ἀποδεκατόω (apodekatoō)
apodekatoō
to tithe
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apodekatō means to tithe, or to set aside a tenth part of something for a specific purpose. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, primarily in the Gospels and the book of Hebrews. The word combines a prefix indicating separation with a root meaning "ten," literally describing the act of deducting or paying a tenth.
Its usage shifts slightly depending on the context. When Jesus speaks to the Pharisees in Matthew 23:23 and Luke 11:42, he uses it intransitively to describe the practice of tithing herbs and produce. In contrast, Hebrews 7:5 employs it transitively, describing how the Levites exacted or received tithes from the people. This distinction highlights both the personal act of giving and the institutional collection of these contributions.
The term carries significant theological weight in Hebrews, where it anchors the argument about Abraham’s superiority to Levi. By noting that Abraham tithe to Melchizedek, the author establishes a precedent for a priesthood distinct from the Levitical line. The word thus serves not just as a financial descriptor, but as a key element in explaining the shift from the old covenant system to the new order of Christ.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apodekatoō describes the specific act of setting aside a tenth part of one’s income or produce. In the New Testament, it appears only four times, linking the physical practice of giving with deeper spiritual truths about obedience and priority. It is not merely a financial transaction but a disciplined habit of acknowledging that what we have comes from God.
Jesus addresses this practice in Matthew 23:23, noting that while tithing herbs like mint and dill shows attention to detail, it must not overshadow justice, mercy, and faith. The call is not to abandon generosity but to ensure our giving flows from a heart that values God’s weightier commands. This balance invites us to examine whether our resources reflect our true priorities.
Hebrews uses the term differently to discuss Abraham tithing to Melchizedek, highlighting a priesthood greater than Levi. For believers today, this reminds us that our giving is part of a larger story of worship and surrender. We are invited to give cheerfully, trusting that God honors the integrity of our hearts as much as the amount we contribute.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- you pay tithes of2×
- to take a tenth1×
- I tithe1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποδεκατοῦτε2×
- ἀποδεκατῶ1×
- ἀποδεκατοῦν1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 23:23
“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier matters of the law: justice, mercy, and faith. But you ought to have done these, and not to have left the other undone.
Jesus uses this word to rebuke Pharisees for meticulous tithing of herbs while neglecting justice and mercy, showing that ritual accuracy must not replace moral weight.
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Luke 18:12
I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
The Pharisee boasts about tithing 'all that I get,' revealing how the practice can become a tool for self-righteousness rather than humble worship.
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Hebrews 7:5
They indeed of the sons of Levi who receive the priest’s office have a commandment to take tithes from the people according to the law, that is, of their brothers, though these have come out of the body of Abraham,
The author describes Levitical priests taking tithes to establish a historical precedent that supports his argument for Christ’s superior priesthood.