Does Lambanō Always Mean To Take Actively?

There is an increasingly popular myth among Christian circles that the Greek verb lambanō always means to take actively, even with aggression. However, the truth is that lambanō can also mean to receive passively; to get, as a result of being given without any further action on one’s part. For example, if I give someone a slap, that someone simply receives that slap passively; he does not take it actively or with aggression.

Some might say: “But I have looked up the original Greek text, and in this verse, lambanō is in the active voice!” However, the voice of a verb only indicates the function of the noun in the sentence; it does not indicate whether the verb has an active or passive meaning. A verb can be in the active voice, but have a passive meaning. Consider the following English sentence:

He received a slap

In this sentence, the verb “received” is in the active voice. However, it takes on a passive meaning.

Consider also the following biblical use of lambanō in the active voice:

1 Corinthians 4:7 For who differentiates you? What do you have that you did not receive [lambanō]? If then you received it, why do you boast as if you did not receive it?

The Greek verb lambanō here is in the active voice. However, Paul’s point here is that we cannot boast, since whatever we have is not actively acquired by us, but passively received from God. Therefore, lambanō here takes on a passive meaning, even though it is in the active voice.