ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi)
apodidōmi
to pay
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 46 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb apodidōmi describes the act of giving back, paying, or rendering what is due. It appears forty-six times in the New Testament, often in contexts involving financial obligations like debts and wages, as seen when a servant refuses to forgive a small debt in Matthew 18:28. The word also covers returning property, such as Jesus asking for the colt in Luke 19:30, or fulfilling vows, as in Matthew 5:33.
Its meaning extends beyond simple transactions to include moral and spiritual accountability. It is used for rendering justice, giving testimony, and repaying others for their actions, whether good or bad. Romans 2:6 notes that God will repay each person according to their deeds, while 1 Peter 3:9 instructs believers not to repay evil with evil. The active voice focuses on meeting an obligation, whereas the middle voice can mean to sell, as when Ananias sold a piece of property in Acts 5:8.
The word combines apo (away/back) and didōmi (to give), emphasizing the completion of a transfer. This structure highlights that the action is not just giving, but returning or discharging a specific duty. Translators often use "pay," "render," or "give back" depending on whether the context is financial, legal, or relational.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word apodidōmi reminds us that life is built on relationships of trust and responsibility. It describes giving back what is owed, whether it is a debt, a wage, or a promise kept. In our daily lives, this might look like paying for a service, returning a borrowed item, or simply honoring a commitment we have made to someone else.
Jesus uses this concept in the Sermon on the Mount to teach about integrity. He points out that even small acts of honesty matter because God sees them. When we give what is due, we reflect a character that values fairness and respect for others. This is not just about money; it is about keeping our word and treating people with dignity.
At the same time, this word carries a deeper spiritual weight. It reminds us that God will judge with perfect justice, giving each person what their actions deserve. Yet, in the story of the unforgiving servant, we see that while debts must be paid, grace offers a way out when we fail. We are invited to live honestly, trusting that God handles the final accounting.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 46 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do give back4×
- will reward3×
- will give3×
- to pay2×
- to give2×
- he may pay2×
- do pay2×
- I will pay2×
- you will keep1×
- you sold?1×
- you may pay1×
- you may have paid.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀποδώσει7×
- ἀπόδοτε5×
- ἀποδοῦναι4×
- ἀπόδος3×
- ἀποδώσω3×
- ἀποδώσουσιν3×
- ἀπέδωκεν2×
- ἀποδῷ2×
- ἀπέδοσθε;1×
- ἀπέδοντο1×
- ἀπέδετο1×
- ἀποδῷς.¶1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 5:26
Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
This verse uses the word to emphasize the seriousness of settling disputes quickly, as failing to do so leads to unavoidable consequences.
-
Matthew 20:8
“When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages, beginning from the last to the first.’
Here the word describes the fair payment of wages, highlighting God’s justice in rewarding labor according to agreement rather than favoritism.
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Luke 19:8
Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my goods I give to the poor. If I have wrongfully exacted anything of anyone, I restore four times as much.”
Zacchaeus uses the concept of restoration to show genuine repentance by offering fourfold repayment for any wrongs he committed.
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Matthew 22:21
They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.”
Jesus applies this term to civic duty, instructing followers to render to Caesar what belongs to him, distinguishing between earthly obligations and spiritual devotion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does apodidōmi mean in the New Testament?
How is apodidōmi different from didōmi?
Why does Jesus mention paying debts in Matthew 5:26?
Does this word apply only to money?
Every Occurrence (46 verses across 12 books)
Matthew 17 verses
Most certainly I tell you, you shall by no means get out of there until you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:33“Again you have heard that it was said to the ancient ones, ‘You shall not make false vows, but shall perform to the…
Matthew 6:4so that your merciful deeds may be in secret, then your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.
Matthew 6:6But you, when you pray, enter into your inner room, and having shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret;…
Matthew 6:18so that you are not seen by men to be fasting, but by your Father who is in secret; and your Father, who sees in…
Matthew 12:36I tell you that every idle word that men speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
Matthew 16:27For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will give to everyone according to…
Matthew 18:25But because he couldn’t pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, with his wife, his children, and all that he had, and…
Matthew 18:26The servant therefore fell down and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, have patience with me, and I will repay you all!’
Matthew 18:28“But that servant went out and found one of his fellow servants who owed him one hundred denarii, and he grabbed him…
Matthew 18:29“So his fellow servant fell down at his feet and begged him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will repay you!’
Matthew 18:30He would not, but went and cast him into prison until he should pay back that which was due.
Matthew 18:34His lord was angry, and delivered him to the tormentors until he should pay all that was due to him.
Matthew 20:8“When evening had come, the lord of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and pay them their wages,…
Matthew 21:41They told him, “He will miserably destroy those miserable men, and will lease out the vineyard to other farmers who…
Matthew 22:21They said to him, “Caesar’s.” Then he said to them, “Give therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God…
Matthew 27:58This man went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Then Pilate commanded the body to be given up.