πανδοχεῖον
pandocheîon
G3829 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A lodging-place or inn, specifically a public establishment where travelers could stay, often for a fee; a caravanserai, hostelry, or roadside inn that received all manner of guests. Secondary senses may include any building offering accommodation to strangers and travelers, particularly along trade routes or major roads.
Semantic Range
public lodging-place, inn, caravanserai, hostelry, place of accommodation for travelers, commercial lodging establishment
Root / Etymology
Compound of πᾶς ('all') and δοχή (from δέχομαι, 'to receive'); thus, 'receiving all (comers)'. The form suggests 'place receiving all', and reflects usage found in Hellenistic and Roman-era Greek.
Historical & Contextual Notes
πανδοχεῖον first appears in Greek sources in the Hellenistic period, corresponding to the increased need for public lodging along major routes during times of commercial and imperial expansion. In the context of the New Testament (Luke 10:34, Parable of the Good Samaritan), it refers to a facility specifically for travelers along roadways—analogous to caravanserais in the Near East or hostelries along Roman roads—rather than private guest rooms typical of earlier periods. The term denotes not merely a residence but a place commercially operated for public use, distinct from private hospitality (ξενία). In the Septuagint, the term is not attested, but cognate or similar hospitality practices are described. English 'inn' (as in KJV) sometimes fails to capture the institutional and public/commercial connotations of πανδοχεῖον; 'caravanserai' or 'roadside inn' may reflect the Greco-Roman setting more closely. By the Roman period, such establishments often provided food, lodging, and sometimes stabling for animals, serving a multicultural clientele.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
neuter of a presumed compound of πᾶς and a derivative of δέχομαι; all-receptive, i.e. a public lodging-place (caravanserai or khan):--inn.
Root Family
πανδοχεῖον (pandocheion) — all-receiving place, public lodging, travelers’ inn
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3829-01 |
πανδοχεῖον | pandocheion | N ACC N SG |
inn | all-receiving inn | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3829-01 |
Luke 10:34 | πανδοχεῖον | pandocheion | N ACC N SG |
inn | all-receiving inn |