Greek word · G1432

δωρεάν

dōrean

freely

An adverb formed from δωρεά, “gift.” Its meanings: (1) as a gift, without payment, gratis; (2) without reason or cause (“they hated me without cause,” John 15:25); (3) in vain, for nothing (Gal 2:21).

Appears 9 times in 8 verses of the Greek New Testament. · Updated October 24, 2026

What it means

δωρεάν, see: δωρεά.

δωρεά, -ᾶς, ἡ

(δίδωμι), [in LXX chiefly (-άν) for חִנָּם, as Genesis 29:15 ;]

a gift: Acts 11:17, Romans 5:15, Hebrews 6:4; δ. τ. θεοῦ, John 4:10, Acts 8:20; τ. Χριστοῦ, Ephesians 4:7; τ. πνεύματος, Acts 2:38 10:45; τ. δικαιοσύνης, Romans 5:17; τ. χάριτος, Ephesians 3:7; ἀνεκδιηγήτὶῳ δ., 2 Corinthians 9:15. Acc, δωρεάν, adverbially (as frequently in LXX),

(a) freely, as a gift: Matthew 10:8, Romans 3:24, 2 Corinthians 11:7, 2 Thessalonians 3:8, Revelation 21:6 22:17;

(b) in vain, uselessly: (John 15:25 LXX) Galatians 2:21.†

SYN.: see: δόμα (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Revelation 22:17

Range of meaning: An adverb formed from δωρεά, “gift.” Its meanings: (1) as a gift, without payment, gratis; (2) without reason or cause (“they hated me without cause,” John 15:25); (3) in vain, for nothing (Gal 2:21).
Against the English: KJV/BSB/WEB/YLT “freely” meant “without charge” in older English. Modern readers often hear “freely” as “without restriction,” “as much as you like,” or “voluntarily.” ESV “without price,” NASB “without cost,” and NIV “the free gift” bring out the sense of price better.
How it drifted: The English adverb “freely” has moved toward “unrestrainedly” or “of one's own free will.” The older sense, “free of charge,” is fading.
Used elsewhere in the period: LXX Exodus 21:11: a woman goes out “for nothing, without money” (dōrean aneu argyriou). Genesis 29:15: Laban will not have Jacob serve him “for nothing.” Jesus: “You received without paying, give without paying” (Matt 10:8). Paul: justified “as a gift by his grace” (Rom 3:24). Within Revelation, 21:6: “To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life dōrean.” The Vulgate translates gratis.

From the study of Revelation 21:6

Range of meaning: This is an adverb formed from δωρεά, "gift". It means (1) as a gift, without payment; (2) without cause or reason (John 15:25, "they hated me without cause"); (3) in vain, for nothing (Galatians 2:21).
Against the English: "Freely" (KJV, BSB, WEB, YLT) is correct in older English, where it meant "without charge." Today many readers hear "generously, abundantly, without restriction." NIV and NASB "without cost" and ESV "without payment" make the actual point clear.
How it drifted: In current English "freely" mostly means "without constraint" ("speak freely"), not "for free".
Used elsewhere in the period: In the papyri the word is used for work or goods supplied without charge. LXX Exodus 21:11 uses it for a slave going out free "without money". Isaiah 55:1 makes the same promise with different words: "come… without money and without price" (ἄνευ ἀργυρίου καὶ τιμῆς). Revelation 22:17 repeats it: "let the one who wishes take the water of life δωρεάν." The Latin Vulgate's "gratis" is where the English word comes from.

From the study of John 15:25

Range of meaning: Originally the accusative of dōrea, 'gift', used as an adverb. It covers (1) as a gift, free of charge (Matt 10:8; Rev 21:6), (2) without cause, undeservedly (here), and (3) for nothing, in vain (Gal 2:21).
Against the English: 'Without a cause' (KJV, WEB, YLT, ESV, NASB) and 'without reason' (BSB, NIV) are accurate. The Vulgate's gratis captures the 'for free' flavour better than English does. The picture is of hatred handed out at no charge, with nothing given that could have earned it.
Used elsewhere in the period: In the Septuagint (the ancient Greek translation of the Old Testament) dōrean regularly renders Hebrew ḥinnam, 'for nothing, gratuitously'. Examples: Ps 34:19 and 68:5 LXX (= Ps 35:19; 69:4), Ps 108:3 LXX, and Gen 29:15 (working 'for nothing'). Ḥinnam is related to ḥēn, 'favour, grace'. In both languages the word suggests something given without payment or grounds.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

Matthew 10:8 δωρεὰν δωρεὰν freely

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give.

Here: "As a gift, free of charge." The word comes from dōrea, "gift." It describes how they got what they have: they did not pay or earn it. It does not mean "lavishly."

John · 1

John 15:25 δωρεάν.¶ without cause.’

But this is to fulfill what is written in their Law: ‘They hated Me without reason.’

Here: Literally 'gratis, for free'. The hatred was given for nothing, with no wrong done to earn it. It translates the Hebrew ḥinnam, 'for no reason, gratuitously'.

Romans · 1

Romans 3:24 δωρεὰν freely

and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

Here: Strictly 'as a gift': at no cost to the one who receives it. It does not mean 'generously' or 'without limit.' It answers the obvious question about a verdict: what was paid for it? Nothing, by the defendants.

2 Corinthians · 1

2 Corinthians 11:7 δωρεὰν freely

Was it a sin for me to humble myself in order to exalt you, because I preached the gospel of God to you free of charge?

Galatians · 1

Galatians 2:21 δωρεὰν for naught

I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.

Here: Literally "as a gift / gratis", but here in the sense "for nothing, to no purpose". It is a pointed word to choose right after "grace": the gift-word turns into a verdict of pointlessness.

2 Thessalonians · 1

2 Thessalonians 3:8 δωρεὰν without payment

nor did we eat anyone’s food without paying for it. Instead, in labor and toil, we worked night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you.

Here: An adverb formed from dōrea, 'gift'. It means 'for free, without paying'. Here it does not mean 'in vain' or 'for no reason', which are other senses it can carry elsewhere. It comes early in the sentence for emphasis: the point is that nothing they ate was a handout.

Revelation · 2

Revelation 21:6 δωρεάν. freely.

And He told me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give freely from the spring of the water of life.

Here: "Gratis", "without charge". The word comes from δωρεά, "gift". It stands last for emphasis: no price is asked.
Revelation 22:17 δωρεάν.¶ freely.

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.

Here: “For nothing,” “gratis,” with no price paid. It repeats God's promise in 21:6 and Isaiah's “without money and without price.”

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.