ἀποδέχομαι
apodéchomai
G588 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To receive or accept fully; to welcome or embrace something or someone with approval, readiness, or favorable intent. The term carries a sense of warm or deliberate acceptance, whether of a person, message, or offer, as opposed to a neutral or merely formal reception. In certain contexts, it can also mean to acknowledge as valid, to approve, or to take up something offered gladly.
Semantic Range
to receive with favor, to accept wholeheartedly, to welcome (persons or messages), to approve, to accept as valid, to receive gladly
Root / Etymology
Compound of ἀπό (apo, 'from, away from') and δέχομαι (dechomai, 'to receive, accept'). The prefix ἀπό often intensifies the sense of the base verb, indicating complete or wholehearted acceptance.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In Classical Greek, δέχομαι means 'to receive' in general, ranging from physical reception to acceptance of ideas or persons. The compound ἀποδέχομαι (rare in classical sources) is used more frequently in Hellenistic and Koine Greek, where it expresses emphatic or wholehearted acceptance. In the Septuagint, ἀποδέχομαι often translates Hebrew terms meaning 'to receive favorably' or 'to embrace,' especially in relation to persons, advice, or words. In the New Testament, it commonly appears in contexts of accepting messages, teachings, or persons with approval or gladness (e.g., Acts 2:41, 24:3; 1 Timothy 5:19). Standard English translations such as 'accept' or 'receive gladly' sometimes miss the emphatic nuance of enthusiastic or approving acceptance carried by this verb. The term differs subtly from δέχομαι, which may denote simple reception, by stressing the completeness and favor in the action. In Koine usage, the word emphasizes positive and deliberate assent rather than passive receipt.
Translation Consistency
“Receive” best covers the full, typical semantic range of ἀποδέχομαι — to take something or someone in with approval, welcome, or readiness. It naturally covers receiving people, messages, offers, or acknowledging something as valid, while remaining idiomatic and flexible across contexts (more so than narrower choices like “welcome” or “acknowledge”).
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and δέχομαι; to take fully, i.e. welcome (persons), approve (things):--accept, receive (gladly).
Root Family
ἀποδέχομαι (apodechomai) — receive, accept, welcome, approve
Word Forms
7 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G588-07 |
ἀποδέξασθαι | apodexasthai | V AOR MID INF |
to welcome | to wholeheartedly accept for oneself | to wholeheartedly accept for oneself | 1 |
G588-05 |
ἀποδεξάμενοι | apodexamenoi | V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL |
who had received | having wholeheartedly welcomed | having wholeheartedly welcomed | 1 |
G588-06 |
ἀποδεξάμενος | apodexamenos | V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG |
having welcomed | having wholeheartedly accepted | having welcomed | 1 |
G588-04 |
ἀποδεχόμεθα | apodechometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
we acknowledge | we are gladly accepting | we acknowledge | 1 |
G588-02 |
ἀπεδέξαντο | apedexanto | V AOR MID IND 3P PL |
received | they wholeheartedly welcomed | they wholeheartedly welcomed | 1 |
G588-01 |
ἀπεδέχετο | apedecheto | V IMPF MID IND 3P SG |
welcomed | was warmly welcoming | was warmly welcoming | 1 |
G588-03 |
ἀπεδέξατο | apedexato | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
welcomed | he gladly welcomed | he gladly welcomed | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
7 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G588-03 |
Luke 8:40 | ἀπεδέξατο | apedexato | V AOR MID IND 3P SG |
welcomed | he gladly welcomed | he gladly welcomed |
G588-06 |
Luke 9:11 | ἀποδεξάμενος | apodexamenos | V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG |
having welcomed | having wholeheartedly accepted | having welcomed |
G588-05 |
Acts 2:41 | ἀποδεξάμενοι | apodexamenoi | V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL |
who had received | having wholeheartedly welcomed | having wholeheartedly welcomed |
G588-07 |
Acts 18:27 | ἀποδέξασθαι | apodexasthai | V AOR MID INF |
to welcome | to wholeheartedly accept for oneself | to wholeheartedly accept for oneself |
G588-02 |
Acts 21:17 | ἀπεδέξαντο | apedexanto | V AOR MID IND 3P PL |
received | they wholeheartedly welcomed | they wholeheartedly welcomed |
G588-04 |
Acts 24:3 | ἀποδεχόμεθα | apodechometha | V PRS MID IND 1P PL |
we acknowledge | we are gladly accepting | we acknowledge |
G588-01 |
Acts 28:30 | ἀπεδέχετο | apedecheto | V IMPF MID IND 3P SG |
welcomed | was warmly welcoming | was warmly welcoming |