Today we are going to stand in one magnificent Greek word which is found in Romans 8:19.

Greek text “ἡ γὰρ ἀποκαραδοκία τῆς κτίσεως τὴν ἀποκάλυψιν τῶν υἱῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀπεκδέχεται” [1]

English text “For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God” (NKJV)

The word “ἀποκαραδοκία” (pronunciation: ap-ok-ar-ad-ok-ee’-ah [2]) is a compound of three words.

Firstly, we have the prefix “από ” (pronunciation: apo) with several meanings but, considering the whole sentence, it is probably used in spatial context with the meaning “from, from afar” [3]

Secondly, the ancient Greek noun “κάρα” (pronunciation: kára, definition: head) [4]

Lastly, the verb “δοκεύω” [3] (pronunciation: dokévo, definition: observe, await) [5]

This word analysis is giving us the image of an alert creation, a creation that is observing from afar to see the manifestation of the sons of God.

For when the sons of God will be liberated from the bondage of corruption then the creation will also be delivered, as the apostle Paul wrote in Romans 8:21.

The same alertness that the father of the prodigal son had and saw his son from afar, when the son was liberated from his bondage of corruption ( Luke 15). The father’s joy from his son’s salvation and the creation’s joy in our salvation is giving a hope for our future.

[1] https://apostoliki-diakonia.gr/bible/epistoles-pavlou-romaious/?file=3.1.1.8

[2]https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g603/web/tr/0-1/

[3] https://www.studylight.org/language-studies/greek-thoughts.html?article=9?article=9

[4] https://dpschool.gr/glossary/%CE%BA%CE%AC%CF%81%CE%B1/

[5] https://el.wiktionary.org/wiki/%CE%B4%CE%BF%CE%BA%CE%B5%CF%8D%CF%89