ἥκω (hēkō)
hēkō
to come/be present
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 25 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb hēkō describes arriving at a destination or being present, carrying the sense of having completed a journey. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from physical travel to the arrival of significant moments. For instance, Jesus uses it to describe the end of the age when "the gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world" (Matthew 24:14), marking the arrival of a specific time rather than just a person.
Its usage often highlights a decisive transition. In John’s Gospel, Jesus states that anyone who comes to him will never be hungry (John 6:37), using the word to signify the completion of a spiritual approach. Similarly, in Revelation, Christ promises to come upon those who remain faithful (Revelation 3:3), framing the arrival as an inevitable conclusion to a period of waiting. The term bridges the gap between movement and state, emphasizing that the traveler has reached their intended point.
Lexical sources note that hēkō frequently translates the Hebrew verb bo, which simply means "to come" or "enter." This connection underscores its straightforward nature in biblical narrative. Whether referring to someone coming from afar (Mark 8:3) or a time arriving unexpectedly (Luke 12:46), the word focuses on the fact of presence. It does not describe the manner of travel, but rather the certainty of having arrived.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ἥκω carries a quiet confidence. It does not describe the struggle of the journey, but the certainty of arrival. When Jesus says in John 6:37 that those who come to him will never be turned away, He is speaking of a completed act. You do not need to polish your approach or prove your worthiness before stepping forward. The focus is on the destination: presence with Him.
This assurance extends beyond personal faith into the broader story of God’s timing. In Matthew 24:14, the word marks the arrival of a specific moment when the gospel reaches the nations and the end comes. It reminds us that history is moving toward a fixed point. We are not wandering without direction; we are waiting for what has been promised.
Whether you are facing a long wait or a sudden change, this word offers stability. It tells us that God’s promises arrive exactly as intended. There is no delay in His purpose, only the fullness of time. Rest in the certainty that He who comes will not leave you waiting forever.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 25 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- will come9×
- they will come2×
- is come2×
- Will come2×
- I will come2×
- will come,1×
- is come,1×
- have come.1×
- had come1×
- am here.1×
- [the time] will come1×
- I may come.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἥξει8×
- ἥξουσιν6×
- ἥκει3×
- ἥξω2×
- ἥξω.1×
- ἥξει,1×
- ἥκω.1×
- ἥκω,1×
- ἥκω1×
- ἥκει,1×
- ἥκασιν.¶1×
Key Verses
-
John 6:37
All those whom the Father gives me will come to me. He who comes to me I will in no way throw out.
This verse uses the word to define the secure outcome of coming to Christ, emphasizing that arrival guarantees acceptance rather than rejection.
-
Matthew 24:14
This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end will come.
Here the term marks the decisive transition of history, signaling that the end arrives only after the gospel has reached its intended audience.
-
Revelation of John 3:3
Remember therefore how you have received and heard. Keep it and repent. If therefore you won’t watch, I will come as a thief, and you won’t know what hour I will come upon you.
The word frames Christ’s return as an inevitable conclusion to a period of spiritual negligence, arriving unexpectedly like a thief.
-
Hebrews 10:7
Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come (in the scroll of the book it is written of me) to do your will, O God.’”
Quoting Psalm 40, this occurrence highlights Jesus’ voluntary arrival to fulfill God’s will, shifting the focus from old rituals to new obedience.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word ἥκω mean?
How is ἥκω different from other words for 'coming'?
Where does this word appear in the New Testament?
Does this word imply a physical or spiritual arrival?
Every Occurrence (25 verses across 9 books)
Matthew 4 verses
I tell you that many will come from the east and the west, and will sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the…
Matthew 23:36Most certainly I tell you, all these things will come upon this generation.
Matthew 24:14This Good News of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world for a testimony to all the nations, and then the end…
Matthew 24:50the lord of that servant will come in a day when he doesn’t expect it and in an hour when he doesn’t know it,