δειπνέω

I dine

Definition

δειπνέω means to eat a meal, specifically the main evening meal. In the New Testament, it consistently refers to the act of dining, often in a formal or significant setting. In Luke 17:8, it describes the ordinary domestic act of a master dining after his servant prepares a meal. However, in the Last Supper accounts (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25) and in Christ's invitation in Revelation 3:20, the word is used in deeply symbolic contexts, transforming a simple meal into a moment of covenant establishment and intimate fellowship.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only four times in the New Testament, appearing in Luke, 1 Corinthians, and Revelation. Its usage progresses from a literal, everyday meal (Luke 17:8) to the theologically charged meal of the Lord's Supper (Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25). The final use is Christ's metaphorical invitation to 'dine' with believers, representing spiritual communion (Revelation 3:20). The pattern shows a movement from the physical to the spiritual application of sharing a meal.

Etymology

Derived from the noun δείπνον (deipnon, G1173), meaning 'dinner' or 'the main meal.' It is a primary verb for eating, especially the principal, often social, meal of the day. The root concept emphasizes not just consumption of food, but the event and fellowship of a shared meal.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant because it anchors the Lord's Supper in the concrete action of sharing a meal. In Luke 22:20 and 1 Corinthians 11:25, 'dining' is the act through which the new covenant in Christ's blood is proclaimed and participated in. Understanding δειπνέω enriches reading by highlighting how a common human activity becomes the vessel for profound spiritual reality—communion with Christ and the church.

In the 1st-century Greco-Roman world, the evening meal (deipnon) was the central social and familial event of the day. It was often a leisurely time for conversation, community, and hospitality, differing from a quick, solitary modern meal. This cultural backdrop makes Jesus's use of the meal for the Last Supper and the imagery in Revelation 3:20 powerfully intimate, implying fellowship, acceptance, and extended time together.

ἐσθίω (esthiō, G2068) — A more general term for 'to eat,' without the specific connotation of a formal meal. τρώγω (trōgō, G5176) — Means 'to gnaw' or 'chew'; used by Jesus in John 6:54-58 for eating his flesh, emphasizing physical consumption, often with a crude or graphic force.

Word Details

Scripture References