ξενοδοχέω

I entertain strangers

Definition

Xenodocheō means to show hospitality, specifically by welcoming and providing for strangers or travelers. In the New Testament, it carries the sense of actively receiving and caring for guests, often implying the offering of lodging and sustenance. Its single biblical occurrence in 1 Timothy 5:10 uses it to describe a qualifying good work for widows being considered for church support—they must be 'well reported for good works, if she has brought up children, if she has lodged strangers (ἐξενοδόχησεν), if she has washed the saints' feet, if she has relieved the afflicted, if she has diligently followed every good work.' The term thus encompasses both the practical act of hosting and the virtuous character of generous, open-hearted care.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 5:10. It appears in a list of concrete, commendable actions that demonstrate a widow's proven record of Christian service and charity. The context is ecclesiastical, relating to the criteria for enrolling widows for formal church care and support. Its singular use highlights that hospitality was not a vague ideal but a tangible, expected mark of a faithful believer's life.

Etymology

Derived from two Greek roots: ξένος (xenos, G3581), meaning 'stranger,' 'foreigner,' or 'guest,' and δέχομαι (dechomai, G1209), meaning 'to receive' or 'to welcome.' The compound verb literally means 'to receive strangers' or 'to be a host to guests.' It is related to the noun ξενοδοχεῖον (xenodocheion, G3588), which means an inn or guest-house.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it encapsulates a core Christian virtue: hospitality rooted in love and service. In the ancient world, where travel was dangerous and commercial lodging scarce, offering hospitality was a vital act of mercy and community. For the early church, welcoming strangers was closely tied to welcoming Christ (Matthew 25:35) and was a practical expression of love and unity within the body of Christ. Understanding this term enriches reading by showing that biblical hospitality is an active, costly, and essential ministry, not merely social entertaining.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, hospitality (philoxenia) was a sacred social duty, especially for travelers who lacked the protection of family or local connections. Unlike modern, impersonal hotels, hospitality involved personal risk, resource-sharing, and the creation of temporary kinship bonds. For Christians, this cultural practice was elevated into a spiritual discipline and a mark of true faith, as they often hosted itinerant missionaries and fellow believers fleeing persecution.

φιλοξενία (philoxenia, G5381) — the noun meaning 'love of strangers' or 'hospitality,' focusing on the virtuous attitude. ὑποδέχομαι (hypodechomai, G5274) — a more general verb for 'to receive' or 'to welcome,' often used for receiving people into one's home.

Word Details

Scripture References