G2975: λαγχάνω (lanchánō)

G2975 λαγχάνω (lanchánō)

Greek 📖 Word Study

Quick Definition

λαγχάνω v. I obtain by lot, cast lots

Strong's Definition

a prolonged form of a primary verb, which is only used as an alternate in certain tenses; to lot, i.e. determine (by implication, receive) especially by lot

KJV Usage: his lot be, cast lots, obtain

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament

λαγχάνω (G2975)

verb | aor. ἔλαχον · subj. λάχω · ptc. λαχών

57.127 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Receive

to receive to receive, with the implication that the process is related somehow to divine will or favor It is, however, possible to interpret λαγχάνω in ACT 1:17 and in 2PE 1:1 as referring to the process of divine choice and thus translate as ‘be chosen to have.’

ACT 1:17 · 2PE 1:1

30.104 · Think · To Choose, To Select, To Prefer

to choose by lot, to decide by gambling to choose by lot, probably by the use of marked pebbles or pieces of pottery In a number of languages the closest equivalent to ‘casting lots,’ particularly for this type of context, is ‘to gamble.’

JHN 19:24

30.106 · Think · To Choose, To Select, To Prefer

to be chosen by lot, to be selected by lot to be selected by a decision based on the casting of lots, with the possible implication of reflecting divine choice

LUK 1:9

UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

λαγχάνω : 2 aor. ἔλαχον: 1. to obtain by lot (fr. Hom. down): with gen. of the thing, Lk. i. 9 [ef. B. 269 (231); W. 319 (299)]; to receive by divine allotment, obtain: ri, Acts i. 17; 2 Pet. i. 1; on the constr. of this verb w. gen. and ace. of the thing, see Matthiae ὃ 328; W. 200 (188); [cef. B. § 132, 81. 2. to cast lots, determine by lot, (Isocr. p. 144 b.; Diod. 4, 63, [ef. ps.Dem. in Mid. p. 510, 26]): περί τινος, Jn. xix. 24.

Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary

λαγχάνω lanchanō 4x

to have assigned to one, to obtain, receive, Acts 1:17; 2 Pet. 1:1; to have fall to one by lot, Lk. 1:9; absol. to cast lots, Jn. 19:24*

Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon

λαγχάνω,

[in LXX: I Ki 14:47 (לכד, v. Th., Gr., 38), Wi 8:19, III Mac 6:1*;]

to obtain by lot, to obtain (in cl., c. gen.): c. inf. art. (B1., § 36, 3; 71, 3), Lk 1:9; c. acc. rei, Ac 1:17, II Pe 1:1.

to draw lots: seq. περί, Jo 19:24.

Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT

λαγχάνω, ‘obtain by lot,” c. acc., may be illustrated by such passages as P Tebt II. 382° (B.c. 30-a.D. 1) λελονχέναι pe εἰς τὸ ἐπιβάλλον por μέρος. . ἀρού(ρας) uP, “ that I have obtained by lot as the share falling to me 12 arourae,” and similarly 26. 383!4 (a.p. 46). Cf. also P Ryl II. 15727 (A.D. 135) παρέξει δὲ ἡ λαχοῦσα τὴν ν[ο]τίνην μερίδα τῇ λαχούσῃ [τὴν βορρίνη]ν. .. εἴσ[ζο]δον καὶ ἔξοδον, ‘the recipient of the southern portion shall permit the recipient of the northern portion entrance and exit” (Edd.), P Oxy III. 5037° (A.D. 118) κυριεύειν ὧν λέλονχεν εἰς τὸν αἰεὶ χρόνον, 20. IX. ττ86ὅ (iv/aA.p.) cited s.v. ἱμάς, and from the inscrr. Syil 186'° (end of iv/B.c.) ἔλαχε φυλὴν ᾿Εἰφεσεύς, χιλιαστὸν ᾿Αργαδεύς, Michel 978 (B.c. 281-0) ἱερεὺς Aaxov—chosen priest bylot. On the improper use of Aayxave, ‘cast lots,” in Jn 1974, to which no parallel has been produced, see Field ores, p. 106, and for the phrase Aaxpov βάλλω in the same connexion, see Ev. Petr. 4 with Swete’s note. MGr λαχαίνω. Thumb (Hazdbook, p. 338) cites a folksong μὴ λάχῃ καὶ περάσῃ, ‘let him not by chance pass by,’’ and (p. 19S) the phrase μὴ τύχῃ (λάχῃ) καὶ. . . “lest perhaps.” “Λάζαρος is a contracted form οἵ ᾿Εἰλεάζαρος : see s.v. ᾿Εἰλεάζαρ, and cf. Wetstein ad Lk 16%. The name survives in MGr: Thumb (Handbook, pp. 239-41) gives a Popular Tale of a | cobbler called Lazarus—o κὺρ Λάζαρος κ᾽ οἱ δράκοι.

Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon

λαγχάνω (lagchanō) — to choose by lot. λαγχάνω, future λήξομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; Ionic dialect λάξομαι (compare λάξις) [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἔλᾰχον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Epic dialect ἔλλαχον [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; Epic dialect λάχον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; Aeolic dialect optative 1st pers. singular λαχόην [Refs 7th c.BC+]; for λέλᾰχον see infr. IV: perfect εἴληχα [Refs 4th c.BC+]: pluperfect εἰλήχει [Refs 5th c.BC+]; poetry and Ionic dialect λέλογχα [Refs 5th c.BC+], but not in early Attic dialect Prose; 3rd.pers. plural λελογχᾰσι (ν) [Refs 8th c.BC+]; participle λελαχώς [Refs 1st c.BC+]; Doric dialect 3rd.pers. singular λελόγχει [Refs 3rd c.BC+]: pluperfect ἐλελόγχει [Refs 2nd c.AD+]:—passive, aorist ἐλήχθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect εἴληγμαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; 3rd.pers. plural λελάχαται [Refs 5th c.AD+]

I. with accusative of things, obtain by lot, of spoils, opposed to ἐξαιρεῖσθαι, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: generally, obtain as one's portion, τὸ γὰρ λάχομεν γέρας ἡμεῖς [Refs 8th c.BC+]infinitive added, ἔλαχον πολιὴν ἅλα ναιέμεν I had the sea for my portion to dwell in, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of a deity as presiding over one's life, ἐμὲ μὲν Κὴρ.. λάχε γεινόμενόν περ [Refs 8th c.BC+]: also, especially in perfect, to be the tutelary deity of a place, protect it. [Πὰν] πάντα λόφον.. λέλογχε [Refs 5th c.BC+]; of Athena, ἣ τὴν ὑμετέραν πόλιν ἔλαχε [Refs 5th c.BC+]: frequently of persons who have a post assigned to them by lot, κλήρῳ νῦν πεπάλασθε διαμπερές, ὅς κε λάχῃσι [Refs 8th c.BC+]: with infinitive, κλήρῳ λάχον ἐνθάδ᾽ ἕπεσθαι [Refs 5th c.BC+] had their post assigned near Thymbra, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐπί, ἐν πύλαις λ., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; λαχών alone, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λ. τινὰ διδάσκαλον have him assigned to one by lot, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.2. at Athens, obtain an office by lot, ἀρχὰς λαχεῖν, opposed to χειροτονηθῆναι (to be elected), [Refs 5th c.BC+]infinitive, ὁ τῷ κυάμῳ λαχὼν πολεμαρχέειν he who had the lot to be polemarch, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λαχόντος βουλεύειν when I became Member of Council by lot, [Refs 5th c.BC+] to be chosen by lot as one of.., [Refs 4th c.BC+]; λαχεῖν βασιλεύς, ἐπιμελητής, ἱερεύς, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; οἱ πεντακόσιοι [οἱ] λαχόντες τῷ κυάμῳ Legal cited in [Refs 5th c.BC+] those on whom the lot fell, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

I.3. as Attic dialect law-term, λαγχάνειν δίκην obtain leave to bring a suit (especially a private suit), probably because the presiding magistrates decided the order of hearing by lot; λ. δίκην τινί against one, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸν εἰληχότα τοῦ κλήρου τὴν δίκην the person suing for the inheritance, [Refs 4th c.BC+] he has claimed Euctemon's daughter.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also λ. τῷ υἱεῖ τῆς ἐπικλήρου prosecute the claim on his son's behalf, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, πρὸς οὓς αἱ δίκαι ἐλήχθησαν [Refs 5th c.BC+] proceedings are taken, [Refs]

II. with genitive partitive, become possessed of a thing, ὥς κεν Ἀχιλλεὺς δώρων ἐκ Πριάμοιο λάχῃ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; γέννας ἀφθίτου λαχόντες [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πατρῴων οὐ λαχών not having obtained thy patrimony, [Refs 5th c.BC+]

III. absolutely, draw lots, κατάστασις ἡ διὰ τοῦ λαγχάνειν γιγνομένη [NT+5th c.BC+]

IV. causal only in Epic dialect reduplicate aorist λέλᾰχον, put in possession of a thing, grant one the rights of.., ὄφρα πυρός με Τρῶες.. λελάχωσι θανόντα [Refs 8th c.BC+]: later this aorist is used intransitive in [Refs 5th c.AD+]

V. intransitive, fall to one's lot or share, ἐς ἑκάστην [νῆα] ἐννέα λάγχανον αἶγες nine goats were allotted to each, [Refs 8th c.BC+]