ἀποκᾰρᾱδοκ-ία G0603
eager expectation, intense longing, anxious anticipation (stretching forward to see)
This vivid compound noun (literally 'watching from the head' or 'craning the neck') captures eager, intense expectation—the posture of someone straining forward, head extended, to catch sight of what is coming. Paul coins or adopts this rare term to express the creation's yearning for redemption (Rom 8:19) and his own expectant hope that Christ will be magnified whether by life or death (Phil 1:20). The etymology evokes physical anticipation made visible: head thrust forward, watching intently. Translations consistently emphasize intensity: Spanish anhelante-expectación 'panting expectation', German sehnliches-Warten 'longing waiting', French attente-ardente 'burning expectation'.
Senses
1. sense 1 — The noun denotes eager, intense expectation or longing, with vivid physical imagery baked into its etymology (ἀπό 'from' + κάρα 'head' + δοκέω 'watch'). Romans 8:19 personifies creation itself as engaged in ἀποκαραδοκία, 'eagerly expecting the revelation of God's sons'—the whole cosmos pictured as craning its neck toward redemption. Philippians 1:20 applies it to Paul's personal hope: his eager expectation (ἀποκαραδοκία) that Christ will be exalted in his body. The multilingual evidence beautifully captures the intensity: Spanish anhelante (from anhelo 'yearning/panting'), German sehnlich (from Sehnsucht 'longing'), French ardente (from ardeur 'burning passion')—all point beyond mere hope to passionate, embodied anticipation. 2×
AR["انْتِظارِ", "انْتِظَارَ"]·ben["আকাঙ্ক্ষা", "উৎকণ্ঠিত-প্রতীক্ষা"]·DE["sehnliches-Warten"]·EN["eager-expectation"]·FR["attente", "attente-ardente"]·heb["צִפִּיָּה"]·HI["उतसुक-प्रतिकश", "उत्कट-अपेक्षा"]·ID["harapan besar", "penantian-dengan-rindu"]·IT["apokaradokian", "attesa"]·jav["pangajeng-ajeng", "pangarep-arep"]·KO["간절한-기대", "간절한-기대가"]·PT["ardente-expectativa"]·RU["-творения", "ожиданию"]·ES["anhelante-expectación", "intensa-expectación"]·SW["matarajio", "matarajio-makubwa"]·TR["beklentisine", "hevesli-bekleyişi"]·urd["انتظار", "انتظار-کے"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀποκᾰρᾱδοκ-ία, ἡ, earnest expectation, NT