verb
prosdechomō
Strong’sG4327
I expect, welcome, accept
stem prosdech-14 times in the New Testamentin 8 of 27 books10 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
προσδέχομαι carries two distinct senses in the New Testament.
The first is to receive favorably, welcome, or accept — taking a person or thing to oneself, admitting them, or granting them acceptance 124. This can mean welcoming a person into fellowship or hospitality, or accepting and enduring a thing that comes one's way 12.
The second is to expect, wait for, or look for — awaiting a person or thing, often with confidence or patience 124.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
προσ-δέχομαι,
[in LXX chiefly for רצה;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4327 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidpros-dekh'-om-ahee
to admit (to intercourse, hospitality, credence, or (figuratively) endurance); by implication, to await (with confidence or patience)
King Jamesaccept, allow, look (wait) for, take.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Ionic dialect προσδέκομαι: used by Refs 8th c.BC+ only in Epic dialect present participle ποτιδέγμενος (see. below Refs: aorist 1 προσεδέχθηνRefs 4th c.BC+:— receive favourably, accept, τὸ ἐκ Δελφῶν [χρηστήριον] Refs 5th c.BC+; π. συμμαχίαν Refs 5th c.BC+; τὴν φιλίαν, τὰς διαλύσεις, Refs 2nd c.BC+; receive hospitably, Refs 5th c.BC+
II admit, ἐς τὴν πόλιν Refs 5th c.BC+; admit into one's presence, of a king, Refs 5th c.BC+; of a demos receiving foreign emissaries, Refs 5th c.BC+
II.2 admit to citizenship, Refs 5th c.BC+; so ποία δὲ χέρνιψ φρατέρων προσδέξετα; Refs 4th c.BC+; π. τινὰ εἰς τοὺς ἐφήβους Refs 2nd c.AD+; ὁ προσδεχθησόμενος εἰς τὴν στιβάδα Refs 4th c.BC+
II.3 of the female, ἡ ἵππος π. τὸν ὄνον Refs 5th c.BC+.έ.
II.4 admit an argument, π. τὸ ψεῦδος, λόγον ἀληθῆ, Refs 5th c.BC+; π. πρόφασιν accept an excuse, Refs 2nd c.BC+
II.5 admit, be capable of, μήτε γένεσιν μήτε ὄλεθρον Refs 5th c.BC+
II.6 undertake, προσδέχεσθαι μάλα χρὴ τὰ τοιαῦτα ἰήματα Refs 5th c.BC+; take a liability upon oneself, guarantee, τὸ ἀνάλωμα Refs; credit a sum to a person or an account, Refs 3rd c.BC+
III await, expect, the only sense in Refs 8th c.BC+participle ποτιδέγμενος waiting for or expecting, δῶρον Refs 8th c.BC+; σὴν ὁρμήνRefs 8th c.BC+; so later, προσδεκομένους τοιοῦτον οὐδέν Refs 5th c.BC+; τῷ Νικίᾳ προσδεχομένῳ ἦν τὰ παρὰ τῶν Ἐγεσταίων was according to his expectation, Refs; π. τινός τι expect anything from anybody, Refs 5th c.BC+: with accusative et infinitive future, οὐδὲν πάντως προσεδέκοντο.. τὸν στόλον ὁρμήσεσθαι Refs 5th c.BC+: with participle future, τοῦτον π. ἐπαναστησόμενον Refs 5th c.BC+; πανταχόθεν π. τοὺς πολεμίους await them, Refs 2nd c.BC+
III.2 wait, ἥατ᾽ ἐνὶ μεγάροις ποτιδέγμεναι Refs 8th c.BC+; π. εἰ with optative, Refs 8th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| prosdechotōπροσδέχεται | happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | welcomes | 1× |
| prosdecholōπροσδέχονται | happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural | accept | 1× |
| prosdechoteπροσεδέχετο | was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular | waiting for | 1× |
| prosdechevaπροσεδέξασθε | happened · yeaorist middle indicative 2nd person plural | accepted | 1× |
| prosdecheveiaπροσδέξησθε | happened · yeaorist middle subjunctive 2nd person plural | welcome | 1× |
| prosdechovōrπροσδέχεσθε | happening now · yepresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person plural | welcome | 1× |
| prosdechorōntosπροσδεχόμενος | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine | waiting for | 2× |
| prosdechorōntoisπροσδεχόμενοι | happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine | wait for | 3× |
| prosdechorōntoiπροσδεχομένοις | happening now · to, forpresent middle or passive participle dative plural masculine | waiting for | 2× |
| prosdecherantoisπροσδεξάμενοι | happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative plural masculine | accepting | 1× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 86, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 4 occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | prosdechomō | prosdechome | prosdechomē | prosdechomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | prosdechosō | prosdechose | prosdechosē | prosdechoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdechotō1×προσδέχεται | prosdechote1×προσεδέχετο | prosdechotē | prosdechotelē |
| we 1st person plural | prosdechonō | prosdechone | prosdechonē | prosdechonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdechovō | prosdechove | prosdechovē | prosdechovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdecholō1×προσδέχονται | prosdechole | prosdecholē | prosdecholelē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | prosdechemi | prosdechema |
| you 2nd person singular | prosdechesi | prosdechesa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdecheti | prosdecheta |
| we 1st person plural | prosdecheni | prosdechena |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdechevi | prosdecheva1×προσεδέξασθε |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdecheli | prosdechela |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 1 occurrence
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | prosdechomeiō | prosdechomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | prosdechoseiō | prosdechoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdechoteiō | prosdechoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | prosdechoneiō | prosdechoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdechoveiō | prosdechoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdecholeiō | prosdecholeiē |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | prosdechemeia |
| you 2nd person singular | prosdecheseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdecheteia |
| we 1st person plural | prosdecheneia |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdecheveia1×προσδέξησθε |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdecheleia |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | prosdechosōr | prosdechosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdechotōr | prosdechotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdechovōr1×προσδέχεσθε | prosdechovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdecholōr | prosdecholēr |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | prosdechesar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdechetar |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdechevar |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdechelar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | prosdechomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | prosdechosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdechotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | prosdechonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdechovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdecholoiō |
acts on or for itself middle voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | prosdechemoia |
| you 2nd person singular | prosdechesoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | prosdechetoia |
| we 1st person plural | prosdechenoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | prosdechevoia |
| they 3rd person plural | prosdecheloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | prosdechorō | prosdechorē | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | prosdecheri | prosdechera |
Used as an adjective — participle, 8 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | prosdechorōntos7×προσδεχόμενος | prosdechorēntos | ||
| acts on or for itself middle voice | prosdecherintos | prosdecherantos1× |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
prosdech is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
14 occurrences, every one of them listed
prosdechotō“welcomes”happening now · he/she/itpresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Luke 15:2… tois grammatevois legarōntois hoti Houtos hamartōloin prosdechotō kai sunesthiatō autoi.… scribes began to grumble: “This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.”
prosdecholō“accept”happening now · theypresent middle or passive indicative 3rd person plural1×
Acts 24:15“accept”… ton theon, han kai autois houtois prosdecholō, anastasian mellarō eri dikaioiu tē kai …… hope in God that they themselves cherish, that there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked.
prosdechote“waiting for”was happening · he/she/itimperfect middle or passive indicative 3rd person singular1×
Luke 23:51… apo Harimathaiau polau toiu Ioudaioiu, hos prosdechote tan basileian tou theou,… Judean town of Arimathea and was waiting for the kingdom of God.
prosdecheva“accepted”happened · yeaorist middle indicative 2nd person plural1×
Hebrews 10:34… harpagan teiu huparcharōnteiu vu meta charau prosdecheva, gnōskarōntois echarō heautoin kreittonan huparxian kai …… with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, knowing …
prosdecheveia“welcome”happened · yeaorist middle subjunctive 2nd person plural1×
Romans 16:2hina autan prosdecheveia en kurio axiōs toiu hagioiu, kai …Welcome her in the Lord in a …
prosdechovōr“welcome”happening now · yepresent middle or passive imperative 2nd person plural1×
Philippians 2:29prosdechovōr oun auton en kurio meta pantau …Welcome him in the Lord with great …
prosdechorōntos“waiting for”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative singular masculine2×
Mark 15:43… euschēmōnos bouleutos, hos kai autos ate prosdechorōntos tan basileian tou theou, tolmarantos eiserchata …… prominent Council member who himself was waiting for the kingdom of God, boldly went …
Luke 2:25… tos anthrōpos houtos dikaios kai eulabos, prosdechorōntos paraklēsian tou Israēl, kai pneumem ate …… was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the …
prosdechorōntois“wait for”happening now · subjectpresent middle or passive participle nominative plural masculine3×
Acts 23:21“waiting for”… anairaleia auton, kai nun alō hetoimois prosdechorōntois tan apo su epangelian.… they have killed him; they are ready now, awaiting your consent.”
Titus 2:13“wait for”prosdechorōntois tan makarian elpidan kai epifaneian tau …… we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance …
Jude 1:21“look forward”heautoin en agapa theou tēravar prosdechorōntois tem elesem tou kuriou nu Iēsu …keep yourselves in the love of God as you await the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to …
prosdechorōntoi“waiting for”happening now · to, forpresent middle or passive participle dative plural masculine2×
Luke 2:38“looking forward to”… kai lalate peri autou pantoi toi prosdechorōntoi lutrōsian Ierousalēm.… to God and spoke about the Child to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem.
Luke 12:36kai vis homoiois anthrōpoi prosdechorōntoi ton kurion heautoiu pote analuateia ek …Then you will be like servants waiting for their master to return from the …
prosdecherantois“accepting”happened · subjectaorist middle participle nominative plural masculine1×
Hebrews 11:35“accepting”… nekroin autaiu; allosois de tumpanizila, ouk prosdecherantois tan apolutrōsian, hina kreittonau anastasiau tuchaleia;… received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.