μισθαποδοσία

From the study of Hebrews 10:35

Range of meaning

'Payment of wages', from misthos (wage, pay) + apodidōmi (to pay back, render what is due). It means repayment in either direction: reward or punishment. In the New Testament only in Hebrews: 2:2, where it is the 'just recompense' (punishment) for disobedience; 10:35; 11:26, where Moses looks ahead to the misthapodosia. Related: misthapodotēs, 'rewarder', of God in 11:6.

Against the English

KJV and YLT 'great recompence of reward' keep the idea of repayment. BSB, NIV, ESV and WEB 'reward' are fine but can suggest a bonus or prize given on top of what is owed. The Greek word stresses that a promised payment is actually paid out. The giver's faithfulness to pay is part of the point.

Used elsewhere in the period

Not found in the Septuagint and rare in Greek before Hebrews. Later Christian writers use it. The idea behind it, God paying the faithful their 'wage', is common in Scripture: Genesis 15:1 ('your reward shall be very great'), Isaiah 40:10; 62:11, Wisdom 5:15 ('the righteous live forever, and their reward is with the Lord').

From the study of Hebrews 2:2

Range of meaning

Literally 'paying back of wages' (misthos 'wage' + apodidōmi 'pay back'): what someone has earned, good or bad. The word itself is neutral. Context decides whether it is reward or penalty. Endikos means 'just, rightful, deserved'.

Against the English

BSB/NIV 'just punishment', WEB/NASB 'just penalty' and ESV 'just retribution' make the negative sense clear. KJV 'just recompence of reward' follows the Latin Vulgate (iustam mercedis retributionem). The phrase is accurate in older English but misleading now (see drift).

How it drifted

In 1611 'reward' could mean any repayment, good or bad. Today it almost always means something good.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the NT the noun appears only in Hebrews: here (penalty), 10:35 (great 'reward' for confidence) and 11:26 (Moses looking to the 'reward'). The related misthapodotēs, 'rewarder', is in 11:6. It does not occur in the Septuagint and is very rare in earlier Greek, so it may be a word Hebrews favoured or helped coin. Endikos appears elsewhere in the NT only in Rom 3:8 ('their condemnation is just').

From the study of Hebrews 11:26

Range of meaning

Payment of wages; recompense. It is neutral in itself, so depending on what is earned it can be a reward or a penalty. The word is very rare and found in the NT only in Hebrews.

Against the English

"Reward" (BSB, ESV, NASB, NIV, WEB) is fine but can sound like a bonus or prize. KJV's "recompence of the reward" and YLT's "recompense of reward" keep the payment idea. NLT's "great reward" adds "great," probably from 10:35.

Used elsewhere in the period

Heb 2:2: every transgression received a "just misthapodosia" (penalty); 10:35: "do not throw away your confidence, which has a great misthapodosia"; 11:6: God is the misthapodotēs, "the one who pays out," to those who seek him. It is built from misthos (wage) + apodidōmi (pay back, render what is owed).