Greek word · G467

ἀνταποδίδωμι

antapodidōmi

to repay

To give back in return, repay, recompense. It works in both directions: reward for good (Luke 14:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:9, 'what thanks can we return') and punishment for evil (2 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 10:30).

Appears 7 times in 6 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀντ-απο-δίδωμι

(ἀντί ἀποδίδωμι), [in LXX for שָׁלַם pi., גָּמַל, שׁוּב hi., etc. ;]

to give back as an equivalent, recompense, requital (the ἀντί ex­pressing the idea of full, complete return; see Lft., Notes, 46);

(a) in favourable sense: Luke 14:14, Romans 11:35, 1 Thessalonians 3:9;

(b) in unfavourable sense: Romans 12:19, 2 Thessalonians 1:6, Hebrews 10:30.†

(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 Romans 12:19

Range of meaning

To give back in return, repay, recompense. It works in both directions: reward for good (Luke 14:14; 1 Thessalonians 3:9, 'what thanks can we return') and punishment for evil (2 Thessalonians 1:6; Hebrews 10:30).

Against the English

'Repay' is accurate. NLT's 'I will pay them back' sounds more like a threat than the Greek has to.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Deuteronomy 32:35, 32:41, 43 ('he will repay vengeance to his enemies'). Common in the Psalms and Proverbs for God giving people what their deeds deserve.

From the study of 2 Thessalonians 1:6

Range of meaning

To give back in return, render in exchange, repay. It is neutral as to whether the return is good or bad: a favour repaid, thanks returned, a debt settled, or wrongdoing requited. The prefix ἀντ(ι)- ('in return, corresponding to') stresses that what is given matches what was received.

Against the English

'Repay' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NASB), 'recompense' (KJV), 'give back' (YLT), 'pay back' (NIV, NLT). All are accurate. 'Give back' best keeps the sense of correspondence.

Used elsewhere in the period

Septuagint: Deut 32:35 'in the day of vengeance I will repay (antapodōsō)', quoted by Paul in Rom 12:19 and also in Heb 10:30. Isa 66:6 LXX: 'the voice of the Lord rendering recompense (antapodidontos antapodosin) to his adversaries', a chapter that 2 Thess 1:8 echoes ('in flaming fire', Isa 66:15). Ps 137(136):8 LXX uses it for Babylon's requital. Positively: Luke 14:14 ('they cannot repay you; you will be repaid at the resurrection'), and 1 Thess 3:9 ('what thanksgiving can we return to God?').

From the study of Luke 14:14

Range of meaning

To give back in return, to repay. It is used for favours, debts and gifts, and also for punishment ("pay back" wrongdoing). The prefix anti- ("in return") adds to apodidōmi ("give back"). The stress is on matching return.

Against the English

"Repay" (BSB, WEB) and "recompense" (KJV, YLT) are both accurate. What English readers can miss is that this is the same word family as "repayment" (antapodoma) in v.12. Jesus is turning the vocabulary of social give-and-take against itself.

Used elsewhere in the period

LXX Prov 19:17: "Whoever shows mercy to the poor lends to God, and according to his gift he will repay (antapodōsei) him." This is very close to Jesus' thought. Sirach 12:2: "Do good to a godly person and you will find a repayment." Deut 32:35, quoted in Rom 12:19: "I will repay." Luke 6:32–35 has the same logic: lend expecting nothing back, "and your reward will be great."

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 14:14 ἀνταποδοῦναί ἀνταποδοθήσεται to repay, It will be recompensed

    and you will be blessed. Since they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

    Here: The word for paying someone back in kind. It is the language of the favour-for-favour system Jesus has just criticised in v.12, where friends invite you back "and it becomes a repayment to you."

Romans · 2

  1. Romans 11:35 ἀνταποδοθήσεται it will be recompensed

    “Who has first given to God, that God should repay him?”

    Here: "It will be paid back in return": the counter-gift that a first gift was owed. The future passive pictures the repayment the giver could then expect. The double prefix (anti-, "in return," plus apo-, "back") stresses that the payment matches what was given.

  2. Romans 12:19 ἀνταποδώσω, will repay,

    Do not avenge yourselves, beloved, but leave room for God’s wrath. For it is written: “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay, says the Lord.”

    Here: A future tense: God will give back what is due. It echoes 12:17 ('repay [apodidontes] no one evil for evil'). Believers must not repay. God will.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 3:9 ἀνταποδοῦναι to give

    How can we adequately thank God for you in return for our great joy over you in His presence?

    Here: 'Give back in return.' Thanks is pictured as a return gift owed to a benefactor, and Paul doubts any return could be big enough. This probably echoes Psalm 116:12 (115:3 in the Greek Bible).

2 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 2 Thessalonians 1:6 ἀνταποδοῦναι to repay

    After all, it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,

    Here: A once-for-all act of paying back what corresponds to what was received (aorist infinitive). This is the language of reciprocity and of a judge's verdict. It is the same verb Paul uses for 'returning' thanks to God in 1 Thess 3:9.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 10:30 ἀνταποδώσω will repay

    For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine; I will repay,” and again, “The Lord will judge His people.”

    Here: “I will give back in return.” A future: payment that matches what was done. The word is about fair exchange, not about anger, and can describe rewards as well as penalties.

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