ἐκδέχομαι (ekdechomai)
ekdechomai
to wait for
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ekdechomai means to wait for something with eager expectation. It is not passive waiting but an active, hopeful anticipation of a specific outcome or person. In the New Testament, it appears seven times, carrying a sense of looking forward with confidence that what is promised will indeed arrive.
This word often describes patients awaiting their inheritance or deliverance. For instance, Hebrews 11:10 uses it to describe Abraham’s steady gaze toward the city whose builder is God, while James 5:7 urges believers to be patient like farmers waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. The term implies a fixed hope rather than uncertain guessing.
Its root combines ek ("out") and dechomai ("to receive"), suggesting receiving something fully or completely from an external source. This etymology reinforces the idea that the object of expectation comes from outside oneself, often from God. Translators usually render it as "wait for" or "expect," capturing the tension between present reality and future fulfillment.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ekdechomai describes a waiting that is active and full of hope, not a passive passivity. It combines the idea of looking out for something specific with the confidence that it will arrive. This kind of expectation shapes how we live in the present, keeping our focus on God’s promises rather than our immediate circumstances.
When you feel stuck or uncertain, this word reminds you that waiting is not wasted time. It is a posture of readiness. Like a farmer watching for rain, you can hold onto the belief that what God has promised will come to pass in His perfect timing.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- waiting for1×
- is waiting for1×
- do wait for;1×
- awaits1×
- awaiting1×
- I am expecting1×
- He was awaiting1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐξεδέχετο1×
- ἐκδέχομαι1×
- ἐκδέχεται1×
- ἐκδέχεσθε·1×
- ἐκδεχόμενος1×
- ἐκδεχομένων1×
- ἐκδεχομένου1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 11:10
For he was looking for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.
This verse shows Abraham’s steady gaze toward a divine city, illustrating how faith anchors our hope in God’s future work.
-
James 5:7
Be patient therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient over it, until it receives the early and late rain.
The farmer’s patience for the harvest serves as a concrete example of enduring through seasons while trusting in the outcome.
-
Hebrews 10:13
from that time waiting until his enemies are made the footstool of his feet.
Here, Christ waits with confidence until His enemies are subdued, highlighting the certainty of His ultimate victory.