← G586 G588 →

ἀπόδεκτος

apódektos

G587 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

acceptable, welcome, pleasing; primarily: regarded as suitable or favorable; by extension: worthy of acceptance or approval, agreeable in the eyes of another.

Semantic Range

acceptable, pleasing, agreeable, welcome, worthy of approval, satisfactory

Root / Etymology

Formed from the preposition ἀπό (apo, 'from') and δέχομαι (dechomai, 'to receive'), giving the sense of 'received from' or 'accepted.' The term is an adjectival formation, meaning 'worthy to be accepted' or 'pleasing.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἀπόδεκτος appears infrequently in Greek literature but is attested in Hellenistic, Koine, and NT usage. In the New Testament (e.g., 1 Timothy 2:3, 5:4), it is used to describe something regarded as favorable or welcome before God, essentially meaning 'acceptable' or 'pleasing.' The term emphasizes suitability to a standard or expectation, and often points to that which is approved, welcomed, or considered proper. In other Koine contexts (such as papyri or inscriptions), it could denote anything judged fit or welcome, including persons, gifts, or conditions. Unlike synonyms such as δεκτός (accepted, admissible), ἀπόδεκτος carries a more overt connotation of having been considered and found acceptable, often with a sense of something especially pleasing or gratifying. English translations frequently render it as 'acceptable,' but the sense of 'well-pleasing' or 'especially agreeable' can be contextually significant. No evidence suggests a strong technical or religious nuance in the NT, but context occasionally associates it with what is deemed satisfactory or good in the sight of a superior or deity.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀποδέχομαι; accepted, i.e. agreeable:--acceptable.

Root Family

ἀπόδεκτος (apodektos) — acceptable, welcome, pleasing, worthy of approval

Root ἀποδεκτ- to accept, to receive favorably, to approve

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G587-01 ἀπόδεκτον apodekton ADJ.S NOM N SG acceptable an acceptable thing acceptable 2

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G587-01 1 Timothy 2:3 ἀπόδεκτον apodekton ADJ.S NOM N SG acceptable an acceptable thing acceptable
G587-01 1 Timothy 5:4 ἀπόδεκτον apodekton ADJ.P NOM N SG acceptable an acceptable thing acceptable
← G586 Greek Lexicon G588 →