Lexical Summary elpizó: To hope, to expect, to trust Original Word: ἐλπίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance hope, expectFrom elpis; to expect or confide -- (have, thing) hope(-d) (for), trust. see GREEK elpis HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 1679 elpízō (from 1680 /elpís, "hope") – to hope, actively waiting for God's fulfillment about the faith He has inbirted through the power of His love (cf. Gal 5:6 with Heb 11:1). See 1680 (elpis). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom elpomai (to anticipate, expect) Definition to expect, to hope (for) NASB Translation expect (1), expected (1), fix...hope (2), fixed...hope (2), hope (13), hoped (3), hopes (1), hoping (4), set...hope (2), trust (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1679: ἐλπίζωἐλπίζω; imperfect ἠλπιζον; Attic future ἐλπιῶ (Matthew 12:21, and often in the Sept. ((whence in Romans 15:12); cf. Buttmann, 37 (32); Winer's Grammar, § 13, 1 c.); the common form ἐλπίσω does not occur in Biblical Greek); 1 aorist ἤλπισα; perfect ἠλπικα; (present passive ἐλπίζομαι); (ἐλπίς, which see); the Sept. for בָּטַח to trust; חָסָה to flee for refuge; יִחֵל to wait, to hope; to hope (in a religious sense, to wait for salvation with joy and full of confidence): τί, Romans 8:24; 1 Corinthians 13:7; (τά) ἐλπιζομενα, things hoped for, Hebrews 11:1 (but WH marginal reading connect ἐλπιζομένων with the following πραγμάτων); once with the dative of the object on which the hope rests, hopefully to trust in: τῷ ὀνόματι αὐτοῦ (as in secular authors once τῇ τύχῃ, Thucydides 3, 97, 2), Matthew 12:21 G L T Tr WH (cf. Buttmann, 176 (153)); καθώς, 2 Corinthians 8:5. followed by an infinitive relating to the subject of the verb ἐλπίζω (cf. Winers Grammar, 331 (311); Buttmann, 259 (223)): Luke 6:34; Luke 23:8; Acts 26:7; Romans 15:24; 1 Corinthians 16:7; Philippians 2:(19),23; 1 Timothy 3:14; 2 John 1:12; 3 John 1:14; followed by a perfect infinitive 2 Corinthians 5:11; followed by ὅτι with a present Luke 24:21; ὅτι with a future, Acts 24:26; 2 Corinthians 1:13; 2 Corinthians 13:6; Philemon 1:22. Peculiar to Biblical Greek is the construction of this verb with prepositions and a case of noun or pronoun (cf. Buttmann, 175f (152f) (cf. 337 (290); Winer's Grammar, § 33, d.; Ellicott on 1 Timothy 4:10)): εἰς τινα, to direct hope unto one, John 5:45 (perfect ἠλπίκατε, in whom you have put your hope, and rely upon it (Winer's Grammar, § 40, 4 a.)); 1 Peter 3:5 L T Tr WH; with addition of ὅτι with future 2 Corinthians 1:10 (L text Tr WH brackets ὅτι, and so detach the following clause); ἐπί τίνι, to build hope on one, as on a foundation (often in the Sept.): Romans 15:12 (from Isaiah 11:10); 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Timothy 6:17; ἐν τίνι, to repose hope in one, 1 Corinthians 15:19; followed by infinitive Philippians 2:19; ἐπί with according to direct hope toward something: ἐπί τί, to hope to receive something, 1 Peter 1:13; ἐπί τόν Θεόν, of those who hope for something from God, 1 Peter 3:5 R G; 1 Timothy 5:5, (and often in the Sept.). (Compare: ἀπελπίζω, προελπίζω.) Topical Lexicon Scope and Meaningἐλπίζω presents hope not as a tentative wish but as a confident, forward-looking trust grounded in the character and promises of God. It embraces the full span of biblical expectation—from covenant fidelity in the past to assured consummation in the future—and therefore shapes the believer’s outlook, conduct, and ministry. Old Testament Background and Septuagint Roots In the Septuagint ἐλπίζω commonly translates Hebrew terms such as יָחַל (wait, hope) and בָּטַח (trust). The covenant people “hope in the LORD” (for example, Psalm 130:5) because He has bound Himself by oath. Paul employs this Old Testament pedigree when he cites Isaiah 11:10: “In Him the nations will put their hope” (Romans 15:12), showing that Gentile salvation was always anticipated. Hope in the Ministry of Jesus Matthew 12:21 applies Isaiah’s prophecy to Jesus: “In His name the nations will put their hope.” The Messiah embodies the expected deliverance. Conversely, Herod’s self-centered expectation for spectacle (Luke 23:8) and the Emmaus disciples’ crushed hopes (Luke 24:21) expose defective understandings of messianic hope. Jesus redirects hope from political liberation to redemptive accomplishment through His death and resurrection. Hope in Acts and Early Apostolic Preaching Acts portrays both genuine and misguided hopes. The tribes of Israel “hope to realize” God’s promise of resurrection (Acts 26:7), while Felix “was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe” (Acts 24:26). The juxtaposition underscores that the gospel confronts misplaced hopes while offering a sure one. Hope in Pauline Theology 1. Salvation and Resurrection Salvation hope looks beyond present deliverances to bodily resurrection (Romans 8:24-25). Faith and hope belong together (Hebrews 11:1), and love safeguards both (1 Corinthians 13:7). 2. Gentile Inclusion The Isaianic promise (Romans 15:12) frames Paul’s mission strategy; he “hopes” to visit Rome en route to Spain (Romans 15:24). Hope thus fuels evangelistic ambition. 3. Daily Ministry and Planning Routine travel plans (1 Corinthians 16:7; Philippians 2:19, 23; Philemon 22) and pastoral correspondence (2 Corinthians 1:13; 1 Timothy 3:14; 2 John 12; 3 John 14) are couched in hope. This expresses dependence on God’s providence rather than presumption. 4. Ethical Exhortation Biblical hope reorders affections and fosters generosity, prayer, and good works. Hope in the Petrine Writings and Hebrews Peter calls believers to “set your hope fully on the grace to be given you at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:13). Holy women of old “put their hope in God” (1 Peter 3:5), demonstrating submissive faith. Hebrews 11:1 links faith’s assurance with things “hoped for,” showing that hope is inseparable from persevering trust. Pastoral and Ethical Dimensions • Assurance: Hope anchors the soul in trials (2 Corinthians 5:11; 2 Corinthians 13:6). Historical Reception in the Church Early creeds (Apostles’, Nicene) center on “the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting,” echoing ἐλπίζω’s resurrection focus. Church fathers (e.g., Ignatius, Polycarp) urged believers to “hope in Christ.” Reformers emphasized sola fide yet insisted that true faith necessarily includes a lively hope, producing perseverance amid persecution. Throughout revivals and missionary movements, passages such as Romans 15:12 inspired confidence in the global advance of the gospel. Ministry Applications Today 1. Preaching: Ground messages in God’s unchanging promises to cultivate certain hope rather than vague optimism. Key References Matthew 12:21; Luke 24:21; John 5:45; Acts 26:7; Romans 8:24-25; Romans 15:12, 24; 1 Corinthians 13:7; 1 Corinthians 15:19; 2 Corinthians 1:10; Philippians 2:19; 1 Timothy 4:10; 1 Timothy 6:17; Hebrews 11:1; 1 Peter 1:13; 1 Peter 3:5. Forms and Transliterations ελπιεί ελπιείς ελπιζει ελπίζει ἐλπίζει ελπίζειν ελπιζετε ελπίζετε ἐλπίζετε ελπιζομεν ελπίζομεν ἐλπίζομεν ελπιζομενων ελπιζομένων ἐλπιζομένων ελπίζον ελπίζοντα ελπίζοντας ελπίζοντες ελπιζόντων ελπιζουσαι ελπίζουσαι ἐλπίζουσαι ελπίζουσι ελπίζουσιν ελπιζω ελπίζω ἐλπίζω ελπιζων ελπίζων ἐλπίζων ελπιούσι ελπιουσιν ελπιούσιν ἐλπιοῦσιν ελπισατε ελπίσατε ἐλπίσατε ελπισάτω ελπισάτωσαν έλπισον ελπιώ ήλπιζέ ηλπιζεν ἤλπιζέν ηλπιζομεν ηλπίζομεν ἠλπίζομεν ηλπικαμεν ηλπίκαμεν ἠλπίκαμεν ηλπικατε ηλπίκατε ἠλπίκατε ηλπικεν ήλπικεν ἤλπικεν ηλπικεναι ηλπικέναι ἠλπικέναι ηλπικοτες ηλπικότες ἠλπικότες ήλπισα ηλπισαμεν ηλπίσαμεν ἠλπίσαμεν ήλπισαν ήλπισας ηλπίσατε ήλπισε ήλπισεν elpikamen elpíkamen ēlpikamen ēlpíkamen elpikate elpíkate ēlpikate ēlpíkate elpiken ēlpiken ḗlpiken elpikenai elpikénai ēlpikenai ēlpikénai elpikotes elpikótes ēlpikotes ēlpikótes elpiousin elpioûsin elpisamen elpísamen ēlpisamen ēlpísamen elpisate elpísate elpizei elpízei elpizen ēlpizen ḗlpizén elpizete elpízete elpizo elpizō elpízo elpízō elpizomen elpízomen ēlpizomen ēlpízomen elpizomenon elpizomenōn elpizoménon elpizoménōn elpizon elpizōn elpízon elpízōn elpizousai elpízousaiLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 12:21 V-FIA-3PGRK: αὐτοῦ ἔθνη ἐλπιοῦσιν NAS: THE GENTILES WILL HOPE. KJV: shall the Gentiles trust. INT: of him [the] Gentiles will hope Luke 6:34 V-PIA-2P Luke 23:8 V-IIA-3S Luke 24:21 V-IIA-1P John 5:45 V-RIA-2P Acts 24:26 V-PPA-NMS Acts 26:7 V-PIA-3S Romans 8:24 V-PIA-3S Romans 8:25 V-PIA-1P Romans 15:12 V-FIA-3P Romans 15:24 V-PIA-1S 1 Corinthians 13:7 V-PIA-3S 1 Corinthians 15:19 V-RPA-NMP 1 Corinthians 16:7 V-PIA-1S 2 Corinthians 1:10 V-RIA-1P 2 Corinthians 1:13 V-PIA-1S 2 Corinthians 5:11 V-PIA-1S 2 Corinthians 8:5 V-AIA-1P 2 Corinthians 13:6 V-PIA-1S Philippians 2:19 V-PIA-1S Philippians 2:23 V-PIA-1S 1 Timothy 3:14 V-PPA-NMS 1 Timothy 4:10 V-RIA-1P 1 Timothy 5:5 V-RIA-3S 1 Timothy 6:17 V-RNA Strong's Greek 1679 |
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