1209. dechomai
Lexical Summary
dechomai: To receive, accept, welcome

Original Word: δέχομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: dechomai
Pronunciation: DEKH-oh-my
Phonetic Spelling: (dekh'-om-ahee)
KJV: accept, receive, take
NASB: receive, receives, received, accepted, take, accept, welcome
Word Origin: [middle voice of a primary verb]

1. to receive
{(in various applications, literally or figuratively)}

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
accept, receive, take.

Middle voice of a primary verb; to receive (in various applications, literally or figuratively) -- accept, receive, take. Compare lambano.

see GREEK lambano

HELPS Word-studies

1209 xomai – properly, to receive in a welcoming (receptive) way. 1209 (déxomai) is used of people welcoming God (His offers), like receiving and sharing in His salvation (1 Thes 2:13) and thoughts (Eph 6:17).

1209/dexomai ("warmly receptive, welcoming") means receive with "ready reception what is offered" (Vine, Unger, White, NT, 7), i.e. "welcome with appropriate reception" (Thayer).

[The personal element is emphasized with 1209 (déxomai) which accounts for it always being in the Greek middle voice. This stresses the high level of self-involvement (interest) involved with the "welcoming-receiving." 1209 (déxomai) occurs 59 times in the NT.]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
a prim. verb
Definition
to receive
NASB Translation
accept (2), accepted (3), receive (16), received (12), receives (15), take (3), taken (1), took (1), welcome (2), welcomed (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1209: δέχομαι

δέχομαι; (future 2 person plural δεξεσθε, Ephesians 6:17 Rec.bez); 1 aorist ἐδεξάμην; perfect δεδεγμαι (Acts 8:14); deponent middle; the Sept. mostly for לָקַח;

1. to take with the hand: τό γράμμα (L text T Tr WH τά γράμματα), Luke 16:6f; τό ποτήριον, Luke 22:17; to take hold of, take up, τήν περικεφαλαίαν ... τήν μάχαιραν, Ephesians 6:17; τό παιδίον εἰς ἀγκάλας, Luke 2:28.

2. to take up, receive (German aufnehmen,annehmen);

a. used of a place receiving one: ὅν δεῖ οὐρανόν δέξασθαι (οὐρανόν is subject), Acts 3:21 (Plato, Theact., p. 177 a. τελευτησαντας αὐτούς ... τῶν κακῶν καθαρός τόπος οὐ δέξεται).

b. with the accusative of person to receive, grant access to, a visitor; not to refuse contact or friendship: Luke 9:11 R G; John 4:45; 2 Corinthians 7:15; Galatians 4:14; Colossians 4:10; to receive to hospitality, Matthew 10:14, 40; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5, 53; Luke 10:8, 10; Acts 21:17 Rec.; Hebrews 11:31 (often in Greek writings from Homer down); παιδίον, to receive into one's family in order to bring up and educate, Matthew 18:5; Mark 9:37; Luke 9:48; to receive εἰς τούς οἴκους, τάς σκηνάς, Luke 16:4, 9; δέξαι τό πνεῦμα μου, to thyself in heaven, Acts 7:59.

c. with the accusative of the thing offered in speaking, teaching, instructing; to receive favorably, give ear to, embrace, make one's own, approve, not to reject: τόν λόγον, Luke 8:13; Acts 8:14; Acts 11:1; Acts 17:11; 1 Thessalonians 1:6; 1 Thessalonians 2:13; James 1:21; τά τοῦ πνεύματος 1 Corinthians 2:14; τήν παράκλησιν, 2 Corinthians 8:17; τήν ἀγάπην τῆς ἀληθείας namely, commended to them, 2 Thessalonians 2:10; (add the elliptical construction in Matthew 11:14) (often in Greek writings); to receive a benefit offered, not to reject it, 2 Corinthians 8:4 Rec. d. to receive equivalent to to take upon oneself, sustain, bear, endure: τινα, his bearing and behavior, 2 Corinthians 11:16 τήν ἀδικίαν, Hebrew נָשָׂא, Genesis 50:17; πᾶν, ἐάν ἐπαχθῇ, Sir. 2:4; μυθον χαλεπόν, Homer, Odyssey 20, 271, and often in Greek writers).

3. to receive, get, (German empfangen): ἐπιστολάς, Acts 22:5; γράμματα, Acts 28:21; τήν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ, to become a partaker of the benefits of God's kingdom, Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17; λόγια ζῶντα, Acts 7:38; εὐαγγέλιον, 2 Corinthians 11:4; τήν χάριν τοῦ Θεοῦ, 2 Corinthians 6:1; — equivalent to to learn: Philippians 4:18 ((?) see the commentaries at the passage). [SYNONYMS: δέχομαι, λαμβάνω: The earlier classic use of these verbs sustains in the main the distinction laid down in the glossaries (e. g. Ammonius, under the word λαβεῖν; λαβεῖν μέν ἐστι, τό κείμενον τί ἀνέλεσθαι. δέξασθαι δέ, τό διδόμενον ἐκ χειρός), and the suggestion of a self-prompted taking still adheres to λαμβάνω in many connections (cf. λαβεῖν τινα γυναῖκα, ἀρχήν λαβεῖν) in distinction from a receiving of what is offered; in use, however, the words overlap and distinctions disappear; yet the suggestion of a welcoming or an appropriating reception generally cleaves to δέχομαι. See Schimdt, chapter 107, who treats of the compound of δέχομαι. in detail. Compare: ἀναδέχομαι, ἀποδέχομαι, διαδέχομαι, εἰσδέχομαι, ἐκδέχομαι, ἀπεκδέχομαι, ἐνδέχομαι, ἐπιδέχομαι, παραδέχομαι, προσδέχομαι, ὑποδέχομαι.]

Topical Lexicon
Summary of Biblical Usage

The verb behind Strong’s Greek 1209 serves as Scripture’s primary term for “receiving” persons, messages, and divine gifts. It spans Gospel narratives, Acts, Pauline correspondence, Hebrews, James, and Revelation-era writings, consistently describing a wholehearted, welcoming response rather than a mere passive allowance.

Reception and Hospitality in the Gospels

When Jesus commissions the Twelve (Matthew 10:40-42; Mark 6:11; Luke 9:5-6; 10:8-10), He binds the treatment of His messengers to the treatment of Himself and, ultimately, of the Father. “Whoever receives you receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the One who sent Me” (Matthew 10:40). The verb conveys covenant hospitality: to lodge, provide for, protect, and listen.

Children become living parables of kingdom hospitality: “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me” (Mark 9:37). The call is not to patronize children but to embody an open-armed stance toward the seemingly insignificant—an attitude Christ identifies with receiving God Himself.

Faith and the Kingdom: Receiving Like a Child

Jesus intensifies the idea in Mark 10:15 and Luke 18:17. “Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:15). The verb here expresses personal appropriation—dependence, trust, and unguarded delight. Salvation is portrayed as welcoming the reign of God without suspicion, calculation, or self-reliance.

Receiving the Word

Luke highlights two contrasting soils (Luke 8:13): some “receive the word with joy” yet fall away; others endure. Acts develops the positive side: the Samaritans (Acts 8:14), Cornelius’ household (Acts 11:1), and the Bereans (Acts 17:11) “received the word with all readiness, and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.” Paul commends the Thessalonians: “You welcomed the word not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God” (1 Thessalonians 2:13). Biblical reception thus joins eager hearing with Spirit-energized obedience.

Reception and Rejection in Apostolic Mission

The same verb denotes rejection by negation: towns that “do not receive” the disciples (Mark 6:11; Luke 9:53) come under solemn warning. Paul laments the unbeliever’s inability—“The natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God” (1 Corinthians 2:14). Conversely, the Macedonians (2 Corinthians 8:17), Philippian church (Philippians 4:18), and Colossian assembly (Colossians 4:10) exemplify practical reception of servants, gifts, and letters.

Historical and Cultural Context

First-century hospitality secured safe lodging, meals, and social honor. In a shame-honor society, “receiving” a person equated to endorsing his message and sharing his fate. Early Christians, often strangers and pilgrims, depended on such reception. The verb therefore carries legal, social, and spiritual weight: to accept an apostle could incur persecution; to refuse could cut one off from God’s revelation.

Theological Observations

1. Trinitarian Mediation: Receiving an emissary links to receiving Christ and the Father (Matthew 10:40), underscoring unity within the Godhead and the church’s representational role.
2. Grace Prior to Works: The kingdom must be received before it is lived; divine initiative is met by human welcome.
3. Eschatological Reversal: Those society overlooks—children, the marginalized—become litmus tests for true reception of God.
4. Judgment According to Reception: Final accountability (Matthew 10:14-15) rests not on abstract belief alone but on concrete response to gospel bearers.

Implications for Christian Ministry

• Mission strategy must include discernment of “worthy” households and cities, i.e., those willing to receive (Matthew 10:11).
• Congregational life is evaluated by readiness to host Christ’s “least of these,” traveling workers, and the preached word (Hebrews 13:2; 3 John 5-8).
• Evangelism calls for clarity that the gospel is not merely heard but welcomed; catechesis should cultivate a posture of humble acceptance.
• Shepherds guard against counterfeit gospels precisely at the point of reception (2 Corinthians 11:4; Galatians 4:14).

Practical Exhortation

James draws the line from heart posture to holiness: “Therefore, lay aside all moral filth and every expression of evil, and humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save your souls” (James 1:21). To “receive” is to open life’s door, seat the truth at the head of the table, and order every affair around the honored Guest.

Forms and Transliterations
δέδακται δεδεκται δέδεκται Δεξαι Δέξαι δεξαμενη δεξαμένη δεξαμενοι δεξάμενοι δεξαμενος δεξάμενος δεξασθαι δέξασθαι δέξασθαί δεξασθε δέξασθε δέξασθέ δεξάσθω δέξεται δέξη δεξηται δέξηται δέξομαι δεξωνται δέξωνται δέξωνταί δέχεσθαι δέχεσθε δεχεται δέχεται δεχηται δέχηται δεχθήσεται δεχομενος δεχόμενος δεχονται δέχονται δεχωνται δέχωνται εδεξαμεθα εδεξάμεθα ἐδεξάμεθα εδεξαντο εδέξαντο ἐδέξαντο εδεξασθε εδέξασθε εδέξασθέ ἐδέξασθε ἐδέξασθέ εδεξατο εδέξατο ἐδέξατο εδέχετο εδέχοντο dechetai dechētai déchetai déchētai dechomenos dechómenos dechontai dechōntai déchontai déchōntai dedektai dédektai Dexai Déxai dexamene dexamenē dexaméne dexaménē dexamenoi dexámenoi dexamenos dexámenos dexasthai déxasthai dexasthe déxasthe déxasthé dexetai dexētai déxetai déxētai dexontai dexōntai déxontai déxontaí déxōntai déxōntaí edexametha edexámetha edexanto edéxanto edexasthe edéxasthe edéxasthé edexato edéxato
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Matthew 10:14 V-ASM-3S
GRK: ἂν μὴ δέξηται ὑμᾶς μηδὲ
NAS: Whoever does not receive you, nor
KJV: shall not receive you, nor
INT: anyhow not will receive you nor

Matthew 10:40 V-PPM/P-NMS
GRK: δεχόμενος ὑμᾶς ἐμὲ
NAS: He who receives you receives
KJV: He that receiveth you receiveth
INT: He that receives you me

Matthew 10:40 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ὑμᾶς ἐμὲ δέχεται καὶ ὁ
NAS: He who receives you receives Me, and he who receives
KJV: you receiveth me,
INT: you me receives and he that

Matthew 10:40 V-PPM/P-NMS
GRK: ὁ ἐμὲ δεχόμενος δέχεται τὸν
NAS: you receives Me, and he who receives Me receives
KJV: me, and he that receiveth me receiveth
INT: he that me receives receives the [one]

Matthew 10:40 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ἐμὲ δεχόμενος δέχεται τὸν ἀποστείλαντά
NAS: Me, and he who receives Me receives Him who sent
KJV: me receiveth him that sent
INT: me receives receives the [one] having sent

Matthew 10:41 V-PPM/P-NMS
GRK: δεχόμενος προφήτην εἰς
KJV: He that receiveth a prophet in
INT: He that receives a prophet in [the]

Matthew 10:41 V-PPM/P-NMS
GRK: καὶ ὁ δεχόμενος δίκαιον εἰς
KJV: of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's
INT: and he that receives a righteous [man] in [the]

Matthew 11:14 V-ANM
GRK: εἰ θέλετε δέξασθαι αὐτός ἐστιν
NAS: you are willing to accept [it], John himself
KJV: if ye will receive [it], this is
INT: if you are willing to receive [it] he is

Matthew 18:5 V-ASM-3S
GRK: ὃς ἐὰν δέξηται ἓν παιδίον
NAS: And whoever receives one such
KJV: And whoso shall receive one such
INT: whoever if will receive one little child

Matthew 18:5 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: μου ἐμὲ δέχεται
NAS: child in My name receives Me;
KJV: my name receiveth me.
INT: of me me receives

Mark 6:11 V-ASM-3S
GRK: τόπος μὴ δέξηται ὑμᾶς μηδὲ
NAS: place that does not receive you or
KJV: shall not receive you, nor
INT: place not will receive you nor

Mark 9:37 V-ASM-3S
GRK: τοιούτων παιδίων δέξηται ἐπὶ τῷ
NAS: Whoever receives one child
KJV: Whosoever shall receive one of such
INT: of such little children shall receive in the

Mark 9:37 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: μου ἐμὲ δέχεται καὶ ὃς
NAS: in My name receives Me; and whoever
KJV: my name, receiveth me: and
INT: of me me receives and whoever

Mark 9:37 V-PSM/P-3S
GRK: ἂν ἐμὲ δέχηται οὐκ ἐμὲ
NAS: Me; and whoever receives Me does not receive
KJV: whosoever shall receive me,
INT: anyhow me shall receive not me

Mark 9:37 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: οὐκ ἐμὲ δέχεται ἀλλὰ τὸν
NAS: receives Me does not receive Me, but Him who sent
KJV: shall receive me, receiveth not me,
INT: not me receives but the [one]

Mark 10:15 V-ASM-3S
GRK: ἂν μὴ δέξηται τὴν βασιλείαν
NAS: to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom
KJV: shall not receive the kingdom of God
INT: anyhow not shall receive the kingdom

Luke 2:28 V-AIM-3S
GRK: καὶ αὐτὸς ἐδέξατο αὐτὸ εἰς
NAS: then he took Him into his arms,
KJV: he him up in his
INT: also he received him into

Luke 8:13 V-PIM/P-3P
GRK: μετὰ χαρᾶς δέχονται τὸν λόγον
NAS: they hear, receive the word
KJV: when they hear, receive the word with
INT: with joy receive the word

Luke 9:5 V-PSM/P-3P
GRK: ἂν μὴ δέχωνται ὑμᾶς ἐξερχόμενοι
NAS: And as for those who do not receive you, as you go
KJV: will not receive you, when ye go
INT: anyhow not might receive you going forth

Luke 9:48 V-ASM-3S
GRK: Ὃς ἐὰν δέξηται τοῦτο τὸ
NAS: to them, Whoever receives this
KJV: Whosoever shall receive this
INT: whoever if shall receive this

Luke 9:48 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: μου ἐμὲ δέχεται καὶ ὃς
NAS: in My name receives Me, and whoever
KJV: my name receiveth me: and
INT: of me me receives and whoever

Luke 9:48 V-ASM-3S
GRK: ἂν ἐμὲ δέξηται δέχεται τὸν
NAS: Me, and whoever receives Me receives
KJV: whosoever shall receive me
INT: anyhow me shall receive receives the [one]

Luke 9:48 V-PIM/P-3S
GRK: ἐμὲ δέξηται δέχεται τὸν ἀποστείλαντά
NAS: receives Me receives Him who sent
KJV: me receiveth him that sent
INT: me shall receive receives the [one] having sent

Luke 9:53 V-AIM-3P
GRK: καὶ οὐκ ἐδέξαντο αὐτόν ὅτι
NAS: But they did not receive Him, because
KJV: they did not receive him, because
INT: And not they did receive him because

Luke 10:8 V-PSM/P-3P
GRK: εἰσέρχησθε καὶ δέχωνται ὑμᾶς ἐσθίετε
NAS: you enter and they receive you, eat
KJV: and they receive you,
INT: you might enter and they receive you eat

Strong's Greek 1209
56 Occurrences


δέχηται — 1 Occ.
δέχεται — 8 Occ.
δέχωνται — 3 Occ.
δεχόμενος — 4 Occ.
δέχονται — 1 Occ.
δέδεκται — 1 Occ.
Δέξαι — 3 Occ.
δεξαμένη — 1 Occ.
δεξάμενοι — 1 Occ.
δεξάμενος — 3 Occ.
δέξασθαι — 3 Occ.
δέξασθέ — 4 Occ.
δέξηται — 8 Occ.
δέξωνταί — 2 Occ.
ἐδεξάμεθα — 1 Occ.
ἐδέξαντο — 5 Occ.
ἐδέξασθε — 4 Occ.
ἐδέξατο — 3 Occ.

1208
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