ὀφειλή (opheilē)
opheilē
debt
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun opheilē denotes a debt or something that is owed. In the New Testament it appears in only three verses, carrying both literal and metaphorical weight. Matthew 18:32 uses it in its primary sense of financial obligation within the parable of the unmerciful servant, where a king forgives a massive monetary sum. This concrete usage grounds the word’s broader application in relationships.
Paul employs opheilē metaphorically to describe moral or relational obligations. In Romans 13:7 and 1 Corinthians 7:3 he speaks of what is due to others, including taxes and marital duties. The term shifts from a balance sheet to a sense of duty, highlighting that certain responsibilities are not optional favors but binding requirements owed to God and neighbor.
Its root verb, opheileō, connects the concept to obligation and liability. Translators typically render it as "debt" or "due," preserving the idea of something rightfully claimed by another. This lexical choice underscores the seriousness of Christian ethics: love and justice are not merely suggestions but debts we owe.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word opheilē means a debt or something strictly owed. In Matthew 18:32, Jesus uses it to describe a massive financial sum forgiven by a king. This story shows that while we owe God everything for His grace, He has cancelled our huge spiritual debt. It invites us to see forgiveness not as a casual favor, but as a profound release from an impossible burden.
Paul expands this idea in Romans 13:7 and 1 Corinthians 7:3. Here, the word shifts from money to duty. We owe taxes, respect, and love to those around us. These are not optional extras for Christians. They are binding responsibilities. Love is a debt we must pay daily to our neighbors and family.
Understanding this word changes how we view our relationships. It reminds us that kindness is not just a nice gesture but a requirement of grace. When we recognize what we owe others, we serve them with humility. This perspective grounds our faith in practical, everyday actions that honor God and bless people.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- dues,1×
- debt,1×
- debt1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀφειλὴν2×
- ὀφειλάς,1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 18:32
Then his lord called him in and said to him, ‘You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you begged me.
This verse uses the word literally for a huge financial debt to illustrate how God forgives our spiritual failures.
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Romans 13:7
Therefore give everyone what you owe: if you owe taxes, pay taxes; if customs, then customs; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Paul lists taxes, respect, and honor as specific debts we must pay to civil authorities and society.
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I Corinthians 7:3
Let the husband give his wife the affection owed her, and likewise also the wife her husband.
The term defines marital affection as a mutual obligation rather than an optional act of kindness.