ξενίζω

I entertain a stranger, I startle

Definition

The verb ξενίζω (xenizō) carries two primary meanings in the New Testament. First, it means 'to receive or entertain as a guest,' often with the nuance of showing hospitality to a stranger or foreigner, as seen in Acts 10:23 where Peter welcomes Cornelius's messengers. Second, it means 'to surprise, astonish, or find strange,' describing something that causes bewilderment or seems unusual, such as the Athenians' reaction to Paul's teaching about the resurrection in Acts 17:20. The context determines which sense is intended, with the 'hospitality' sense dominating in narrative passages like Acts and Hebrews, while the 'astonishment' sense appears in dialogues about novel teachings.

Biblical Usage

ξενίζω is used 10 times, primarily in the Book of Acts (7 times) and once in Hebrews. In Acts, it is used both for the act of receiving guests (e.g., Acts 10:6, 10:23, 10:32) and for expressing surprise at new ideas (Acts 17:20). The single use in Hebrews 13:2 explicitly commands showing hospitality to strangers, linking it to the possibility of entertaining angels unawares. The pattern shows a practical use for hospitality in early Christian travel and mission, alongside a rhetorical use to highlight the disruptive nature of the gospel message to unfamiliar audiences.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek noun ξένος (xenos, G3581), meaning 'stranger,' 'foreigner,' or 'guest.' The verb ξενίζω literally means 'to treat as a ξένος,' thus encompassing actions related to strangers—either receiving them or being struck by their strangeness. This root connection highlights the dual focus on relationship with the 'other' and the experience of novelty.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it touches on core Christian practices and experiences. The command in Hebrews 13:2 to 'not neglect to show hospitality' (using a related word, φιλοξενία) is rooted in this concept, framing hospitality as a potential encounter with the divine. Furthermore, the use of ξενίζω to describe the startling nature of the gospel (Acts 17:20) underscores how the Christian message was often perceived as radically new and challenging to existing worldviews, a theme central to the apostolic mission.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, hospitality (xenia) was a sacred social duty with strict protocols for hosting travelers and strangers, who were vulnerable without local family ties. To 'entertain a stranger' (ξενίζω) was thus a weighty moral and religious act. The associated meaning of 'being startled' flows from this: a stranger or foreign idea naturally provoked surprise and required careful evaluation within a culture that valued tradition and familiar social bonds.

ἀποδέχομαι (apodechomai, G588) — to welcome or accept gladly, often with a sense of approval; φιλοξενέω (philoxeneō, G5380) — to be hospitable, to love strangers, emphasizing the affectionate aspect of hospitality.

Word Details

Scripture References