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δεκτός

dektós

G1184 predicate adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

Accepted, received with favor, regarded as acceptable. The primary sense is to be welcomed or favorably received, either by a person or, in some contexts, by the divine. Extended senses include being pleasing or suitable in a given situation, or regarded as worthy of approval.

Semantic Range

accepted, welcomed, received with favor, regarded as suitable or approved, pleasing, propitious

Root / Etymology

Formed from the verbal root δέχ-, as the verbal adjective of δέχομαι ('to receive, accept'). No foreign etymology; it reflects a common formation in Greek for adjectives denoting a state of being received or acceptable.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, δεκτός generally means 'acceptable' or 'welcome.' In Septuagint usage, it is often employed to translate Hebrew terms indicating favor or what is pleasing to God or people (e.g., רָצוֹן, ratsōn). In the New Testament, δεκτός frequently appears in contexts concerning what is found acceptable before God, what is favorably received (e.g., Lk 4:19, Eph 5:10). While English translations often opt for 'acceptable' or 'accepted,' the Greek includes nuance: not just passively accepted, but actively welcomed or shown favor. The word sometimes carries the sense of 'propitious' when used in divine contexts but primarily denotes the quality of being received with approval or pleasure. The related term εὐπρόσδεκτος ('well-received, pleasing') intensifies the sense but is distinct. Typical use in both sacred and secular Greek does not carry a highly technical or cultic meaning, but indicates positive evaluation or reception. The nuance of being 'acceptable' to God in the New Testament is shaped by broader Jewish and Greco-Roman understandings of favor and acceptability, but not limited to formal cultic settings. Thus, the word describes someone or something as welcomed, favorably regarded, or found worthy.

Translation Consistency

primary "accept" 4 occurrences

δεκτός primarily denotes being received, welcomed, or regarded as acceptable. The verb 'accept' naturally covers the principal senses (accepted, acceptable, welcomed) and is the most common and idiomatic English choice for rendering this adjective across contexts, while allowing consistent inflectional forms in the SIBI system.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"acceptable" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from δέχομαι; approved; (figuratively) propitious:-- accepted(-table).

Root Family

δεκτός (dektos) — accepted, welcomed, received with favor

Root δεχ- to receive, to accept, to welcome

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1184-04 δεκτός dektos ADJ.P NOM M SG acceptable accepted accepted 2
G1184-01 δεκτήν dekten ADJ.A ACC F SG acceptable accepted accepted 1
G1184-03 δεκτόν dekton ADJ.S ACC M SG acceptable accepted one acceptable 1
G1184-02 δεκτῷ dekto ADJ.A DAT M SG acceptable to the accepted one that is accepted 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1184-03 Luke 4:19 δεκτόν dekton ADJ.S ACC M SG acceptable accepted one acceptable
G1184-04 Luke 4:24 δεκτός dektos ADJ.P NOM M SG acceptable accepted accepted
G1184-04 Acts 10:35 δεκτὸς dektos ADJ.P NOM M SG is acceptable accepted accepted
G1184-02 2 Corinthians 6:2 δεκτῷ dekto ADJ.A DAT M SG acceptable to the accepted one that is accepted
G1184-01 Philippians 4:18 δεκτήν dekten ADJ.A ACC F SG acceptable accepted accepted
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