δότης
dótēs
G1395 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
One who gives, a giver; a person or agent characterized by the act or disposition of giving. In New Testament usage, denotes someone who bestows gifts, provides benefits to others, or exhibits generosity. Used both in reference to God as provider and to humans as benefactors or donors.
Semantic Range
giver, benefactor, donor, provider, one who bestows, one who exhibits generosity
Root / Etymology
From the verbal root διδ- of δίδωμι ('to give'), with the agentive masculine suffix -της, forming a noun meaning 'one who gives.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
Attested from classical Greek onwards, the formation δότης parallels similar agent nouns in -της (like ποιητής, 'doer'). In Hellenistic and Koine Greek, especially in the New Testament (e.g., James 1:5, where God is described as 'the giving God'), δότης typically refers to one who freely or generously gives. The term emphasizes the action or habit of giving, not merely a single event. In LXX, such agentive forms are less common, and Old Testament Greek typically uses participles or descriptive clauses for benefactors. In English Bibles, often rendered as 'giver,' but the term can imply benefactor, donor, or one accustomed to giving, including God or humans. The nuance of constant or characteristic giving (a 'giver by nature') may not be fully captured in standard English translations.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from the base of δίδωμι; a giver:--giver.
Root Family
δότης (dotēs) — to give, to grant, to bestow
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1395-01 |
δότην | doten | N ACC M SG |
giver | a giver | a giver | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1395-01 |
2 Corinthians 9:7 | δότην | doten | N ACC M SG |
giver | a giver | a giver |