ὀψώνιον (opsōnion)
opsōnion
compensation
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun opsōnion refers to provisions or money given for support, specifically describing a soldier’s pay or allowance. In its literal sense, it denotes the rations or funds provided to troops, as seen when John the Baptist instructs soldiers on their ethical duties in Luke 3:14. The word captures the tangible compensation exchanged for service, grounding the concept of wages in physical sustenance.
Paul expands this military imagery into a profound theological contrast in Romans 6:23. He describes sin not merely as a moral failure but as an employer offering its own specific wage: death. This usage highlights the transactional nature of sin, where the outcome is a direct payment for service rendered. The term underscores that actions carry inevitable consequences, much like a soldier receives his due after completing a campaign.
Etymologically, the word combines terms related to food and purchase, emphasizing that this pay serves as one’s livelihood. It appears in other Pauline letters to discuss the material support owed to those who preach, such as in 1 Corinthians 9:7 and 2 Corinthians 11:8. The consistent thread is the idea of rightful compensation for labor, whether in a military camp or a spiritual ministry.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word opsōnion originally described the rations or pay given to soldiers for their service. It was not just money, but the tangible provisions that sustained a life of duty. In Luke 3:14, John the Baptist tells soldiers to be content with their wages. This simple instruction reminds us that God cares about our daily needs and calls us to integrity in how we earn and use what is provided.
Paul uses this same word in Romans 6:23 to make a striking contrast. He describes sin as an employer that pays out death, while God offers eternal life as a free gift. This highlights the serious consequences of our choices, but also the overwhelming generosity of grace. We are not saved by earning it, yet we are called to live with the same honesty and contentment shown in those ancient soldiers.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- wages2×
- support1×
- expense1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀψωνίοις2×
- ὀψώνιον1×
- ὀψώνια1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 3:14
Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
This verse grounds the word in practical ethics, showing that John’s call to integrity includes being satisfied with lawful earnings rather than seeking illicit gain.
-
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Here the word defines the inevitable outcome of sin as a direct payment, contrasting sharply with God’s unearned gift of eternal life.
-
I Corinthians 9:7
What soldier ever serves at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard, and doesn’t eat of its fruit? Or who feeds a flock, and doesn’t drink from the flock’s milk?
Paul uses this term to support his argument that those who serve in ministry have a rightful claim to material support from those they help.