G553
ἀπεκδέχομαι
to expect fully
Transliteration
apekdéchomaiPronunciation
(ap-ek-dekh'-om-ahee)Everything you need to know.
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to expect fully
ἀπεκδέχομαι(apekdéchomai)
Strong’s Definition
to expect fully
from G575 (ἀπό) and G1551 (ἐκδέχομαι);
“For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.”
No verses found containing this word study ID.
Pronunciation Guide: ap-ek-dekh'-om-ahee
Basic Definition
Strong's G553: ἀπεκδέχομαι (apekdechomai) describes an intense, focused waiting with eager anticipation and complete confidence in a future outcome. This compound verb combines the prepositions ἀπό (away from) and ἐκ (out from) with the verb δέχομαι (to receive), creating a vivid picture of someone totally absorbed in expectation, looking away from all else to focus entirely on the awaited person or event.
Etymology and Morphology
ἀπεκδέχομαι Morphology:
Origin & History
The term ἀπεκδέχομαι appears to be a distinctly Christian compound, not found in classical Greek literature before the New Testament era. This suggests it was deliberately formed to express the unique Christian experience of waiting for the Messiah's return and the fulfillment of God's promises. The base verb δέχομαι has a rich history in classical Greek, used by Herodotus in his "Histories" to describe receiving guests or accepting gifts.
The double prepositional prefix (ἀπό + ἐκ) intensifies the meaning, creating a word that captures the concentrated expectation characteristic of early Christian hope. While the simple verb δέχομαι appears frequently in the Septuagint, this compound form is unique to the New Testament, suggesting its special theological significance in expressing Christian anticipation.
Expanded Definitions & Translation Options
ἀπεκδέχομαι Translation Options:
Biblical Usage
ἀπεκδέχομαι appears seven times in the New Testament, primarily in Pauline literature. Its first appearance in Romans 8:19 sets the tone for its theological significance, describing creation's eager longing for the revelation of God's children. The word consistently appears in contexts relating to future hope and redemption.
The concentrated meaning of this verb perfectly expresses the Christian attitude toward future glory and redemption. It describes not just passive waiting, but active, focused anticipation that influences present behavior and attitude.
Cultural Insights
In the ancient Mediterranean world, the act of waiting for an important person's arrival often involved posting watchmen who would focus solely on scanning the horizon for signs of the anticipated guest. This cultural practice illuminates the meaning of ἀπεκδέχομαι, as it pictures a watchman who has turned away from all other duties to focus entirely on watching for one specific arrival.
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The Jewish concept of צָפָה (tsaphah) - to watch or look out as a watchman - provides important background for understanding ἀπεκδέχομαι. This connects to the prophetic tradition of watching and waiting for יהוה (Yahweh)'s salvation, as seen in Habakkuk's watching on the ramparts (Habakkuk 2:1).
Theological Significance
ἀπεκδέχομαι reveals a profound theological truth about the nature of Christian hope. It's not mere passive waiting but an active, transformative anticipation that shapes present reality. This eager expectation is presented as a characteristic of both creation and the believer, suggesting a cosmic scope to redemptive hope.
The word appears prominently in contexts dealing with eschatological hope, particularly in Romans 8 where it describes a three-fold waiting: creation waits, believers wait, and the Spirit assists in this waiting. This reveals the communal and cosmic nature of redemptive hope, showing how all creation is united in anticipating final redemption.
The use of ἀπεκδέχομαι in relation to both present salvation and future glory demonstrates the "already but not yet" tension in New Testament theology. It expresses confident hope while acknowledging present incompleteness.
Personal Application
Understanding ἀπεκδέχομαι challenges believers to examine the quality of their waiting on God. Are we merely passing time, or are we actively, eagerly anticipating His promises? This word calls us to a watching that transforms our present reality - turning away from lesser things to focus on eternal hope.
This eager expectation should characterize our daily walk with God, influencing how we view circumstances, make decisions, and invest our time. Just as creation groans in eager anticipation, our lives should demonstrate this same focused longing for God's promises to be fulfilled.
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Remember This
ἀπεκδέχομαι embodies the transformative power of Christian hope - not passive waiting, but active, focused anticipation that turns away from all else to fix its gaze on the promised redemption in the Messiah.