Sacred Hospitality: ὑποδέχομαι (Strong’s G5264: hypodechomai) Shows Kingdom Welcome

Strong’s G5264: A compound verb joining hypo (under) with dechomai (to receive), meaning to welcome under one’s roof, receive as a guest. In biblical usage, it emphasizes gracious hospitality, particularly in receiving fellow believers or the Messiah Himself.

U- Unveiling the Word

ὑποδέχομαι (hypodechomai) combines ὑπό (hypo, “under”) with δέχομαι (dechomai, “to receive”), creating a rich term for hospitable reception. First appearing in Luke 10:38 describing Martha’s welcome of Jesus, it embodies the sacred duty of hospitality in ancient Near Eastern culture. The early church particularly emphasized this word in discussions of Christian fellowship and mutual care. Today, it continues to challenge believers to practice genuine hospitality as a reflection of God’s welcome and as a means of building community.

N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: ὑποδέχομαι, hypodechomai, hoop-o-DEK-o-my
• Detailed Pronunciation: hoop (as in “hoop”) + o (as in “go”) + dek (as in “deck”) + o (as in “go”) + my (as in “me”)
• Part of Speech: Verb

Etymology:

• ὑπό (hypo) – prefix meaning “under”
• δέχομαι (dechomai) – verb meaning “to receive”
  Combined to mean “to receive under one’s roof”

D – Defining Meanings

• To welcome as a guest
• To receive hospitably
• To entertain

For compound words:

• ὑπό adds the sense of taking under protection
• δέχομαι contributes the aspect of willing reception

Translation Options:

• “Welcome hospitably” – emphasizes the warmth of reception
• “Receive as guest” – highlights the host-guest relationship
• “Take under one’s roof” – maintains the literal meaning

E – Exploring Similar Words

• δέχομαι (dechomai, DEK-o-my) – “to receive” – basic reception
  See G1209
• ξενίζω (xenizō, ksen-ID-zo) – “to entertain strangers”
  See G3579
• φιλοξενέω (philoxeneō, fil-ox-en-EH-oh) – “to show hospitality”
  See G5381

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As a verb, ὑποδέχομαι exhibits these features:

• Tense: Present, Aorist
• Voice: Middle/Passive Deponent
• Mood: Indicative, Participle
• Person: Third
• Number: Singular
• Aspect: Imperfective (Present), Perfective (Aorist)

The word would morph in English as:

• Present: welcomes/receives
• Past: welcomed/received
• Perfect: has welcomed/received
• Future: will welcome/receive

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The major lexicons highlight the rich meaning of ὑποδέχομαι. BDAG emphasizes its use in contexts of gracious hospitality. Thayer’s notes its connection to taking someone under one’s care and protection. LSJ traces its usage in classical Greek for formal reception of guests. Vine’s connects it to Christian fellowship practices. Strong’s emphasizes its compound nature suggesting protective welcome. Moulton and Milligan document its use in papyri for both official and personal hospitality.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
Luke 10:38: “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha [ὑποδέχομαι] welcomed Him into her house.”

Additional References:
Luke 19:6
Acts 17:7
James 2:25

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

Author: Work	Text
Xenophon: Anabasis	“The city [ὑποδέχομαι] welcomed the army with great hospitality.”
Herodotus: Histories	“The king [ὑποδέχομαι] received the ambassadors graciously in his palace.”
Thucydides: History	“The allies [ὑποδέχομαι] welcomed the refugees into their homes.”

N – Noteworthy Summary

ὑποδέχομαι beautifully captures the essence of Christian hospitality as modeled by Martha’s reception of Jesus. The good news is that just as we welcome others, King Jesus welcomes us into His kingdom family. This word reminds us that genuine hospitality is more than mere entertainment—it’s a reflection of God’s gracious welcome and an opportunity to serve the Messiah by serving others.

D – Did You Know?

• The word appears in ancient diplomatic texts about receiving ambassadors
• Early Christians were known for practicing this type of hospitality
• It influenced the development of monastic guest houses

Strong’s G5264: A compound verb joining hypo (under) with dechomai (to receive), meaning to welcome under one’s roof, receive as a guest. In biblical usage, it emphasizes gracious hospitality, particularly in receiving fellow believers or the Messiah Himself.

Part of speech: Verb

Tags: hospitality, welcome, reception, fellowship, community, service, Martha, Christian living, fellowship, care​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​