Lexicon
λαμβάνω
lambanō
G2983
G:V Greek

to take

258
Occurrences
21
Books
Greek
Language

lambano denotes receiving what is given or obtained, as well as taking hold of persons, objects, positions, or people.

The predominant use marks receiving or obtaining something given, promised, requested, earned, or suffered. Other clauses show physical handling of people or objects, acceptance or admission, and taking a position or people for a stated purpose.

Senses in use

  1. Receiving or obtaining what is given · dominant

    In Acts 10:47 and Acts 19:2, aorist active indicative forms occur in clauses about receiving the Holy Spirit; the APB renders each clause with “received the Holy Spirit.” In 1 Corinthians 3:14, the future middle form concerns the builder who “will receive a wage,” while 1 Peter 4:10 speaks of each person having received a gift.

  2. Taking hold of or carrying persons and objects · common

    Aorist active participles describe concrete actions: Paul took a man in Acts 16:3, disciples took him before lowering him in Acts 9:25, and Paul took bread before giving thanks in Acts 27:35. In 2 Corinthians 11:20, the present active form occurs in the warning that someone “takes from you.”

  3. Accepting or admitting · occasional

    In 2 John 1:10, the present active plural form stands in the prohibition, “do not receive him into a house.” In 1 Timothy 4:4, a present passive participle describes what is “received with thankfulness,” showing acceptance rather than mere physical handling.

  4. Taking a post or selecting people · rare

    In Acts 1:25, the aorist infinitive occurs in the request to take the place of ministry and apostleship. Acts 15:14 describes God visiting the Gentiles “to take from them a people,” and Hebrews 5:1 describes a high priest as taken from among humans for appointment.

In the Anselm Project Bible: The APB variously presents the term with “received,” “receive,” “took,” “takes from you,” and “do not receive him into a house.” These renderings confirm the broader clauses rather than fixing a separate English equivalent in every occurrence.

Passages featuring this word

Across Scripture