Greek word · G1554

ἐκδίδωμι

ekdidōmi

to lease

To give out or hand over. In the middle voice, used of property, it means to let out or lease, especially land to tenant farmers in return for a share of the produce or a payment.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐκ-δίδωμι

[in LXX for נָתַן, etc. ;]

1. to surrender, give up, give out.

2. to let out for hire (Hdt.); mid. (as frequently in π.; see MM, Exp., xii); to let out to one's advantage, Matthew 21:33, 41, Mark 12:1, Luke 20:9.†

(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 Matthew 21:41

Range of meaning

To give out or hand over. In the middle voice, used of property, it means to let out or lease, especially land to tenant farmers in return for a share of the produce or a payment.

Against the English

"Let out" (KJV), "lease out" (WEB), "rent out" (BSB). All correct. "Let out" is old-fashioned but means the same thing.

Used elsewhere in the period

A standard term in Greek leases on papyrus from Egypt. In the New Testament it appears only in this parable (Matt 21:33, 41; Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9).

From the study of Luke 20:9

Range of meaning

To give out; in business and law, to lease out land or property, to hire out, or to give a daughter in marriage. Here the middle form means 'to lease out (for one's own benefit)'.

Against the English

KJV 'let it forth' and ESV 'let it out' use the older English 'let' (to lease, as in British 'to let'). BSB, WEB and NIV say 'rented (it) out'. NLT and others say 'leased'. YLT's 'gave it out' is too literal and loses the contract. All the modern renderings are accurate.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in documentary papyri for leasing land, including vineyards (Moulton–Milligan). Herodotus and later authors use it for hiring out. The same word appears in the parallels Mark 12:1 and Matt 21:33, 41. Mishnah Bava Metzia 9 discusses the two usual arrangements: sharecroppers, who paid a portion of the crop, and fixed-rent tenants.

From the study of Mark 12:1

Range of meaning

To give out or hand over. In the middle form it is the technical term for leasing land or property to someone under contract.

Against the English

'Rented out' (BSB, WEB), 'let it out' (KJV), 'gave it out' (YLT) and 'leased' (ESV, NLT). All are fine. 'Leased' carries the legal force best.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Greek lease contracts preserved on papyri from Egypt. The same verb is used in the parallel accounts in Matthew 21:33 and Luke 20:9.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 21:33 ἐξέδετο he rented out

    Listen to another parable: There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a winepress in it, and built a tower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

    Here: A technical term for letting out land on a lease. The middle voice ('let out for himself') shows that the owner keeps ownership and is owed a return.

  2. Matthew 21:41 ἐκδώσεται he will rent out

    “He will bring those wretches to a wretched end,” they replied, “and will rent out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him his share of the fruit at harvest time.”

    Here: Future middle: "he will lease out (for his own benefit)." The usual word for leasing land. It is the same verb used when the owner first leased the vineyard in 21:33. The arrangement goes on, with new people.

Mark · 1

  1. Mark 12:1 ἐξέδετο rented out

    Then Jesus began to speak to them in parables: “A man planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a wine vat, and built a watchtower. Then he rented it out to some tenants and went away on a journey.

    Here: The usual business term for leasing land, and the middle form suggests 'for his own benefit'. A legal contract now binds the tenants to hand over an agreed share or rent.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 20:9 ἐξέδετο rented

    Then He proceeded to tell the people this parable: “A man planted a vineyard, rented it out to some tenants, and went away for a long time.

    Here: A standard legal-business word for leasing land. The middle form suggests he leased it for his own benefit: the land stays his and the tenants owe him a share.

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