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προσδοκάω

prosdokáō

G4328 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To expect or await something, often with anticipation or in the sense of looking forward to (either anxiously or hopefully); also to remain in a state of anticipation or readiness; in context, can imply to await an event, person, or outcome, with varied emotional tone (hope, fear, patient waiting).

Semantic Range

to expect, to await, to look for, to hope for, to be in expectation of, to remain (waiting), to wait for

Root / Etymology

Formed from πρός (towards, to) and δοκέω (to think, suppose, expect); thus, literally, 'to look expectantly towards,' or 'to await with anticipation.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, προσδοκάω is rare and typically means to expect or wait for something, sometimes in the sense of anticipation or even dread. In Koine Greek (as in the LXX and New Testament), the verb becomes common, emphasizing the idea of expectation or waiting, often with a sense of eagerness or tension regarding the outcome. Its use in the New Testament frequently involves awaiting significant events or persons, sometimes with implied emotional overtones (hope, anxiety, or fear). English translations often use 'expect,' 'wait for,' or 'look for,' but these may not always convey the posture of eager or tense anticipation regularly present in the Greek usage. Differentiated from related verbs like ἀναμένω (to wait up for, to await), προσδοκάω tends to convey anticipation or looking ahead with a focus on future occurrence; ἀναμένω may imply more simply enduring until something arrives. The verb does not carry technical religious connotations in and of itself, though it is often used in eschatological contexts in the New Testament.

Translation Consistency

primary "expect" 10 occurrences

Fits the full semantic range (to await, look for, hope for, remain in anticipation) while sounding natural in modern English. It covers both active anticipation and passive waiting and can be inflected easily across all forms; therefore it gives the most consistent, everyday rendering for προσδοκάω.

Alternatives (6 occurrences):
"awaiting expectantly" (3x) "awaiting" (2x) "while the people were expectantly awaiting" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πρός and dokeuo (to watch); to anticipate (in thought, hope or fear); by implication, to await:--(be in) expect(-ation), look (for), when looked, tarry, wait for.

Root Family

προσδοκάω (prosdokaō) — to think, to expect, to await

Root δοκ- to think, to expect, to await

Word Forms

8 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4328-02 προσδοκῶμεν prosdokomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL shall we look for we are awaiting we are expecting 4
G4328-05 προσδοκῶντες prosdokontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL waiting awaiting expectantly awaiting expectantly 3
G4328-03 προσδοκῶν prosdokon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG awaiting expectantly awaiting expectantly expecting 3
G4328-01 προσδοκᾷ prosdoka V PRS ACT IND 3P SG expects awaits expectantly expects 2
G4328-04 προσδοκῶντας prosdokontas V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL looking for awaiting awaiting 1
G4328-08 προσεδόκων prosedokon V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL were expecting they were awaiting they were awaiting 1
G4328-06 προσδοκώντων prosdokonton V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M PL waiting of those expecting of those expecting 1
G4328-07 προσδοκῶντος prosdokontos V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG were in expectation of the one expectantly awaiting while the people were expectantly awaiting 1

Occurrences in Scripture

16 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4328-02 Matthew 11:3 προσδοκῶμεν prosdokomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL shall we look for we are awaiting we are expecting
G4328-01 Matthew 24:50 προσδοκᾷ prosdoka V PRS ACT IND 3P SG expects awaits expectantly expects
G4328-03 Luke 1:21 προσδοκῶν prosdokon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG waiting expectantly awaiting expectantly expecting
G4328-07 Luke 3:15 προσδοκῶντος prosdokontos V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG were in expectation of the one expectantly awaiting while the people were expectantly awaiting
G4328-02 Luke 7:19 προσδοκῶμεν prosdokomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL should we expect we are awaiting should we expect
G4328-02 Luke 7:20 προσδοκῶμεν prosdokomen V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL look we for we are awaiting we are expecting
G4328-05 Luke 8:40 προσδοκῶντες prosdokontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL waiting awaiting expectantly awaiting expectantly
G4328-01 Luke 12:46 προσδοκᾷ prosdoka V PRS ACT IND 3P SG expects awaits expectantly expects
G4328-03 Acts 3:5 προσδοκῶν prosdokon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG expecting expectantly awaiting expectantly expecting
G4328-03 Acts 10:24 προσδοκῶν prosdokon V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG awaiting expectantly awaiting expectantly expecting
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