ἀνταποδίδωμι (antapodidōmi)
antapodidōmi
to repay
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 6 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb antapodidōmi means to give back in exact measure, carrying the sense of full recompense or requital. Its structure highlights this completeness: the prefix anti suggests a counter-response, while apodidōmi means to pay or render. This combination implies that what is returned matches precisely what was given, whether that is kindness or judgment.
Scripture uses this word in both positive and negative contexts. In Luke 14:14, Jesus promises that the poor and disabled will repay their benefactors at the resurrection, illustrating a favorable return for selfless love. Conversely, Romans 12:19 and 2 Thessalonians 1:6 employ it to describe divine justice, where God repays those who cause trouble with appropriate judgment.
This precise balancing of accounts appears six times in the New Testament, primarily in Paul’s letters. The term underscores a theological principle that actions have corresponding consequences, reflecting a universe governed by moral order rather than random chance.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word antapodidōmi reminds us that God’s accounting is perfectly fair. It carries the sense of giving back in exact measure, whether that return is a blessing or a judgment. This precision offers comfort because it means no act of kindness goes unnoticed and no injustice remains unaddressed. We can trust that our lives are held within a moral order where love and truth ultimately prevail.
In Luke 14:14, Jesus points to a beautiful example of this reciprocity. He notes that when we help those who cannot repay us in this life, God promises to repay us at the resurrection. This shifts our focus from immediate human recognition to eternal reward. It encourages us to serve with pure motives, knowing that God sees and values every sacrifice made for others.
At the same time, passages like Romans 12:19 assure us that we do not need to seek personal revenge. God handles justice Himself, ensuring that wrongs are addressed according to His perfect wisdom. This frees us from the burden of holding onto anger or trying to settle scores. Instead, we can rest in the assurance that God is both just and merciful, managing all outcomes with complete integrity.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 6 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to repay2×
- will repay,1×
- will repay1×
- to give1×
- it will be recompensed1×
- It will be recompensed1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀνταποδοῦναι2×
- ἀνταποδοθήσεται2×
- ἀνταποδώσω,1×
- ἀνταποδώσω1×
- ἀνταποδοῦναί1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 14:14
and you will be blessed, because they don’t have the resources to repay you. For you will be repaid in the resurrection of the righteous.”
This verse highlights the positive aspect of the word, showing how God repays selfless kindness that humans cannot return.
-
Romans 12:19
Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”
Here the term is used to describe divine judgment, instructing believers to leave vengeance in God's hands rather than seeking personal retribution.
-
II Thessalonians 1:6
For it is a righteous thing with God to repay affliction to those who afflict you,
Paul uses this word to affirm that it is righteous for God to repay those who cause affliction, emphasizing His role as the ultimate judge.