λαγχάνω G2975
To obtain by lot, receive by divine allotment; to be chosen or assigned through casting lots or providential apportioning.
A verb with deep roots in the Greek practice of distributing shares by lot-casting. In classical usage it meant to obtain one's portion—whether land, office, or inheritance—through the fall of the lot. The NT preserves this concrete sense in Luke 1:9, where Zechariah is chosen by lot to burn incense, and in John 19:24, where soldiers cast lots for Jesus' garment. But the word also extends to divine apportioning: in Acts 1:17 Judas had 'obtained his share' in the apostolic ministry, and in 2 Pet 1:1 believers have 'obtained a faith' of equal standing. Spanish echar suerte and French obtenir par le sort reflect the lot-casting core.
Senses
1. sense 1 — To obtain by lot, receive by divine allotment or providential assignment. Covers both literal lot-casting and the metaphorical sense of receiving something as a divinely apportioned share. Luke 1:9 records the literal casting of lots that assigned Zechariah his priestly duty—Spanish le tocó ('it fell to him') captures the impersonal, fate-like quality. John 19:24 fulfills Ps 22:18 as soldiers cast lots (λάχωμεν) for Jesus' seamless tunic. Acts 1:17 uses the word for Judas having 'obtained his lot' in the ministry, and 2 Pet 1:1 extends it to the faith 'obtained' by all believers—here the lot-casting metaphor becomes theological: God distributes grace as the ultimate allotment. 4×
AR["أَصَابَتْهُ-الْقُرْعَةُ", "نالوا", "نَالَ", "نُقْرِعْ"]·ben["গুলি-খেলি", "তার-ভাগে-পড়ল", "পাইয়াছিল", "যারা-পেয়েছে"]·DE["erlosen", "ἔλαχε", "ἔλαχεν"]·EN["having-obtained", "he-was-chosen-by-lot", "let-us-cast-lots", "received"]·FR["obtenir-par-le-sort"]·heb["נַפִּילָה-גוֹרָל", "נָפַל-בְּגוֹרָל", "קִבֵּל", "שֶׁנָפְלָה-בְגוֹרָל"]·HI["चुना-गया", "पाया-था", "प्राप्त-किया-है", "हम-चिट्ठी-डालें"]·ID["dia-mendapat-bagian", "membuang-undi", "memperoleh", "mendapat"]·IT["lachousin", "ottenere", "ottenere-per-sorte"]·jav["kita-undhi", "pikantuk", "piyambakipun-kadhawuhan"]·KO["그리고", "얻은", "제비-뱁자", "제비-뽑혔다"]·PT["coube-por-sorte", "lancemos-sortes", "obtiveram", "recebeu"]·RU["бросим-жребий", "выпал-жребий", "он-получил", "получившим"]·ES["echemos-suerte", "habiendo-obtenido", "le-tocó", "recibió"]·SW["alipata", "alipata-kura", "tupige-kura", "waliopata"]·TR["-o", "alanlara", "kura-çekelim", "kura-çekti"]·urd["قرعہ ڈالیں", "قرعہ-آیا", "پانے-والے", "پایا"]
Related Senses
H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)G4396 1. prophet, spokesperson of God (146×)H6944 1. sanctuary, holy place (129×)G0749 1. high priest, chief priest (123×)H6944 2. holiness, sacredness (abstract quality) (123×)G5330 1. Pharisee (99×)G4336 1. pray to God (86×)H6944 3. holy things, sacred offerings (plural) (86×)H3722a 1. make ritual atonement (Piel) (85×)H6912 1. bury (Qal active) (82×)H6419 1. pray (Hitpael) (80×)H6944 4. holiness (with possessive pronoun) (77×)H6942 1. sanctify, consecrate (Piel factitive) (76×)H2930a 1. Qal: be/become unclean (75×)H7819a 1. slaughter an animal (Qal active) (72×)H1486 1. lot (object cast for decisions) (71×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
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…