Lexical Summary kléroó: to assign by lot, to allot, to appoint, to obtain an inheritance Original Word: κληρόω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance assign or obtain an inheritance. From kleros; to allot, i.e. (figuratively) to assign (a privilege) -- obtain an inheritance. see GREEK kleros HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2820 klēróō (from 2819 /klḗros, "to cast lots") – properly, make a choice when assisted by casting lots (cf. S. Zodhiates, Dict); to appoint (assign) by lot-casting. See 2818 (klēronómos). 2820 /klēróō ("assign by divine lot-cast"), is only used in Eph 1:11 where it is often translated "obtained an inheritance." The Greek text literally reads, "In whom (Christ), indeed we were lot-cast (2820 /klēróō), having already been pre-horizoned (4309 /proorízō, aorist participle) according to (divine) purpose, of the one energizing all things according to the counsel (1012 /boulḗ) arising from His will (2307 /thélēma)." [The above rendering regards the Greek genitive as "subjective."] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom kléros Definition to assign by lot NASB Translation obtained an inheritance (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2820: κληρόωκληρόω, κλήρῳ: 1 aorist passive ἐκληρωθην; (κλῆρος); in classical Greek: 1. to cast lots, determine by lot. 2. to choose by lot: τινα (Herodotus 1, 94; others). 3. to allot, assign by lot: τινα τίνι, one to another as a possession, Pindar Ol. 8, 19. 4. once in the N. T., "to make a κλῆρος i. e., a heritage, private possession": τινα, passive ἐν ᾧ ἐκληρώθημεν (but Lachmann ἐκλλεθημεν) in whom lies the reason why we were made the κλῆρος τοῦ Θεοῦ (a designation transferred from the Jews in the O. T. to Christians, cf. Additions to Esther 3:10 Strong’s Greek 2820 appears only once in the New Testament, in Ephesians 1:11, where Paul states, “In Him we were also chosen as God’s own, having been predestined according to the plan of Him who works out everything by the counsel of His will”. The verb underscores the believer’s secure place in God’s redemptive purpose, portraying salvation as an “inheritance appointment” accomplished in Christ. Old Testament Background Inheritance language saturates the Hebrew Scriptures. The Promised Land was apportioned to Israel “by lot” (Numbers 26:55; Joshua 18:6), symbolizing Yahweh’s sovereign gift. The tribe of Levi, however, was told, “I am your portion and your inheritance” (Numbers 18:20), foreshadowing a spiritual heritage. Psalms celebrates this motif: “The LORD is the portion of my inheritance” (Psalm 16:5) and “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people He has chosen as His inheritance” (Psalm 33:12). Such texts lay the groundwork for Paul’s declaration that in Christ believers themselves become the chosen portion of God. Intertestamental Context Second-Temple literature often links inheritance with eschatological hope. Qumran writings speak of the righteous sharing an eternal lot with the angels, demonstrating that “inheritance” had moved beyond mere land distribution to a destiny within God’s coming kingdom. This enlarges the conceptual canvas on which Paul paints Ephesians 1. New Testament Usage Though 2820 occurs only in Ephesians 1:11, its cognates (for example, kleros, kleronomia) recur frequently. Luke testifies that believers receive “an inheritance among those who are sanctified” (Acts 26:18). Peter blesses God for “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading” (1 Peter 1:4). Together these passages reveal a consistent pattern: in Christ the people of God are both heirs and the inheritance itself. Theological Themes 1. Divine Sovereignty and Predestination: Paul anchors the appointment of God’s people in His eternal counsel (Ephesians 1:4–5, 11). The verb highlights that the Church’s existence is neither accidental nor humanly engineered. Christological Focus Jesus embodies Israel’s vocation and secures the promised inheritance through His death and resurrection. By incorporating Jews and Gentiles into His body, He expands the boundaries of God’s “portion” to the ends of the earth (Isaiah 49:6; Acts 13:47). Ecclesiological Implications The Church is both beneficiary and display of God’s redemptive plan. Awareness of being God’s possession fuels worship (Ephesians 1:14), humility (James 1:17), and mission (Matthew 28:18–20). Ministry leaders can remind congregations that service springs from identity, not striving for acceptance. Personal and Pastoral Application • Assurance: Since the inheritance is assigned by God’s decisive act, believers rest secure (John 10:28–29). Doctrinal Affinities The verb intersects with doctrines of election, adoption, perseverance, and eschatology. It harmonizes with passages such as Deuteronomy 32:9; Colossians 1:12; Hebrews 9:15, revealing a coherent biblical testimony that God secures a people for Himself through covenant grace. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 2820, though outwardly rare, anchors one of Paul’s richest doxological statements. It gathers the biblical witness on inheritance into a single stroke: in Christ, God not only grants an inheritance to His people but claims those same people as His treasured possession, guaranteeing their destiny by His immutable will. |
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