Quick Definition
ἐπιδέχομαι v. I accept, admit, welcome
Strong's Definition
from 1909 and 1209; to admit (as a guest or (figuratively) teacher)
KJV Usage: receive
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | δέχομαι
34.53 · Association · Welcome, Receive
to welcome, to receive, to accept, to have as a guest to accept the presence of a person with friendliness
36.14 · Guide, Discipline, Follow · Obey, Disobey
to pay attention to and obey to listen or pay attention to a person, with resulting conformity to what is advised or commanded
1 There are no doubt certain contextual constraints involved in the choice of ἀναδέχομαι[a], ἀποδέχομαι[a], ἐπιδέχομαι[a], εἰσδέχομαι, ὑποδέχομαι, προσδέχομαι[b], and παραδέχομαι[b] in the sense that the spacial relationships involved in the welcoming of a guest can be reflected in the prepositional prefixes. For example, in LUK 8:40 the use of ἀποδέχομαι may focus upon the particular source, while ἐπιδέχομαι in 3JN 1:10 may be relevant in view of the fact that the believers are coming to a particular point. προσδέχομαι in LUK 15:2 may suggest a kind of reciprocal relationship which is established with outcasts, and παραδέχομαι in ACT 15:4 may simply point to spacial proximity. However, it would be wrong to insist upon clear distinctions in meaning based on the very limited number of contexts involved. Some of these same distinctions in spacial relations may exist for the set προσλαμβάνω[e], παραλαμβάνω[d], ἀπολαμβάνω[d]. 2 Both ἀκούω[e] and ἐπιδέχομαι[b] involve an overlapping of domains, for there is an evident factor of perception in paying attention, but also a clear inference of subsequent obedience.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ἐπι-δέχομαι ; [fr. Hdt. down]; 1. to receive hospi-' tably: twa, 3 Jn. 10 (Polyb. 22, 1, 3). 2. to admit, i. e. not to reject: τινά, one’s authority, 3 Jn. 9 (τοὺς λόγους, 1 Mace. x. 46; παιδείαν, Sir. li. 26). [Cf δέχομαι, fin. ]
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ἐπιδέχομαι epidechomai 2x
to admit; to receive kindly, welcome, entertain, 3 Jn. 10; met. to admit, approve, assent to, 3 Jn. 9*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** ἐπι-δέχομαι
[in LXX: Jth 13:13 B2, I Mac 10:1 14:23, Si 51:26, al. ;]
in cl., of things, to allow of, admit of (Dem., Arist., al.). In late writers,
to accept besides (Polyb.), to accept; (in π. of the terms of a lease; v. ICC, on III Jo, l.c.): III Jo 9.
(a) to receive besides (Menand.);
to receive hospitably (I Mac, Si, ll c.): III Jo 10†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ἐπιδέχομαι. With the use of this verb in 3 Jn ® we may compare P Par 631 (b.c. 165) (= P Petr III. p. 32) ἀσμένως ἐπιδέξασθαι τὸ προτεινόμενον, “to receive cheerfully what is proposed,”’ | and for the slightly different sense in the following verse (3 Jn2°) cf. P Oxy II. 2819 (a.p. 20-50) ἐγὼ μὲν οὖν ἐπι| δεξαμένη αὐτὸν εἰς τὰ τῶν γονέων pov οἰκητήρια λειτὸν παντελῶς ὄντα, ‘as he was destitute of means I received him into my parents’ house ’’(Edd.). For the general sense accept”? cf. P Oxy I. 44%® (late i/a.p.) τῶν ὠνῶν μὴ ἐπιϑεδεγμένων ὑπὸ τῶν τελωνῶν, “the taxes not having been accepted by the tax-farmers’’: the verb is also common | with μισθώσασθαι of ‘‘accepting’’ the terms of a lease, e.g. μ' Ρ > P Oxy X. 12795 (A.D. 139). A derived sense “‘ undertake rf appears in P Par 63% (8.6. 165)(=P Petr III. p. 26) ἐπιδέχεσθαι τὰ τῆς γεωργίας, ‘to undertake field labour,” P Oxy III. 4988 (ii/a.p.) ἐπιδεχόμεθα λαξείαν τῶν oikodoμουμένων λίθων κύβων, ‘we undertake to cut the squared building stones ’’: cf. 6. XII. 14127 (c. A.D. 284) οὐδὲ Bpaχεῖαν ἀνάθεστι]ν ἐπιδέχεται, ‘does not admit even a brief delay ’’ (Edd.). The subst. is found in PSI IV. 316" (iv/a.p. ?) βεβαι[ουμένης δέ pole τῆς ἐπιδοχῆς.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ἐπιδέχομαι (epidechomai) — to welcome. ἐπιδέχομαι, Ionic dialect etc. ἐπιδέκομα [Refs 5th c.BC+]:— admit besides or in addition, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
2. receive besides, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
3. receive, welcome, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]; ἐ. εἰς τὰ [Refs 1st c.AD+]
II. take on oneself, undertake, [Refs 2nd c.BC+], etc.: with infinitive, [Refs 4th c.AD+], agree, admit liability, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II.2. of things, allow of, admit of, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὸ μᾶλλον καὶ τὸ ἧττον [Refs]; τἀκριβές [Refs 4th c.BC+]: with infinitive, [Refs 3rd c.BC+].
II.3. expect, await, [Refs 5th c.BC+].
II.4. accept a term as applying to, [Refs 1st c.BC+] (variant{ἐκδ-}).