ἐλπίζω

I hope, hope for, expect

Definition

ἐλπίζω (elpizō) means to hope, expect, or trust, but with a strong sense of confident expectation based on God's character and promises. In the New Testament, it often describes a forward-looking trust in God's salvation, as in Romans 8:24-25 where hope is for what is unseen. It can also refer to a more general expectation of something, whether positive or negative, such as Felix hoping for a bribe in Acts 24:26, or waiting for the consolation of Israel in Luke 2:25. The word implies a patient, active waiting grounded in faith, not mere wishful thinking.

Biblical Usage

ἐλπίζω is used 31 times across the Gospels, Acts, and the Epistles, especially by Paul. It frequently appears in contexts of trusting in God or Christ for salvation (e.g., Matthew 12:21, quoting Isaiah, about Gentiles hoping in the Messiah). In Luke 6:34, it describes a worldly hope for repayment. Paul uses it theologically to discuss the hope of resurrection and future glory (e.g., Acts 26:6-7; Romans 8:24-25; 1 Corinthians 13:7). The usage shifts from general expectation to a specifically Christian, faith-based hope.

Etymology

Derived from the noun ἐλπίς (elpis, G1680), meaning 'hope' or 'expectation.' The verb form ἐλπίζω is built on this root, conveying the action of hoping. Cognates appear in classical Greek with a sense of expectation, but in the Septuagint (Greek Old Testament) and New Testament, it often takes on a stronger, theological dimension of trust in God, influenced by Hebrew concepts of hope (e.g., בָּטַח, batach, to trust).

Semantic Range

This word is central to Christian theology, defining the believer's confident expectation of God's promises, especially salvation and eternal life. It is one of the three great theological virtues alongside faith and love (1 Corinthians 13:13). Understanding ἐλπίζω enriches Bible reading by highlighting that biblical hope is not passive wishing but an active, secure trust based on God's faithfulness, as seen in passages like Romans 5:1-5 and 1 Peter 1:3, which speak of a living hope through Christ's resurrection.

In the Greco-Roman world, hope (elpis) could be seen as ambiguous—sometimes a positive expectation, sometimes a naive or uncertain desire. Biblical hope, especially in the New Testament, transforms this concept by anchoring it in the certainty of God's character and the resurrection of Jesus, offering a stable, future-oriented confidence that differed from the more fragile hopes of the surrounding culture.

προσδοκάω (prosdokaō, G4328) — emphasizes eager waiting or expectation, often for an imminent event. πιστεύω (pisteuō, G4100) — means to believe or trust, focusing more on faith in a person or truth, while ἐλπίζω emphasizes the future expectation arising from that trust. ὑπομένω (hypomenō, G5278) — means to endure or remain under, closely related to hope in contexts of patient waiting (Romans 8:25).

Word Details

Scripture References