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δέχομαι

déchomai

G1209 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To receive, accept, or welcome something or someone; to accept into one’s presence or possession. In its primary sense, denotes the act of taking or receiving what is offered or given, whether material objects (e.g., gifts, food), persons (hospitality, guests or messengers), information (e.g., teaching, message), or abstract things (e.g., favor, authority). The sense ranges from physical reception to acceptance or acknowledgment of more abstract entities such as words or news.

Semantic Range

to receive (material objects, news, or persons), to welcome (in hospitality), to accept (teachings, authority, gifts), to acknowledge or admit (abstract things such as words, favor), to take into possession

Root / Etymology

From root δέχ-, with original sense 'to take, receive'. The verb is middle/passive in form and function in Koine but was originally active in early Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, δέχομαι is used primarily in the sense of 'to receive' (physical objects, people, or news), as opposed to λαμβάνω (to take, often implying intention or initiative). By the Hellenistic and Koine periods, δέχομαι commonly expresses not just the physical act of reception but also the notion of welcoming or accepting (as in receiving a message, teaching, or person). In the New Testament and Septuagint, it can refer to: (1) extending hospitality (receiving someone into one's house), (2) accepting or acknowledging teaching, news, or authority, and (3) receiving benefits or gifts. English translations often use 'receive,' 'accept,' or 'welcome,' but the nuance is sometimes lost: δέχομαι often involves an active willingness and warmth in accepting what is offered, contrasting with λαμβάνω, which can mean to seize or take. In NT contexts, δέχομαι may stress positive reception (e.g., of the good news or an envoy), whereas λαμβάνω may be more neutral or focus on the act of taking. The verb can also be used metaphorically for receiving sayings, authority, or divine favor. Earliest attestations are in Homeric and classical literature, where the main sense is material or hospitable reception; in Koine, the usage expands to more abstract acceptances.

Translation Consistency

primary "receive" 50 occurrences

δέχομαι most commonly means to take or accept what is offered — receive fits physical reception (gifts, food), persons (welcome/accept guests), and abstract reception (words, teaching, authority). 'Receive' is the most frequent, natural English rendering and covers the typical semantic range while remaining flexible for context-specific inflection.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively):--accept, receive, take. Compare λαμβάνω.

Root Family

δέχ- (déchomai) — to receive, to accept, to welcome

Root δέχ- to receive, to accept, to welcome

Word Forms

16 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1209-01 δέχεται dechetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives 9
G1209-11 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself 8
G1209-14 ἐδέξαντο edexanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL received they received for themselves they received for themselves 5
G1209-02 δεχόμενος dechomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG receiving the one receiving the one receiving 4
G1209-03 δέχονται dechontai V PRS MID IND 3P PL receive they are receiving for themselves they are receiving for themselves 4
G1209-10 δέξασθέ dexasthe V AOR MID IMP 2P PL receive receive for yourselves receive for yourselves 4
G1209-15 ἐδέξασθε edexasthe V AOR MID IND 2P PL received you received you received 4
G1209-05 δέξαι dexai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG Take Receive for yourself Receive for yourself 3
G1209-08 δεξάμενος dexamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having received having received for himself having received for himself 3
G1209-09 δέξασθαι dexasthai V AOR MID INF receive to receive for oneself to receive for oneself 3

Occurrences in Scripture

56 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1209-11 Matthew 10:14 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself receive you all
G1209-02 Matthew 10:40 δεχόμενος dechomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG receiving the one receiving the one receiving
G1209-01 Matthew 10:40 δέχεται dechetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-02 Matthew 10:40 δεχόμενος dechomenos-2 V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG receiving the one receiving the one receiving
G1209-01 Matthew 10:40 δέχεται dechetai-2 V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-02 Matthew 10:41 δεχόμενος dechomenos V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG receiving the one receiving the one receiving
G1209-02 Matthew 10:41 δεχόμενος dechomenos-2 V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG receiving the one receiving the one receiving
G1209-09 Matthew 11:14 δέξασθαι dexasthai V AOR MID INF to accept to receive for oneself to receive for oneself
G1209-11 Matthew 18:5 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself
G1209-01 Matthew 18:5 δέχεται dechetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-11 Mark 6:11 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself
G1209-11 Mark 9:37 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself
G1209-01 Mark 9:37 δέχεται dechetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-01 Mark 9:37 δέχηται dechetai-2 V PRS MID SUBJ 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-01 Mark 9:37 δέχεται dechetai-3 V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-11 Mark 10:15 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself
G1209-16 Luke 2:28 ἐδέξατο edexato V AOR MID IND 3P SG took he received for himself he received for himself
G1209-03 Luke 8:13 δέχονται dechontai V PRS MID IND 3P PL receive they are receiving for themselves they are receiving for themselves
G1209-03 Luke 9:5 δέχωνται dechontai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P PL receive they are receiving for themselves receive
G1209-11 Luke 9:48 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself
G1209-01 Luke 9:48 δέχεται dechetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-11 Luke 9:48 δέξηται dexetai-2 V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself
G1209-01 Luke 9:48 δέχεται dechetai-2 V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-14 Luke 9:53 ἐδέξαντο edexanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL receive they received for themselves they received for themselves
G1209-03 Luke 10:8 δέχωνται dechontai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P PL they receive they are receiving for themselves they are receiving for themselves
G1209-03 Luke 10:10 δέχωνται dechontai V PRS MID SUBJ 3P PL they receive they are receiving for themselves they are receiving for themselves
G1209-12 Luke 16:4 δέξωνταί dexontai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL they may receive they might receive for themselves they may receive for themselves
G1209-05 Luke 16:6 δέξαι dexai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG Take Receive for yourself Receive for yourself
G1209-05 Luke 16:7 δέξαι dexai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG Take Receive for yourself Receive for yourself
G1209-12 Luke 16:9 δέξωνται dexontai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P PL they may receive they might receive for themselves they may receive you
G1209-11 Luke 18:17 δέξηται dexetai V AOR MID SUBJ 3P SG receives he/she might receive for oneself he/she might receive for oneself
G1209-08 Luke 22:17 δεξάμενος dexamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having taken having received for himself having received for himself
G1209-14 John 4:45 ἐδέξαντο edexanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL received they received for themselves they received for themselves
G1209-09 Acts 3:21 δέξασθαι dexasthai V AOR MID INF receive to receive for oneself to receive for oneself
G1209-16 Acts 7:38 ἐδέξατο edexato V AOR MID IND 3P SG received he received for himself received
G1209-05 Acts 7:59 δέξαι dexai V AOR MID IMP 2P SG receive Receive for yourself Receive for yourself
G1209-04 Acts 8:14 δέδεκται dedektai V PRF MID IND 3P SG had received has received has received
G1209-14 Acts 11:1 ἐδέξαντο edexanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL had received they received for themselves they received for themselves
G1209-14 Acts 17:11 ἐδέξαντο edexanto V AOR MID IND 3P PL received they received for themselves they received for themselves
G1209-08 Acts 22:5 δεξάμενος dexamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having received having received for himself having received for himself
G1209-13 Acts 28:21 ἐδεξάμεθα edexametha V AOR MID IND 1P PL have received we received for ourselves we received for ourselves
G1209-01 1 Corinthians 2:14 δέχεται dechetai V PRS MID IND 3P SG receives receives receives
G1209-09 2 Corinthians 6:1 δέξασθαι dexasthai V AOR MID INF receive to receive for oneself to receive for oneself
G1209-15 2 Corinthians 7:15 ἐδέξασθε edexasthe V AOR MID IND 2P PL you received you received you received
G1209-16 2 Corinthians 8:17 ἐδέξατο edexato V AOR MID IND 3P SG he accepted he received for himself he received for himself
G1209-15 2 Corinthians 11:4 ἐδέξασθε edexasthe V AOR MID IND 2P PL you accepted you received you received
G1209-10 2 Corinthians 11:16 δέξασθέ dexasthe V AOR MID IMP 2P PL receive receive for yourselves receive for yourselves
G1209-15 Galatians 4:14 ἐδέξασθέ edexasthe V AOR MID IND 2P PL received you received you received
G1209-10 Ephesians 6:17 δέξασθε dexasthe V AOR MID IMP 2P PL take receive for yourselves receive for yourselves
G1209-08 Philippians 4:18 δεξάμενος dexamenos V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG having received having received for himself having received for himself
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