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ὀψώνιον

opsṓnion

G3800 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A payment for service, particularly the wage or stipend provided to a soldier; in extended use, any compensation for labor or service, including food, provisions, or monetary payment. In the New Testament, often used metaphorically for the outcome or 'wages' of an action (e.g., 'wages of sin').

Semantic Range

soldier's rations, military pay, stipend, wages, hired compensation, metaphorical outcome or return for action

Root / Etymology

From the root ὀψων- (relating to cooked meat, relish, or provisions), likely formed analogously to ὀψάριον (cooked fish, relish); -ιον is a common Greek neuter diminutive/nominal ending. The term originally referred to the provision or payment given to soldiers, especially in the form of food, then extended to the concept of wages in general.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ὀψώνιον specifically designated the allowance or rations, typically food or payment in kind, distributed to soldiers—distinct from the general salary. In the Hellenistic and Roman periods, its meaning broadened to include any form of monetary wage or stipend. In the Septuagint and New Testament, the term usually appears metaphorically (e.g., Romans 6:23: 'the wages of sin is death') and is not limited to military contexts. Standard English translations as 'wages' or 'pay' reflect the broadened sense, but original usage often carried connotations of payment for service, not necessarily monetary. In non-biblical Koine sources, it retained strong military associations but was also applied to civic or other forms of compensation.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a presumed derivative of the same as ὀψάριον; rations for a soldier, i.e. (by extension) his stipend or pay:-- wages.

Root Family

ὀψώνιον (opsōnion) — provision, rations, pay, compensation, wages

Root ὀψων- to provide, to pay, to compensate

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3800-02 ὀψωνίοις opsoniois N DAT N PL expense for wages expense 2
G3800-01 ὀψώνια opsonia N NOM N PL wages wage payments wage payments 1
G3800-03 ὀψώνιον opsonion N ACC N SG wages wage payment payment 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3800-02 Luke 3:14 ὀψωνίοις opsoniois N DAT N PL wages for wages wages
G3800-01 Romans 6:23 ὀψώνια opsonia N NOM N PL wages wage payments wage payments
G3800-02 1 Corinthians 9:7 ὀψωνίοις opsoniois N DAT N PL expense for wages expense
G3800-03 2 Corinthians 11:8 ὀψώνιον opsonion N ACC N SG wages wage payment payment
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