δίδωμι
dídōmi
G1325 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To give, to grant, to provide — denotes the act of giving, supplying, or granting something to someone. Used both in literal senses (physically handing over, presenting, imparting property or an object; e.g., giving bread, money, or gifts) and figuratively (granting permission, power, responsibility; causing or producing a result, bestowing qualities or roles). Can denote (a) giving or handing over (transfer), (b) granting or furnishing (supply, provision), (c) entrusting or assigning (responsibility, authority), (d) allowing or permitting, and (e) causing to happen (effecting). In legal, contractual, and covenantal contexts, may also involve the conveying of rights or obligations.
Semantic Range
to give (hand over), to grant, to bestow, to provide, to offer, to entrust, to allow, to assign, to cause to happen, to deliver up, to hand over, to transfer, to invest (with power or authority), to permit, to yield, to appoint, to issue (a command or law)
Root / Etymology
From the root διδω- (didō-), related to the Proto-Indo-European root *deh₃- (“to give”). The present system (δίδωμι) shows reduplication, a common feature in Greek for some present-tense verb stems. The word is the standard Koine and Classical Greek verb meaning 'to give' or 'to offer'.
Historical & Contextual Notes
δίδωμι is a fundamental verb in Greek, found from Homeric through Koine periods, and widely attested in both secular and biblical texts. In the Septuagint, δίδωμι frequently translates Hebrew נָתַן (nātan), broadening its semantic use in a range of biblical and legal contexts—such as granting land, bestowing blessings, or appointing roles. In the New Testament, it carries both literal senses (Jesus giving bread, someone giving money) and metaphorical ones (God granting life, authority, the Holy Spirit). The verb's flexibility is evident in legal, liturgical, and everyday usage, extending beyond mere transfer to encompass empowering, sacrificial acts, or the establishment of relationships (such as giving a covenant, law, or commandment). English translations generally render δίδωμι as 'give,' 'grant,' 'bestow,' 'deliver,' 'hand over,' etc.; however, the Greek is broader and sometimes includes senses like causing, allowing, or entrusting, nuances which English sometimes renders with more specific verbs. By the New Testament era, it is the standard Greek verb for 'to give' in nearly all registers of the language.
Translation Consistency
δίδωμι's primary and most natural English equivalent is “give.” It covers the full, common semantic range (hand over, grant, bestow, provide, entrust, permit/allow in context, cause to happen) and is the most frequent, idiomatic choice in English translations. Using “give” ensures consistent, natural renderings across literal, figurative, legal, and covenantal uses.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a prolonged form of a primary verb (which is used as an alternative in most of the tenses); to give (used in a very wide application, properly, or by implication, literally or figuratively; greatly modified by the connection):--adventure, bestow, bring forth, commit, deliver (up), give, grant, hinder, make, minister, number, offer, have power, put, receive, set, shew, smite (+ with the hand), strike (+ with the palm of the hand), suffer, take, utter, yield.
Root Family
δίδωμι (didōmi) — to give, to grant, to provide
Word Forms
59 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1325-57 |
ἔδωκεν | edoken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
gave | he gave | he gave | 63 |
G1325-47 |
δοῦναι | dounai | V AOR ACT INF |
to give | to give | to give | 33 |
G1325-58 |
ἐδόθη | edothe | V AOR PASS IND 3P SG |
was given | was given | was given | 31 |
G1325-34 |
δώσω | doso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will give | I will give | I will give | 23 |
G1325-31 |
δώσει | dosei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will give | will give | will give | 19 |
G1325-29 |
δός | dos | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
give | Give! | Give! | 17 |
G1325-37 |
δῶτε | dote | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
give | you may give | give | 17 |
G1325-45 |
δοθήσεται | dothesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
will be given | will be given | will be given | 16 |
G1325-05 |
δέδωκεν | dedoken | V PRF ACT IND 3P SG |
has given | he/she/it has given | he/she/it has given | 14 |
G1325-48 |
δοὺς | dous | V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
gave | having given | having given | 11 |
Occurrences in Scripture
414 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1325-34 |
Matthew 4:9 | δώσω | doso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
I will give | I will give | I will give |
G1325-46 |
Matthew 5:31 | δότω | doto | V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG |
let him give | let him give | let him give |
G1325-29 |
Matthew 5:42 | δός | dos | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
give | Give! | Give! |
G1325-29 |
Matthew 6:11 | δὸς | dos | V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG |
give | Give! | Give! |
G1325-37 |
Matthew 7:6 | δῶτε | dote | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
give | you may give | you may give |
G1325-45 |
Matthew 7:7 | δοθήσεται | dothesetai | V FUT PASS IND 3P SG |
it will be given | will be given | will be given |
G1325-13 |
Matthew 7:11 | διδόναι | didonai | V PRS ACT INF |
to give | to give | to give |
G1325-31 |
Matthew 7:11 | δώσει | dosei | V FUT ACT IND 3P SG |
will give | will give | will give |
G1325-27 |
Matthew 9:8 | δόντα | donta | V AOR ACT PTCP ACC M SG |
having given | having given | having given |
G1325-57 |
Matthew 10:1 | ἔδωκεν | edoken | V AOR ACT IND 3P SG |
he gave | he gave | he gave |