Brief Overview of ξενοδοχέω (Strong’s G3580: xenodocheō)

Unveiling the Word

In the realm of Biblical studies, understanding key Greek words deepens our grasp of both the cultural and theological context of the New Testament. The word ξενοδοχέω (xenodocheō), which occurs in 1 Timothy 5:10, is significant because it reflects the Christian value of hospitality, especially toward strangers. Hospitality, deeply embedded in both Jewish and Greco-Roman cultures, was seen as a virtuous and sacred act. Xenodocheō specifically relates to offering a place of lodging or care for strangers, a practice that was especially critical in a time when inns were scarce and often unsafe. By examining this word, we gain insight into how early Christians understood hospitality as an essential expression of their faith.

Necessary Information

Greek Word: ξενοδοχέω (xenodocheō), pronounced xen-od-okh-eh’-o.

Etymology: The word ξενοδοχέω is a compound of two Greek terms: ξένος (xénos), meaning “stranger” or “foreigner,” and δέχομαι (dékhomai), meaning “to receive” or “to welcome.” Together, they form xenodocheō, meaning “to receive or host strangers.”

Part of Speech: Xenodocheō is a verb. It describes the action of hosting or providing hospitality, particularly to strangers or travelers. The verb appears in contexts where offering care and shelter was part of Christian duties, especially for those in need.

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Defining Meanings

1. To Host Strangers or Guests: The primary meaning of xenodocheō is to provide hospitality by welcoming and hosting strangers or travelers. This reflects the common practice in early Christian communities of offering hospitality as a service to others, as seen in 1 Timothy 5:10, where the qualifications of a worthy widow include “lodging strangers.”

2. To Offer Shelter or Care: Another meaning of the word involves offering more than just a place to stay—it also encompasses providing care or tending to the needs of strangers, reflecting a deeper level of concern and compassion for guests.

Exploring Similar Words

1. φιλοξενέω (philoxenéō) [pronunciation: fee-lox-en-eh’-o]: This word also means “to show hospitality,” but it emphasizes the love (philos) for strangers (xénos), expressing the affection or eagerness to care for guests, while xenodocheō focuses on the act of lodging or hosting.

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2. δέχομαι (dékhomai) [pronunciation: dekh’-om-ahee]: While xenodocheō involves hosting, dékhomai simply means “to receive” or “to accept,” often used when receiving a person or a message. It highlights the act of welcoming but does not specify the context of providing shelter.

Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

Tense, Voice, Mood: In 1 Timothy 5:10, xenodocheō appears in the aorist tense, indicative mood, indicating a completed action in the past. The verb is in the active voice, where the subject performs the action of hosting.

Person and Number: In 1 Timothy 5:10, the verb appears in the third person singular, referring to a widow who had “shown hospitality.” This personal example reflects the communal expectation that individuals would care for others, particularly strangers in need.

For further reading on Greek grammar, click here for a beginner’s guide to reading Greek.

Studying Lexicon Insights

Greek lexicons, including BDAG, Thayer’s, and LSJ, emphasize the central theme of hospitality in the usage of xenodocheō. While xenodocheō is only used once in the New Testament (1 Timothy 5:10), it has broader applications in classical Greek, where hospitality was seen as a civic duty. Theologically, in the New Testament, xenodocheō is linked to Christian ethics, particularly the responsibility of believers to care for the vulnerable, including strangers and travelers. It underscores the Christian value of hospitality as a demonstration of faith in action.

This overview synthesizes insights from BDAG, Thayer’s, LSJ, Vine’s, Strong’s, LEH, and Moulton and Milligan.

Tracing Related Scriptures

1. 1 Timothy 5:10: “Well reported of for good works; if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers [ξενοδοχέω], if she has washed the saints’ feet…”

2. Matthew 25:35: “For I was a stranger, and you took me in [δέχομαι].”

3. Hebrews 13:2: “Do not forget to show hospitality [φιλοξενέω] to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”

Analyzing Classical Usage

Author Name of Work Text

Herodotus Histories “The Greeks hosted [ξενοδοχέω] the envoys with great honor.”

Xenophon Cyropaedia “He received [ξενοδοχέω] the travelers and offered them shelter.”

Septuagint Genesis 18:4 “Let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest under the tree.” [concept of hosting]

Noteworthy Summary

Xenodocheō (Strong’s G3580) holds a pivotal place in New Testament and early Christian thought, representing the act of showing hospitality, especially to strangers. In 1 Timothy 5:10, it is part of the commendation of a widow’s good works, signifying that caring for strangers was a valued and virtuous task. The word also reflects the broader cultural practice in the Greco-Roman world, where hospitality was seen as a moral and civic duty.

Did You Know?

1. The concept of hospitality (xenodocheō) in the ancient world often involved hosting travelers at personal risk, as inns were dangerous and unreliable.

2. In early Christian communities, hospitality was not just a social norm but a reflection of Christian love and service to others.

3. The word xenodocheō is related to the modern term “xenodochy,” meaning the reception or hospitality of strangers.