dexasthai	`V AOR MID INF`		to receive for oneself
`G1209-15`	2 Corinthians 7:15	ἐδέξασθε	edexasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`		you received
`G1209-16`	2 Corinthians 8:17	ἐδέξατο	edexato	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`		he received for himself
`G1209-15`	2 Corinthians 11:4	ἐδέξασθε	edexasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`		you received
`G1209-10`	2 Corinthians 11:16	δέξασθέ	dexasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`		receive for yourselves
`G1209-15`	Galatians 4:14	ἐδέξασθέ	edexasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	received	you received
`G1209-10`	Ephesians 6:17	δέξασθε	dexasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	take	receive for yourselves
`G1209-08`	Philippians 4:18	δεξάμενος	dexamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	having received	having received for himself
`G1209-10`	Colossians 4:10	δέξασθε	dexasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	welcome	receive for yourselves
`G1209-07`	1 Thessalonians 1:6	δεξάμενοι	dexamenoi	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL`	having received	having received for themselves
`G1209-15`	1 Thessalonians 2:13	ἐδέξασθε	edexasthe	`V AOR MID IND 2P PL`	you-accepted	you received
`G1209-14`	2 Thessalonians 2:10	ἐδέξαντο	edexanto	`V AOR MID IND 3P PL`	they received	they received for themselves
`G1209-06`	Hebrews 11:31	δεξαμένη	dexamene	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM F SG`		having received for herself
`G1209-10`	James 1:21	δέξασθε	dexasthe	`V AOR MID IMP 2P PL`	receive	receive for yourselves

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