ἐνδέχομαι
I allow, it is possible
Definition
The verb ἐνδέχομαι (endechomai) means 'to be possible' or 'to be permissible.' It expresses what is allowable or feasible within a given set of circumstances. In its only New Testament occurrence, Luke 13:33, it carries the sense of something being possible or fitting, as Jesus states, 'it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.' Here, it underscores the logical or divinely-ordained necessity of an event. The word can also imply acceptance or allowance in broader Greek usage, but the biblical instance focuses on possibility and propriety.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 13:33. In this context, Jesus uses it rhetorically to declare the impossibility (or extreme improbability) of a prophet dying outside Jerusalem, given the city's historical pattern of rejecting prophets. The usage is in a narrative of travel and confrontation, highlighting what is logically or divinely consistent.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition ἐν (en, meaning 'in') combined with the verb δέχομαι (dechomai, G1209, meaning 'to receive' or 'to accept'). Literally, it suggests 'to receive in' or 'to accept as possible.' The compound form intensifies the notion of reception into the realm of what is allowable or feasible.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, ἐνδέχομαι in Luke 13:33 contributes to the Lukan theme of divine necessity and Jesus's journey toward his destined suffering in Jerusalem. It underscores that Jesus's death is not a random accident but fits within God's prophetic plan and the pattern of Israel's history. Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting the logical and theological 'fittingness' of Christ's passion.
In the Greco-Roman world, the term was used in legal, philosophical, and general discourse to discuss what is permissible or possible. Jesus's usage taps into this common understanding but applies it to a specifically Jewish prophetic tradition about Jerusalem's role. The cultural expectation was that Jerusalem, as the religious center, should honor prophets, but its history showed the opposite.
δύναμαι (dunamai, G1410) — focuses on ability or power to do something. ἔξεστιν (exestin, G1832) — focuses on what is lawful or permitted.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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