προσδοκάω

I expect, await

Definition

The verb προσδοκάω means to expect, await, or look for something, often with a sense of anticipation or watchfulness. It can describe the simple act of waiting for someone, as when the people were waiting for Zechariah in Luke 1:21, or the anxious expectation of a future event, such as the master's return in the parables (Luke 12:46). In some contexts, it carries the nuance of hoping for or anticipating a specific outcome, as seen when John the Baptist sends disciples to ask Jesus if he is the 'one who is to come' (Matthew 11:3, Luke 7:19-20).

Biblical Usage

This verb is used 15 times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels (Matthew, Luke) and once in Acts. It frequently appears in narrative contexts involving people waiting for a person or an event. A key pattern is its use in eschatological teachings of Jesus, where it describes the unexpected coming of a master or the Son of Man (Matthew 24:50, Luke 12:46). It also describes the crowd's messianic expectation of John the Baptist (Luke 3:15) and the people's wait for Jesus by the sea (Luke 8:40).

Etymology

Derived from the preposition πρό (pro, meaning 'before' or 'forward') combined with the root δοκέω (dokeō, meaning 'to think, suppose, seem'). The compound suggests the idea of thinking or looking forward to something, hence 'to expect' or 'await.'

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it often relates to the theme of expectation in God's redemptive plan. It captures the posture of God's people awaiting the Messiah (Luke 3:15, 7:19-20) and the crucial New Testament call for believers to live in watchful expectation of Christ's return (Luke 12:46). Understanding this Greek term enriches reading by highlighting that biblical hope is not passive but an active, alert anticipation of God's fulfillment of his promises.

In the first-century Jewish context, 'expectation' was often tied to messianic hope and the fulfillment of prophetic promises. The cultural understanding involved a collective, patient, and sometimes anxious waiting for God's intervention, differing from a modern individualistic sense of expectation for personal events.

ἐκδέχομαι (ekdechomai, G1551) — emphasizes waiting out or receiving, often with more patience. προσέχω (prosechō, G4337) — means to pay attention or give heed, focusing on mental alertness rather than temporal waiting. ἀπεκδέχομαι (apekdechomai, G553) — an intensified form meaning to await eagerly or expectantly, used for the creation's longing (Romans 8:19, 23).

Word Details

Scripture References