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
“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.”
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
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 |