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ἐλπίς

elpís

G1680 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ἐλπ- to expect, to anticipate, to hope

Definition

Expectation directed toward the future, encompassing positive anticipation, trust, or confidence that something will occur or be fulfilled. In various contexts, ἐλπίς can refer to hope in a general sense (expectancy of favorable outcomes), confidence or trust placed in persons or deities, or reliance on promises or prospects, both secular and religious. The term may denote both the act of hoping and the object or content of hope itself.

Semantic Range

hope, expectation of good, anticipation of outcome, confidence or trust (in persons, deities, or circumstances), object or content of hope, reliance on future fulfillment

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root ἐλπ- (to expect, to anticipate), possibly related to the Homeric infinitive ἔλπειν (to hope, to expect). No secure connection to non-Greek roots; etymology is Greek and well-attested from early usage.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐλπίς most commonly denotes any expectation of the future, whether positive (hope, confidence) or negative (fear; more usually, negative is qualified as κακὴ ἐλπίς 'bad hope'). Over time, the word came to have a predominantly positive connotation, denoting confident anticipation of good. In the Hellenistic period and the Septuagint, ἐλπίς is frequently used to translate the Hebrew תִּקְוָה (tiqvah), 'hope, expectation', and often retains the positive nuance. In the New Testament, ἐλπίς appears with both general human reference and in more specific contexts of anticipating divine action, fulfillment of promises, or future deliverance. Standard English translations usually render ἐλπίς as 'hope', but in some contexts, 'confidence' or 'expectation' may better convey the nuance. The term does not inherently carry the sense of 'faith' (πίστις), though there can be overlap in certain religious contexts. Application of ἐλπίς as a technical or theological term developed in later Christian writings but should not be assumed anachronistically in earlier Koine usage.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a primary (to anticipate, usually with pleasure); expectation (abstractly or concretely) or confidence:--faith, hope.

Root Family

ἐλπίς (elpís) — hope, expectation, anticipation, confidence

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1680-01 ἐλπίδα elpida N ACC F SG hope expectant hope 18
G1680-03 ἐλπίδος elpidos N GEN F SG hope of hope 13
G1680-02 ἐλπίδι elpidi N DAT F SG hope in hope 12
G1680-04 ἐλπὶς elpis N NOM F SG hope hopeful expectation 10

Occurrences in Scripture

53 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1680-02 Acts 2:26 ἐλπίδι elpidi N DAT F SG hope in hope
G1680-04 Acts 16:19 ἐλπὶς elpis N NOM F SG hope hopeful expectation
G1680-03 Acts 23:6 ἐλπίδος elpidos N GEN F SG hope of hope
G1680-01 Acts 24:15 ἐλπίδα elpida N ACC F SG hope expectant hope
G1680-02 Acts 26:6 ἐλπίδι elpidi N DAT F SG the hope in hope
G1680-03 Acts 26:7 ἐλπίδος elpidos N GEN F SG hope of hope
G1680-04 Acts 27:20 ἐλπὶς elpis N NOM F SG hope hopeful expectation
G1680-03 Acts 28:20 ἐλπίδος elpidos N GEN F SG hope of hope
G1680-01 Romans 4:18 ἐλπίδα elpida N ACC F SG expectant hope
G1680-02 Romans 4:18 ἐλπίδι elpidi N DAT F SG in hope
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