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ὀφείλω

opheílō

G3784 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To owe; to be under obligation of any kind, whether financial, legal, moral, or social. Primarily denotes being bound to render payment, service, or action that is due to another party. In extended usage, indicates moral or ethical necessity, requirement, or the expectation to fulfill a duty or responsibility. Contextually, may refer to owing a financial debt, fulfilling legal or social obligations, or responding appropriately to circumstances (e.g., love, forgiveness, duty to God or others).

Semantic Range

to owe (money or something tangible), to be under financial obligation, to have a legal or contractual responsibility, to be bound by duty (ethical, religious, or social), to be required or expected to do something, to fail in fulfilling one's duty, to be indebted, to ought or should do (in a moral or practical sense)

Root / Etymology

From the base of ὄφελος (“advantage, benefit, profit”), though the precise morphological derivation is debated; likely emerges via the sense of something owed or accruing as a result of advantage or benefit. Possible connection to older Greek usage of verbs denoting 'to owe' (e.g., ὀφείλω in classical Greek).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὀφείλω most commonly refers to owing money or a favor, or being bound by a legal or contractual obligation. In the Hellenistic period and in the New Testament, the word expands to include moral and religious obligations, such as requirements to love, forgive, or serve. The sense of necessity or duty ("ought," "should," "must") becomes prominent, especially when used with an infinitive. In the Septuagint, it frequently translates Hebrew terms for 'to owe' or 'to be required.' In New Testament contexts, the verb often expresses not only literal indebtedness but also figurative responsibilities—e.g., the believer's duty to God or to fellow human beings. English translations sometimes narrow the sense to 'ought' or 'should,' but in Greek, the term retains a broader range of obligation. Distinct from other Greek verbs like δεῖ (expressing necessity) or ἔξεστιν (it is permitted), ὀφείλω carries a sense of being bound to others by prior commitment, relationship, or law.

Translation Consistency

primary "owe" 25 occurrences

‘Owe’ best covers the primary financial sense of ὀφείλω while naturally extending to moral/legal obligation (e.g., “we owe it to...” or “you owe someone”). It is more idiomatic and flexible in everyday English than the more formal ‘obligate’ and more usable across all inflected forms than the modal ‘ought.’ This maintains consistency with the SILEX range (financial debt, duty, moral requirement) while sounding natural.

Alternatives (10 occurrences):
"ought" (6x) "under obligation" (3x) "obligated" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

probably from the base of ὄφελος (through the idea of accruing); to owe (pecuniarily); figuratively, to be under obligation (ought, must, should); morally, to fail in duty:--behove, be bound, (be) debt(-or), (be) due(-ty), be guilty (indebted), (must) need(-s), ought, owe, should. See also ὄφελον.

Root Family

ὀφειλ- (opheilétēs) — to owe, to be obligated, to be in debt

Root ὀφειλ- to owe, to be under obligation, to be bound (by duty)
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3781 ὀφειλέτης debtors
G3782 ὀφειλή debts
G3783 ὀφείλημα a debt
G4359 προσοφείλω you are additionally obligated

Word Forms

10 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3784-01 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG ought is obligated owes 11
G3784-05 ὠφείλομεν opheilomen V IMPF ACT IND 1P PL ought we were under obligation we ought 8
G3784-02 ὀφείλεις opheileis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you owe you owe you owe 3
G3784-03 ὤφειλεν opheilen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG owed was under obligation was owing 3
G3784-04 ὀφείλετε opheilete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL ought you are obligated you (plural) owe 3
G3784-06 ὀφειλόμενον opheilomenon V PRS PASS PTCP ACC N SG was owed that being owed being owed 2
G3784-10 ὀφείλουσιν opheilousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL ought they are under obligation they are under obligation 2
G3784-07 ὤφειλον opheilon V IMPF ACT IND 1P SG ought I was under obligation I ought 1
G3784-08 ὀφείλοντες opheilontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL you ought being obligated being obligated 1
G3784-09 ὀφείλοντι opheilonti V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG one who is indebted to the one owing one owing 1

Occurrences in Scripture

35 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3784-03 Matthew 18:28 ὤφειλεν opheilen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG owed was under obligation was owing
G3784-02 Matthew 18:28 ὀφείλεις opheileis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you owe you owe you owe
G3784-06 Matthew 18:30 ὀφειλόμενον opheilomenon V PRS PASS PTCP ACC N SG was owed that being owed being owed
G3784-06 Matthew 18:34 ὀφειλόμενον opheilomenon V PRS PASS PTCP ACC N SG was owed that being owed being owed
G3784-01 Matthew 23:16 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is bound is obligated owes
G3784-01 Matthew 23:18 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG is obligated is obligated owes
G3784-03 Luke 7:41 ὤφειλεν opheilen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG owed was under obligation was owing
G3784-09 Luke 11:4 ὀφείλοντι opheilonti V PRS ACT PTCP DAT M SG one who is indebted to the one owing one owing
G3784-02 Luke 16:5 ὀφείλεις opheileis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG you owe you owe you owe
G3784-02 Luke 16:7 ὀφείλεις opheileis V PRS ACT IND 2P SG do you owe you owe you owe
G3784-05 Luke 17:10 ὠφείλομεν opheilomen V IMPF ACT IND 1P PL we ought we were under obligation we were owing
G3784-04 John 13:14 ὀφείλετε opheilete V PRS ACT IND 2P PL ought you are obligated you (plural) owe
G3784-01 John 19:7 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG ought is obligated owes
G3784-05 Acts 17:29 ὀφείλομεν opheilomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we ought we were under obligation we ought
G3784-04 Romans 13:8 ὀφείλετε opheilete V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL owe you are obligated you (plural) owe
G3784-05 Romans 15:1 ὀφείλομεν opheilomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we ought we were under obligation we ought
G3784-10 Romans 15:27 ὀφείλουσιν opheilousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL they ought they are under obligation they are under obligation
G3784-04 1 Corinthians 5:10 ὠφείλετε opheilete V IMPF ACT IND 2P PL you would have to you are obligated you (plural) owe
G3784-01 1 Corinthians 7:36 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG it is necessary is obligated owes
G3784-01 1 Corinthians 9:10 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG ought is obligated ought
G3784-01 1 Corinthians 11:7 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG ought is obligated owes
G3784-01 1 Corinthians 11:10 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG ought is obligated owes
G3784-07 2 Corinthians 12:11 ὤφειλον opheilon V IMPF ACT IND 1P SG ought I was under obligation I ought
G3784-01 2 Corinthians 12:14 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG ought is obligated owes
G3784-10 Ephesians 5:28 ὀφείλουσιν opheilousin V PRS ACT IND 3P PL ought they are under obligation they are under obligation
G3784-05 2 Thessalonians 1:3 ὀφείλομεν opheilomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL we ought we were under obligation we ought
G3784-05 2 Thessalonians 2:13 ὀφείλομεν opheilomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL ought we were under obligation we were owing
G3784-01 Philemon 1:18 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG owes is obligated owes
G3784-03 Hebrews 2:17 ὤφειλεν opheilen V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG He had to was under obligation was owing
G3784-01 Hebrews 5:3 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG he is obligated is obligated owes
G3784-08 Hebrews 5:12 ὀφείλοντες opheilontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL you ought being obligated being obligated
G3784-01 1 John 2:6 ὀφείλει opheilei V PRS ACT IND 3P SG ought is obligated owes
G3784-05 1 John 3:16 ὀφείλομεν opheilomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL ought we were under obligation we were owing
G3784-05 1 John 4:11 ὀφείλομεν opheilomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL ought we were under obligation we are under obligation
G3784-05 3 John 1:8 ὀφείλομεν opheilomen V PRS ACT IND 1P PL ought we were under obligation we ought
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