προδίδωμι (prodidōmi)
prodidōmi
to give in advance
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb prodidōmi literally means to give something ahead of time or to yield it first. In the New Testament, this concept appears only once, in Romans 11:35, where Paul asks who has ever given to God that God must repay. Here, the word underscores the absolute independence of the Creator, implying that no human action precedes divine grace in a way that creates an obligation.
While the literal sense is straightforward, the word carries a secondary meaning of betrayal or handing over treacherously, a usage found in other ancient texts like 4 Maccabees. This darker nuance likely influenced how later writers understood similar words for betrayal, though in Romans, the focus remains on the impossibility of putting God in anyone’s debt. The term highlights that all blessings originate from God alone.
Its rarity in Scripture makes its single appearance in Romans particularly significant. By using this specific term, Paul emphasizes that God is not a debtor to any creature. The word serves as a linguistic anchor for the theological point that grace is entirely unearned and unconditional, flowing from God’s nature rather than human merit.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word prodidōmi appears just once in the New Testament, found in Romans 11:35. Paul uses it to ask a simple but profound question: who has given to God first that He must repay? This single occurrence highlights a core truth about our faith. We do not earn God’s grace by doing favors for Him or by putting Him in our debt. His blessings flow from His generous nature, not from any obligation we might create.
This reality brings deep relief to the believer. You do not need to perform spiritual transactions to secure God’s love or favor. Instead, you can rest in the knowledge that every good gift comes from above. When you feel overwhelmed by the pressure to prove your worth, remember that God is not a debtor to any creature. His grace is unconditional, offered freely to all who seek Him.
Living with this understanding changes how we approach prayer and service. We serve out of gratitude for what has already been given, not to pay back a spiritual loan. This freedom allows us to love God and others without the heavy burden of earning approval. It is a gift that invites us to receive with open hands and give with joyful hearts.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- has first given1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- προέδωκεν1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 11:35
“Or who has first given to him, and it will be repaid to him again?”
Paul uses this rare verb to emphasize that no human action precedes divine grace in a way that creates an obligation for God.