Topical Encyclopedia
Definition and Meaning:The term "expect" in the biblical context often refers to the anticipation or hope for something to occur, grounded in faith and trust in God's promises. It involves a confident waiting for God's intervention, fulfillment of His word, or the manifestation of His will.
Biblical Usage:The concept of expectation is woven throughout Scripture, often linked with faith, hope, and patience. It is not merely a passive waiting but an active, faith-filled anticipation of God's action.
Old Testament References:In the Old Testament, expectation is frequently associated with hope in God's deliverance and faithfulness. For instance, in
Psalm 62:5, the psalmist declares, "Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him." Here, the expectation is rooted in the assurance of God's provision and protection.
The prophets also speak of expectation in terms of awaiting God's salvation and justice.
Isaiah 40:31 states, "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint." This verse highlights the strength and renewal that come from expectantly waiting on the Lord.
New Testament References:In the New Testament, expectation is closely tied to the coming of Christ and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. The early Christians lived with a sense of expectancy for the return of Jesus, as seen in passages like
Titus 2:13, "as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
The Apostle Paul often speaks of expectation in the context of faith and hope. In
Romans 8:19, he writes, "The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God." This expectation is a forward-looking hope for the ultimate redemption and restoration of all things.
Theological Significance:Expectation in the Bible is not a vague or uncertain hope but is firmly anchored in the character and promises of God. It reflects a trust in God's timing and sovereignty, acknowledging that He is faithful to fulfill His word. This expectation is an integral part of the believer's life, encouraging perseverance and steadfastness in the face of trials.
Practical Application:Believers are called to live with a sense of expectation, looking forward to God's promises with hope and confidence. This involves cultivating a heart of faith, remaining steadfast in prayer, and being watchful for God's work in the world. Expectation also encourages believers to live holy and godly lives, as they anticipate the return of Christ and the fulfillment of God's kingdom.
Related Concepts:·
Hope: Closely related to expectation, hope is the confident assurance in God's promises and future fulfillment.
·
Faith: Expectation is an expression of faith, trusting in what is not yet seen but promised by God.
·
Patience: Waiting with expectation requires patience, as believers trust in God's perfect timing.
Key Verses:·
Psalm 62:5: "Rest in God alone, O my soul, for my hope comes from Him."
·
Isaiah 40:31: "But those who wait upon the LORD will renew their strength; they will mount up with wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not faint."
·
Titus 2:13: "as we await the blessed hope and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ."
·
Romans 8:19: "The creation waits in eager expectation for the revelation of the sons of God."
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
v. t.) To wait for; to await .
2. (v. t.) To look for (mentally); to look forward to, as to something that is believed to be about to happen or come; to have a previous apprehension of, whether of good or evil; to look for with some confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive, sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as, I expect to receive wages; I expect that the troops will be defeated.
3. (v. t.) To wait; to stay.
4. (n.) Expectation.
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia
EXPECT; EXPECTATIONeks-pekt', eks-pek-ta'-shun:
Of the three Greek words, translated in the New Testament by "expect," prosdokao, meaning to look forward toward what will probably occur, whether in hope or dread (Acts 3:5Luke 3:15), is not as intense as ekdechomai (Hebrews 10:13), meaning to wait for that of the realization of which one is assured ("as the husbandman waits for the processes of Nature (James 5:7), and the patriarchs for the Divine promise," Westcott), or as vivid as the noun apokaradokia (Romans 8:19Philippians 1:20, "earnest expectation"), which describes the stretching forth of the head toward an object that is anticipated (see Ellicott onPhilippians 1:20). In the Old Testament "expectation" always means that which is expected, asProverbs 10:28, "The expectation of the wicked shall perish."
H. E. Jacobs
Greek
1679. elpizo -- toexpect, to hope (for)... to
expect, to hope (for). Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: elpizo Phonetic
Spelling: (el-pid'-zo) Short Definition: I hope, hope for,
expect Definition: I
...1551. ekdechomai -- to take or receive, by impl. to await,expect
... to await,expect. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: ekdechomai Phonetic Spelling:
(ek-dekh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I wait for,expect Definition: I wait...
4328. prosdokao -- to await,expect
... to await,expect. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prosdokao Phonetic Spelling:
(pros-dok-ah'-o) Short Definition: Iexpect, await Definition: Iexpect...
3633. oiomai and oimai -- to suppose,expect
... to suppose,expect. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: oiomai and oimai Phonetic
Spelling: (oy'-om-ahee) Short Definition: I think, suppose Definition: I...
553. apekdechomai -- to await eagerly
... to await eagerly. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: apekdechomai Phonetic Spelling:
(ap-ek-dekh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: Iexpect eagerly, wait for...
560. apelpizo -- to despair of
... fullyexpect. From apo and elpizo; to hope out, ie Fullyexpect -- hope for again.
see GREEK apo. see GREEK elpizo. (apelpizontes) -- 1 Occurrence. 559, 560....
4327. prosdechomai -- to receive to oneself
... to receive to oneself. Part of Speech: Verb Transliteration: prosdechomai Phonetic
Spelling: (pros-dekh'-om-ahee) Short Definition: Iexpect, welcome, accept...
1380. dokeo -- to have an opinion, to seem
... Word Origin from dokos (opinion) Definition to have an opinion, to seem NASB Word
Usage deem (1),expect (1), has a mind (1), inclined (1), recognized (1...
Strong's Hebrew
6960. qavah -- to wait for... A primitive root; to bind together (perhaps by twisting), ie Collect; (figuratively)
to
expect -- gather (together), look, patiently, tarry, wait (for, on, upon
...6960a. qavah -- to wait for
... root Definition to wait for NASB Word Usage eagerly waits (1),expect (1), expected
(3), hope (3), hoped (1), hopefully wait (1), hoping (1), look (1), look...
7663. sabar -- to inspect, examine
... Erroneously shabar (Nehemiah 2:13, Nehemiah 2:15) {shaw-bar'}; a primitive root;
to scrutinize; by implication (of watching) toexpect (with hope and patience...
7921. shakol -- to be bereaved
... bereave (literally or figuratively) -- bereave (of children), barren, cast calf
(fruit, young), be (make) childless, deprive, destroy, Xexpect, lose children...
Library
Expect Much. April 15.
...Expect Much. April 15.Expect great things from God, and alsoexpect the least things,
for the great test of faith is shown about the least matters....
What Messiah did the JewsExpect?
... CHAPTER V. WHAT MESSIAH DID THE JEWSEXPECT?... Only, as we mightexpect, all is there
indistinct, incoherent, unexplained, and from a much lower standpoint....
That we Ought not toExpect to Find any Efficient Cause of the...
... Book XII. Chapter 7."That We Ought Not toExpect to Find Any Efficient
Cause of the Evil Will. Let no one, therefore, look for...
The Christian Convert Warned Of, and Animated against those...
... CHAPTER XVI. THE CHRISTIAN CONVERT WARNED OF, AND ANIMATED AGAINST THOSE
DISCOURAGEMENTS WHICH HE MUSTEXPECT TO MEET WHEN ENTERING ON A RELIGIOUS COURSE....
But it is Possible that You MayExpect of Me that I Should...
... Book I. Chapter 26. " 28. But it is possible that you mayexpect of
me that I should? "28. But it is possible that you may...
Of Christian Conduct. That God is Pleased with those who Lead a...
... That God is pleased with those who lead a Life of Virtue: and that we mustexpect
a Judgment and Future Retribution. Compare our religion with your own....
A Man Expects to Reap the Same Kind as He Sows.
... Lukman replied, "You yourself are constantly sowing in the field of the world the
seeds of evil, and yetexpect to reap in the resurrection day the fruits of...
The Obedience of Faith
... these five simple words as expressive of the disposition of a believing heart entering
on that life in the good land:"I see it, I desire it, Iexpect it, I...
A People Prepared for the Lord
... into hope. But John led his hearers on further than that, for they began
toexpect something as well as to hope for it. They expected...
We Now Proceed to an Examination of the Conditions under which a...
... Is there any reason toexpect that, in a record of a revelation, the original words,
either as spoken by God, or as expressive of the ideas which He had called...
Thesaurus
Expect (20 Occurrences)... to look for with some confidence; to anticipate; -- often followed by an infinitive,
sometimes by a clause (with, or without, that); as, I
expect to receive
...Promise (112 Occurrences)
... binds the person who makes it to do, or to forbear to do, a specified act; a
declaration which gives to the person to whom it is made a right toexpect or to...
Look (1874 Occurrences)
... Sometimes used figuratively. 7. (vi) To await the appearance of anything; toexpect;
to anticipate.... 9. (vt) To seek; to search for. 10. (vt) Toexpect. 11....
Kir (11 Occurrences)
... transported captives or exiles, and if their practice was to place them as far as
they could from their native land, one wouldexpect, for Palestinian exiles...
Expectation (25 Occurrences)
... 5. (n.) The leaving of the disease principally to the efforts of nature to effect
a cure. Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia.EXPECT; EXPECTATION....
Patience (59 Occurrences)
... The word "patience" does not occur in the Old Testament, but we have "patiently"
in Psalm 40:1 as the translation of qawah, "to wait," "toexpect," which word...
Names (133 Occurrences)
... Testament and New Testament are essentially for purposes of revelation, and since
the Hebrews laid such store by names, we should confidentlyexpect them to...
Bondman (108 Occurrences)
... Matthew 24:50 the lord of that bondman shall come in a day when he does not
expect it, and in an hour he knows not of, (DBY). Matthew...
Retribution (14 Occurrences)
... So we may wellexpect that in the higher sphere, God's moral laws cannot be neglected
or violated with impunity, and Scripture fully justifies the expectation...
Ready (451 Occurrences)
... (WEB KJV WEY ASV BBE DBY WBS YLT NAS RSV NIV). Matthew 24:44 Therefore also be ready,
for in an hour that you don'texpect, the Son of Man will come....
Resources
Does God expect all of us to have children? | GotQuestions.orgDoes God expect Christians to vote? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about expectations? | GotQuestions.orgExpect: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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