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Entertain

Original Hebrew / Aramaic / Greek connected to this term

How to read this: there is rarely one magic “true meaning” hidden behind an English word. A lexicon records a word’s semantic range. The intended meaning is narrowed by grammar, sentence, author, historical usage and context.

GREEK · G4863

συνάγω

sunagō — to assemble

συν-άγω [in LXX chiefly for אָסַף, also for קָבַץ, etc. (cf. Kennedy, Sources, 128) ;] to gather or bring together: of things, Jhn.6:12-13; before εἰς, Mat.3:12, al.; ἐκεῖ, Luk.12:18; ποῦ, Luk.12:17; συναγαγὼν πάντα (sc. εἰς ἀργύριον; see Field, Notes, 68, MM, xxiv), having sold off all: Luk.15:13; of persons, Jhn.11:52; esp. of assemblies, Mat.2:4, Jhn.11:47, Act.14:27, al. Pass., to be gathered or come together: Mat.22:41, Mrk.2:2, Luk.22:66, al.; before ἐπί Mrk.5:21, Act.4:27; πρός, Mat.13:2, Mrk.4:1, al.; εἰς, Rev.19:17; ἐν, Act.11:26; μετά, Mat.28:12; οὗ, Mat.18:20; ὅπου, Mat.26:57; ἐκεῖ, Jhn.18:2, al. In late writers (see Kennedy, Sources, 128; cf. Deu.22:2, al.), to receive hospitably, entertain: Mat.25:35, 38 25:43 (cf. ἐπι-συνάγω) (AS)

59 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

HEBREW / ARAMAIC · H5358

נָקַם

na.qam — to avenge

1) to avenge, take vengeance, revenge, avenge oneself, be avenged, be punished 1a) (Qal) 1a1) to avenge, take vengeance 1a2) to entertain revengeful feelings 1b) (Niphal) 1b1) to avenge oneself 1b2) to suffer vengeance 1c) (Piel) to avenge 1d) (Hophal) to be avenged, vengeance be taken (for blood) 1e) (Hithpael) to avenge oneself

28 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3579

ξενίζω

xenizō — to host

ξενίζω (ξένος), [in LXX: Est.3:13, Sir.29:25, 2Ma.9:6, 3Ma.7:3 * ;] 1. to receive as a guest, entertain: with accusative of person(s), Act.10:23 28:7, Heb.13:2; pass., Act.10:6, 18 10:32 21:16. 2. In late writers (Polyb., al.; 2Mac, l.with), to surprise, astonish by strangeness: Act.17:20; pass., 1Pe.4:4 4:12.† (AS)

10 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G2990

λανθάνω

lanthanō — be hidden

λανθάνω [in LXX for עָלַם ni., etc. ;] to escape notice, be hidden (from): Mrk.7:24, Luk.8:47; with accusative of person(s), Act.26:26, 2Pe.3:5 3:8; as in common cl. idiom, before ptcp., ἔλαθον ξενίσαντες, entertained unawares, Heb.13:2 (cf. ἐκ-, ἐπι-λανθάνω).† (AS)

6 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5274

ὑπολαμβάνω

hupolambanō — to take up/suppose

ὑπο-λαμβάνω [in LXX: Job.2:4 4:1 and frequently (עָנָה), Psa.48:9 (דָּמָה pi.), Tob.6:17, Wis.17:2, 3Ma.3:8 3Mac 3:11, al. ;] 1. to take or bear up (by supporting from beneath): with accusative of person(s), Act.1:9. 2. to receive, welcome, entertain (Xen.): III Jn 8. 3. to catch up in speech (Hdt., al.; Jb, ll. with): Luk.10:30. 4. Of mental action, to assume, suppose (Xen., al.; To, Wis, 3Mac, ll. with): Act.2:15; before ὅτι (see Bl., § 70, 2), Luk.7:43.† (AS)

5 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G5264

ὑποδέχομαι

hupodechomai — to receive

ὑπο-δέχομαι [in LXX: Tob.7:8-9 Jdth.13:13 A, 1Ma.16:15, 4Ma.13:17 * ;] to receive under one's roof, receive as a guest, entertain hospitably: with accusative of person(s), Luk.19:6, Act.17:7, Jas.2:25; εἰς τ. οἶκον, Luk.10:38 (see MM, xxv).† (AS)

4 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G3578

ξενία

xenia — lodging

ξενία, -ας, ἡ (ξένος), [in LXX: Sir.29:27 Bl* ;] hospitality, enter­tainment: Phm 22 (cf. ICC, in l, but see infr.). By meton., a place of entertainment, a lodging-place: Act.28:23, and so perh. Phm 22 (Lft., in l, Phi., p. 9; but see supr., and cf. MM, xvii).† (AS)

2 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

GREEK · G4910

συνευωχέομαι

suneuōcheomai — to feast with

συν-ευωχέω, -ῶ to entertain together. Pass., to fare sumptuously or feast together or with: Ju 12; with dative of person(s), 2Pe.2:13 (Arist., Luc., al.).† (AS)

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GREEK · G3580

ξενοδοχέω

xenodocheō — to show hospitality

ξενοδοχέω late Gk. for -κέω (ξένος, δέχομαι), to entertain strangers: 1Ti.5:10.† (AS)

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GREEK · G9257

συμβολή

sumbolē — a compact

1. a coming together, meeting, joining , (Xenophon Historicus): the juncture of two parts, the end , Lat. commissura, (Herdotus Historicus) 2. in hostile sense, an encounter, engagement, battle , (Herdotus Historicus) 3. = συμβόλαιον II, a contract, covenant , (Aristotle Philosopher); in (Aristophanes Comicus) Ach. there is a play on signfs. II and III, encounter and accounts, charge and charges. 4. in plural, συμβολαί were contributions for a common meal, πίνειν ἀπὸ συμβολῶν, like de symbolis(Terentius Grammaticus Latinus) entertainment itself, a picnic , (Xenophon Historicus) (ML)

0 tagged verse occurrences · see every occurrence →

Historical dictionary entry

Entertainments, “feasts,” were sometimes connected with a public festival (Deut. 16:11, 14), and accompanied by offerings (1 Sam. 9:13), in token of alliances (Gen. 26:30); sometimes in connection with domestic or social events, as at the weaning of children (Gen. 21:8), at weddings (Gen. 29:22; John 2:1), on birth-days (Matt. 14:6), at the time of sheep-shearing (2 Sam. 13:23), and of vintage (Judg. 9:27), and at funerals (2 Sam. 3:35; Jer. 16:7). The guests were invited by servants (Prov. 9:3; Matt. 22:3), who assigned them their respective places (1 Sam. 9:22; Luke 14:8; Mark 12:39). Like portions were sent by the master to each guest (1 Sam. 1:4; 2 Sam. 6:19), except when special honour was intended, when the portion was increased (Gen. 43:34). The Israelites were forbidden to attend heathenish sacrificial entertainments (Ex. 34:15), because these were in honour of false gods, and because at such feast they would be liable to partake of unclean flesh (1 Cor. 10:28). In the entertainments common in apostolic times among the Gentiles were frequent “revellings,” against which Christians were warned (Rom. 13:13; Gal. 5:21; 1 Pet. 4:3). (See BANQUET.)

Scripture references

Source: Easton’s Bible Dictionary (1897). Historical dictionary wording reflects the scholarship and language of its era.

Compare other reference traditions

Look up Entertain in Smith’s Bible Dictionary and ISBE →