Greek word · G1929

ἐπιδίδωμι

epididōmi

to give/deliver

To hand over, give to, deliver into someone's hand. It can also mean to give way or surrender, as in Acts 27:15.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-δίδωμι

[in LXX for נָתַן, etc. ;]

1. to give over, to hand: with accusative of thing(s) and dative of person(s), Matthew 7:9, 19, Luke 11:11-12 24:30, 42, Acts 15:30; pass. with dative of person(s), Luke 4:17.

2. to give in, give way: absol., Acts 27:15.†

(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 Luke 11:11

Range of meaning

To hand over, give to, deliver into someone's hand. It can also mean to give way or surrender, as in Acts 27:15.

Against the English

'Give' is correct but loses the physical picture of handing something across. YLT's 'present' and the idea of 'hand him' keep it better.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in the papyri for handing over documents or goods. Luke uses it in 4:17 (the Isaiah scroll handed to Jesus), 24:30 (bread at Emmaus) and 24:42 (a piece of broiled fish handed to Jesus).

From the study of Acts 15:30

Range of meaning

To give over, hand to someone, deliver. In documents from the period it is commonly used for formally submitting or delivering a petition, declaration or other official paper.

Against the English

All the major versions have "delivered". That is accurate, though it may not show the formal, hand-to-hand nature of the act.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 4:17: the scroll of Isaiah "was handed" (epedothē) to Jesus. Luke 24:42: they "gave" him fish. Acts 27:15: the ship "was given over" to the wind. Papyri regularly use the verb for submitting official documents.

From the study of Luke 11:12

Range of meaning

To give over, hand to, deliver into someone's hands. It can also mean to give up or surrender (Acts 27:15).

Against the English

BSB and WEB have 'give', which is fine but flatter. KJV's 'offer' is weaker, since the father is not making an offer but physically handing something over. YLT's 'present' is close.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 4:17 (the scroll of Isaiah handed to Jesus), Luke 24:30 (he broke bread and gave it to them), Luke 24:42 (they gave him a piece of broiled fish), and in the parallel Matthew 7:9-10.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 7:9 ἐπιδώσει will he give

    Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone?

    Here: To hand something to someone, placing it in their hand. The picture is a father physically putting something into his son's outstretched hand.

  2. Matthew 7:10 ἐπιδώσει will he give

    Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?

Luke · 5

  1. Luke 4:17 ἐπεδόθη there was given

    the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written:

  2. Luke 11:11 ἐπιδώσει; will he give

    What father among you, if his son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?

    Here: 'Will he hand over,' as in putting something into someone's hand. Luke uses the same verb when the disciples hand the risen Jesus a piece of fish (24:42) and when Jesus gives bread at Emmaus (24:30).

  3. Luke 11:12 ἐπιδώσει will he give

    Or if he asks for an egg, will give him a scorpion?

    Here: 'Will he hand him'. The word pictures a father placing something directly into the child's hand. Luke uses it for handing over a scroll (4:17) and a piece of fish (24:42). The picture is of putting a live scorpion into a small child's open hand.

  4. Luke 24:30 ἐπεδίδου He was giving [it]

    While He was reclining at the table with them, He took bread, spoke a blessing and broke it, and gave it to them.

    Here: This verb is imperfect, which describes an action still under way: "he was handing it / began handing it to them." Every other action in the verse is described as complete. The story freezes on this one, and in that moment their eyes are opened (v. 31).

  5. Luke 24:42 ἐπέδωκαν they gave

    So they gave Him a piece of broiled fish,

Acts · 2

  1. Acts 15:30 ἐπέδωκαν they delivered

    So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they assembled the congregation and delivered the letter.

    Here: They formally handed the document over. The verb is used for handing someone a written text (Luke 4:17, the scroll of Isaiah) and, in documents from the period, for submitting official papers.

  2. Acts 27:15 ἐπιδόντες having given way

    Unable to head into the wind, the ship was caught up. So we gave way and let ourselves be driven along.

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