ἀποδίδωμι

apodídōmi

G591 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To give back, to return what is owed or due; to make restitution or payment; to render or provide in response to obligation, expectation, or merit. The verb primarily expresses the act of giving something back or returning it in accordance with a prior arrangement, expectation, or responsibility. It is also used for performing or fulfilling a duty, paying a debt or obligation, and sometimes in the sense of rendering an account or recompense (positive or negative). In transactional contexts, can denote 'pay' or 'repay'; in legal or ethical contexts, 'give justice' or 'deliver a verdict'; in personal relations, 'reward,' 'requite,' or 'avenge.'

Semantic Range

to give back, to repay, to restore, to yield, to perform (a duty), to deliver (over), to render (account, justice), to recompense, to reward, to sell (contextually), to requite

Root / Etymology

From ἀπό (from, away from) + δίδωμι (to give); literally 'to give away/from' or 'to give back.' The prepositional prefix ἀπό intensifies or modifies the base meaning of 'to give' with a sense of separation or return.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ἀποδίδωμι regularly means to give back, return, pay, or render—especially relating to obligations, debts, or duties. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods (as in the Septuagint and New Testament), the term retains these senses, frequently appearing in legal, ethical, and financial contexts. It often refers to fulfilling what is due (a payment, promise, or service), returning something to its rightful owner, or paying back a debt. The word can further express rendering justice, repaying deeds (either good or bad), or bestowing rewards. In some cases, it can mean 'to sell' in the sense of delivering over (e.g., Acts 5:8), though this is a contextual extension. English translations such as 'reward,' 'repay,' 'render,' or 'restore' capture different nuances but may not always convey the sense of obligation or due action inherent in the original. The verb is used both literally (monetary transactions, restoring property) and figuratively (recompense for deeds, fulfilling promises) in Koine contexts. Contrast with δίδωμι (to give generally, not necessarily with an expectation of return) and προσφέρω (to bring forward, offer).

Translation Consistency

primary "repay" 23 occurrences

“Repay” best captures the primary sense of ἀποδίδωμι — returning or giving back what is owed, paying or rendering recompense or justice — and is the most frequent and natural English equivalent in the attested renderings. It also covers related senses (reward/requite, render, deliver) better than the overly broad “give.”

Alternatives (25 occurrences):
"give back" (8x) "sold" (3x) "gave back" (2x) "give" (2x) "giving back" (2x) "repaid" (1x) "given back" (1x) "having given back" (1x) "giving" (1x) "him give back" (1x) "gives back" (1x) "those who will render back" (1x) "yielding" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀπό and δίδωμι; to give away, i.e. up, over, back, etc. (in various applications):--deliver (again), give (again), (re-)pay(-ment be made), perform, recompense, render, requite, restore, reward, sell, yield.

Root Family

ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi) — to give, to return, to pay, to render

Root διδωμι to give, to return, to pay, to render

Word Forms

22 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G591-14 ἀποδώσει apodosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will reward will repay he/she/it will repay 7
G591-13 ἀποδῷς apodos V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG Give you may repay you may repay 5
G591-19 ἀπόδοτε apodote V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL render Give back! Give back 5
G591-21 ἀποδοῦναι apodounai V AOR ACT INF to give to repay to repay 4
G591-18 ἀποδώσουσιν apodosousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL will give they will repay they will repay 3
G591-16 ἀποδώσω apodoso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG I will pay I will repay I will repay 3
G591-12 ἀποδῷ apodo V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG he should pay may repay may repay 3
G591-08 ἀποδιδόντες apodidontes V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL rendering giving back giving back 2
G591-20 ἀποδοθῆναι apodothenai V AOR PASS INF repayment to be made to be repaid to be given back 2
G591-03 ἀπέδωκεν apedoken V AOR ACT IND 3P SG gave gave back gave back 2

Occurrences in Scripture

48 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G591-13 Matthew 5:26 ἀποδῷς apodos V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG have paid you may repay you may repay
G591-15 Matthew 5:33 ἀποδώσεις apodoseis V FUT ACT IND 2P SG you shall perform you will repay you will repay
G591-14 Matthew 6:4 ἀποδώσει apodosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will reward will repay he/she/it will repay
G591-14 Matthew 6:6 ἀποδώσει apodosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will reward will repay he/she/it will repay
G591-14 Matthew 6:18 ἀποδώσει apodosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG will reward will repay he/she/it will repay
G591-18 Matthew 12:36 ἀποδώσουσιν apodosousin V FUT ACT IND 3P PL they shall give they will repay they will repay
G591-14 Matthew 16:27 ἀποδώσει apodosei V FUT ACT IND 3P SG he will repay will repay he/she/it will repay
G591-21 Matthew 18:25 ἀποδοῦναι apodounai V AOR ACT INF to repay to repay to repay
G591-20 Matthew 18:25 ἀποδοθῆναι apodothenai V AOR PASS INF repayment to be made to be repaid to be repaid
G591-16 Matthew 18:26 ἀποδώσω apodoso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG I will pay I will repay I will repay