Quick Definition
I obtain by lot, cast lots
Strong's Definition
to lot, i.e. determine (by implication, receive) especially by lot
Derivation: a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is only used as an alternate in certain tenses;
KJV Usage: his lot be, cast lots, obtain
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
λαγχάνω: 2 aorist ἔλαχον;
1. to obtain by lot (from Homer down): with the genitive of the thing, Luk_1:9 (cf. Buttmann, 269 (231); Winers Grammar, 319 (299)); to receive by divine allotment, obtain: τί, Act_1:17; 2Pe_1:1; on the construction of this verb with the genitive and accusative of the thing, see Matthiae, § 328; Winers Grammar, 200 (188); (cf. Buttmann, § 132, 8).
2. to cast lots, determine by lot (Isocrates, p. 144 b.; Diodorus 4, 63 (cf. ps.-Demosthenes in middle, p. 510, 26)): περί τίνος, Joh_19:24.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
λαγχάνω lanchanō 4x
to have assigned to one, to obtain, receive, Act_1:17 ; 2Pe_1:1 ; to have fall to one by lot, Luk_1:9 ; absol. to cast lots, Joh_19:24
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
λαγχάνω ,
[in LXX : 1Sa_14:47 ( H3920 , v. Th ., Gr ., 38), Wis_8:19 , 3Mac 61 * ;]
1. to obtain by lot, to obtain (in cl ., c . gen .): c . inf . art. (B1., § 36, 3; 71, 3), Luk_1:9 ; c . acc rei , Act_1:17 , 2Pe_1:1 .
2. to draw lots: seq . περί , Joh_19:24 .
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
λαγχάνω [page 368]
λαγχάνω , obtain by lot, c. acc., may be illustrated by such passages as P Tebt II. 382 .5 (B.C. 30 A.D. 1) λελονχέναι με εἰς τὸ ἐπιβάλλον μοι μέρος . . ἀρού (ρας ) ῑβ̄ , that I have obtained by lot as the share falling to me 12 arourae, and similarly ib. 383 .14 (A.D. 46). Cf. also P Ryl II. 157 .17 (A.D. 135) παρέξει δὲ ἡ λαχοῦσα τὴν ν [ο ]τίνην μερίδα τῇ λαχούσῃ [τὴν βορρίνη ]ν . . . εἴσ [ο ]δον καὶ ἔξοδον , the recipient of the southern portion shall permit the recipient of the northern portion entrance and exit (Edd.), P Oxy III. 503 .20 (A.D. 118) κυριεύειν ὧν λέλονχεν εἰς τὸν αἰεὶ χρόνον , ib. IX.1186 .5 (iv/A.D.) cited s.v. ἱμάς , and from the inscrr. Syll 186 .10 (end of iv/B.C.) ἔλαχε φυλὴν Ἐφεσεύς , χιλιαστὸν Ἀργαδεύς , Michel 978 .29 (B.C. 281 0) ἱερεὺς λαχών chosen priest by lot. On the improper use of λαγχάνω , cast lots, in Joh_19:24 , to which no parallel has been produced, see Field Notes , p. 106, and for the phrase λαχμὸν βάλλω in the same connexion, see Ev. Petr. 4 with Swete s note. MGr λαχαίνω . Thumb ( Handbook , p. 338) cites a folksong μὴ λάχῃ καὶ περάσῃ , let him not by chance pass by, and (p. 198) the phrase μὴ τύχῃ (λάχῃ ) καὶ . . . lest perhaps.
Liddell-Scott — Intermediate Greek Lexicon
λαγχάνω [Etym: from Root ΛΑΧ] c.acc. "to obtain by lot, by fate, by the will of the gods", Hom. ; with inf. added, ἔλαχον πολιὴν ἅλα ναιέμεν "I had" the sea "for my portion" to dwell in, says Poseidon, Il. ; ἔλαχ᾽ ἄναξ δούλην σ᾽ ἔχειν Eur. :—of the genius presiding over one's life, ἐμὲ μὲν Κὴρ λάχε Il. ; esp. in perf. "to be the tutelary deity of" a place, "to protect it", θεοῖσιν, οἳ Περσίδα γῆν λελόγχασι Hdt. :—absol., πρὸς Θύμβρης ἔλαχον Λύκιοι "had their post assigned" near Thymbra, Il. of public officers, "to obtain" an office "by lot" (v. κύαμος ΙΙ); ἀρχὴν λαχεῖν, opp. to χειροτονηθῆναι (to be elected), Ar. ; so, c. inf., ὁ λαχὼν πολεμαρχέειν "he who had the lot" to be polemarch, Hdt. ; οἱ λαχόντες βουλευταί (sc. εἶναι), Oratt. ; and absol., οἱ λαχόντες "those on whom the lot fell", Thuc. as attic law-term, λαγχάνειν δίκην "to obtain leave to bring on" a suit, Plat. , Oratt. ; and (without δίκην) λαγχάνειν τινι "to bring an action" against one, Oratt. c. gen. partit. "to get one's share of, become possessed of", Hom. , attic absol. "to draw" (i. e. obtain) "the lot", Od. : "cast lots", NTest. Causal epic redupl. aor. λέλαχον, "to put in possession of" a thing, πυρὸς λελαχεῖν τινα "to grant" one "the right" of funeral fire, Il. intr. "to fall to one's lot or share", Od. , Eur.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
λαγχάνω
[in LXX: 1Ki.14:47 (לָכַד, see Th., Gr., 38), Wis.8:19, 3Mac 61 * ;]
__1. to obtain by lot, to obtain (in cl., with genitive): with inf. art. (B1., § 36, 3; 71, 3), Luk.1:9; with accusative of thing(s), Act.1:17, 2Pe.1:1.
__2. to draw lots: before περί, Jhn.19:24
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
Received (cast lots, chosen by lot) (2975) lagchano
Received (2975) (lagchano) means to obtain by lot (as used by Homer in Greek writings; eg, to obtain by fate by the will of the gods) and so to obtain something as a portion (to receive, to obtain). Lagchano speaks of what comes to someone always apart from his own efforts.
Lagchano is a distinctive verb used only 4x in the NT...
Luke 1:9 according to the custom of the priestly office, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.
Comment: The Mishna informs us that the various offices of priests and Levites in the daily service were determined by lot, a practice described here by Luke. Offering incense was a special privilege, granted each priest only once, and decided by lot.
John 19:24 They said therefore to one another, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, to decide whose it shall be"; that the Scripture might be fulfilled, "They divided My outer garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."
Acts 1:17 "For he was counted among us (the original 12 disciples of Jesus), and received his portion in this ministry."
Comment: Here Peter uses lagchano referring to Judas Iscariot. God makes the decision, and thus the thought is that of the allotment of a share in the apostolic ministry.
2Peter 1:1 (note) Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ:
What Peter seems to be teaching by using the verb lagchano is that the salvation he and his readers had had obtained was not the result of any personal merit or self effort on their part, but was an "allotted" as a gift from God.
TDNT adds that...
the common idea of attainment is present, but with the usual sense of allotment in the background. Attainment to faith is not a human achievement but is by divine allotment. God does not merely grant the possibility of faith; he effects it (cf ) As a divine gift, faith is the epitome of grace; hence attaining to faith is by God's gracious decision, yet closely linked with his righteousness. (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. Theological Dictionary of the New Testament. Eerdmans)
Salvation is not attained by anything his readers did but was the result of God’s grace, which is His undeserved and unmerited favor.
Received is aorist tense which speaks of a past completed action. At the moment we believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God, we were "allotted our portion" of the "full package" (see 'isotimos' below). When we were regenerated we passed from death to life, from hopelessness to hope, from futile thinking to the mind of Christ, we were made complete in Christ. Thanks be to God for His incredible gift! (2Cor 9:5)
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