προσδοκία (prosdokia)
prosdokia
expectation
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun prosdokia captures the act of looking forward to something with a sense of anticipation. In the New Testament, it appears only twice, yet it carries significant weight in both instances by describing a state of eager waiting. The word implies more than passive hope; it suggests an active, expectant gaze fixed on a future event that is understood to be certain.
Its usage varies slightly depending on context, focusing either on the object of expectation or the person experiencing it. In Luke 21:26, it describes the fear and anticipation people feel regarding the coming troubles of the end times, where the "expectation" is the events themselves. Conversely, Acts 12:11 uses it to describe Peter’s own state of mind after his miraculous release from prison; here, the expectation is what he had believed would happen, highlighting a sudden shift from despair to realized hope.
This term distinguishes itself by encompassing both positive and negative outcomes. Unlike words that might strictly mean joyful hope, prosdokia remains neutral regarding the nature of what is awaited. It simply denotes the psychological posture of waiting for something inevitable. Whether facing judgment or celebrating deliverance, the word marks a moment where the future breaks into the present.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prosdokia describes a state of active anticipation, where the future feels close enough to touch. It is not merely hoping for something nice to happen; it is a fixed gaze on an event that is understood to be certain. This posture can bring either trembling fear or joyful relief, depending on what we are waiting for and who is doing the waiting.
In Luke 21:26, this expectation brings faintness because people dread the coming troubles of the end times. The powers of heaven are shaking, and the weight of that inevitable future presses down on them. Yet in Acts 12:11, Peter uses the same concept to describe his own relief after prison. He had expected deliverance, and when it came, he realized the Lord had indeed sent His angel.
Your faith often lives in this space between what is promised and what is seen. Whether you face daunting changes or celebrate sudden rescue, prosdokia reminds us that God is faithful to what He has said. We can rest in the certainty that our future is held by Him, allowing us to wait with steady hearts rather than anxious ones.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- expectation2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προσδοκίας2×
Key Verses
-
Luke 21:26
men fainting for fear and for expectation of the things which are coming on the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.
This verse shows how expectation can manifest as fear when facing the inevitable shaking of worldly powers.
-
Acts 12:11
When Peter had come to himself, he said, “Now I truly know that the Lord has sent out his angel and delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from everything the Jewish people were expecting.”
Here the word marks Peter’s shift from despair to realization, confirming that his expectation of deliverance was fulfilled.