προσδέχομαι (prosdechomai)
prosdechomai
to wait for/welcome
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 14 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prosdechomai carries the dual sense of welcoming someone into one’s presence and eagerly awaiting a future event. It combines the idea of receiving with favor, as when Paul instructs believers to welcome Philemon in Philippians 2:29, or looking forward to something with anticipation, such as Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel in Luke 2:25.
This word appears fourteen times in the New Testament, often highlighting a posture of open-hearted reception. In Acts 24:15, it describes the hope of resurrection, while in Hebrews 10:34, it refers to joyfully accepting the confiscation of property because of a greater, lasting reward. The term bridges the immediate act of hospitality with the patient expectation of God’s promises.
Its usage suggests that true welcome involves both an open door and an expectant heart. Whether receiving a traveler or anticipating divine fulfillment, prosdechomai implies a positive reception rather than mere passive waiting. This active orientation toward others and toward God’s future characterizes the faithful response found in these passages.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we read about Simeon waiting for the consolation of Israel, or believers joyfully accepting loss because of a greater reward in heaven, we see that this word is more than passive waiting. It describes an active, hopeful posture toward God and others. To welcome someone or anticipate a promise means your heart is already open to what is coming.
This changes how we view our daily interactions. Whether receiving a fellow believer with joy or hoping in the resurrection, we are called to live with expectant faith. It invites us to treat every person as a guest of honor and every moment as an opportunity to trust God’s future promises.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 14 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- waiting for4×
- awaiting3×
- you may receive1×
- you accepted1×
- receives1×
- he was waiting for1×
- having accepted1×
- do receive1×
- await,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσδεχόμενοι3×
- προσδεχόμενος2×
- προσδεχομένοις2×
- προσεδέχετο1×
- προσεδέξασθε1×
- προσδέχονται,1×
- προσδέχεται1×
- προσδέχεσθε1×
- προσδέξησθε1×
- προσδεξάμενοι1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:25
Behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, looking for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him.
Simeon’s life shows that waiting for God involves a devout readiness to recognize His presence when it finally arrives.
-
Philippians 2:29
Receive him therefore in the Lord with all joy, and hold such people in honor,
Paul instructs the church to receive Timothy with all joy, linking the act of welcome directly to honoring those who serve in the Lord.
-
Acts 24:15
having hope toward God, which these also themselves look for, that there will be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
Paul’s hope in the resurrection is described as something he and his accusers alike look for, grounding faith in a future reality.
-
Hebrews 10:34
For you both had compassion on me in my chains and joyfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and an enduring one in the heavens.
Believers are praised for joyfully accepting the plundering of their possessions because they were already holding onto a better, enduring reward.