ἀνταπόδομα

From the study of Luke 14:12

Range of meaning

A repayment, a return or requital, something given back in exchange for what was received. It can be positive (a reward) or negative (a retribution). The anti- prefix stresses that the giving goes back the way it came.

Against the English

KJV/YLT 'recompense' and BSB/ESV 'be repaid' are accurate. Modern ears may still hear only 'being thanked' or 'getting a nice invitation back'. They can miss that the word belongs to accounting: a debt is created and then cancelled.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament) it is used for God's requital, e.g. Ps 27(28):4, 'give them their repayment'; Isa 59:18; Hos 9:7 'days of repayment'. In the NT the noun appears only here and in Rom 11:9, which quotes Ps 69. The verb antapodidōmi follows in v.14 (twice: 'they cannot repay you… you will be repaid').

From the study of Romans 11:9

Range of meaning

Something given back in return: repayment, return, requital. The word itself carries no tone. It can be a kindness repaid (Luke 14:12, a return invitation to dinner) or a wrong paid back.

Against the English

'Retribution' (BSB, WEB, ESV, NIV, NASB) and 'recompence/recompense' (KJV, YLT). 'Retribution' gives the negative sense this context needs, which is fair. 'Recompense' keeps the plainer sense of a return or repayment. The Greek contains the idea of a matching return (anti, 'in return'), not just punishment.

Used elsewhere in the period

Greek Ps 68:23 has the related noun antapodosis, 'repayment'. Paul's form antapodoma is used in Greek Gen 50:15, where Joseph's brothers fear he will 'pay us back in full' for all the evil they did. Hebrew Ps 69:23 has lishlomim, which can be vowelled as 'for those at peace' or read as shillumim, 'repayment' (see Textual notes). The verb comes back in Rom 11:35: 'who has given to God, that he should be repaid (antapodothēsetai)?'

From the study of Sirach 12:2

Range of meaning

'A giving back in return.' It means a return that matches what was given. It can be good (repayment, reward) or bad (retribution), depending on context. The word belongs to the language of exchange and reciprocity.

Against the English

KJV/Brenton's 'recompence' keeps the sense of a return for what was given. WEB's 'reward' is fine but can suggest a prize or bonus. It also lets modern readers think of a heavenly reward after death, which Ben Sira does not have in view.

How it drifted

Christian use of 'reward' often means reward in heaven. That overlay doesn't fit Ben Sira, who expected God to settle accounts within this life (see Sir 17:27–28; 41:4).

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint it often translates Hebrew gemul (what a person has 'dealt out', and so what they get back). The Hebrew of Sirach here appears to read tashlumet, 'payment, repayment', a word from the root for making good or paying back. In the New Testament it appears in Luke 14:12 ('lest they invite you in return and you be repaid') and Rom 11:9 ('retribution').