ἀνταποδίδωμι

antapodídōmi

G467 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To give back in return, repay, or recompense; refers to the act of returning something owed, whether favor, obligation, or retribution. In context, may denote repayment of debts, recompense for actions (good or bad), or rendering in accordance with what is due.

Semantic Range

to repay, to give back, to render, to recompense, to requite (good or evil), to return a favor, to pay a debt, to make restitution

Root / Etymology

Compound verb formed from ἀντί ('in return, instead of') and ἀποδίδωμι ('to give back, to pay'), thus meaning 'to give back in return' or 'to repay'.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἀνταποδίδωμι appears in Koine Greek primarily in judicial, ethical, and social contexts, often conveying the idea of retribution or reciprocity—paying back in kind, whether positive or negative. It is found in the Septuagint where it regularly translates Hebrew terms for recompense or retribution (e.g., שָׁלַם shalam), as well as in the New Testament (e.g., Romans 12:17; 1 Thessalonians 5:15) where it speaks of returning good for good, or resisting the urge to return evil for evil. While English translations often use 'repay,' 'render,' or 'recompense,' these can obscure the reciprocal and judicial nuance present in ancient usage—sometimes pointing to divine, legal, or social justice, not only interpersonal exchange. Classical and Hellenistic Greek uses it in legal or economic transactions (repayment of money, debt) and in moral or ethical teaching (paying back kindness or vengeance). Notably distinct from simple return (ἀποδίδωμι), as the prefix ἀντί strengthens the idea of 'in exchange' or 'as a counterpart.'

Translation Consistency

primary "repay" 5 occurrences

“Repay” is the most natural and commonly used English term that covers the full semantic range (give back, recompense, requite, pay a debt). It is the dominant rendering in the existing P2 data and comfortably handles both positive and negative recompense, making it the best single base verb for consistent use across all forms of G467.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"repaid" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀντί and ἀποδίδωμι; to requite (good or evil):--recompense, render, repay.

Root Family

ἀνταποδίδωμι (antapodidōmi) — give back, return, repay, recompense

Root ἀποδιδ- to give back, to return, to pay, to repay

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G467-03 ἀνταποδοῦναί antapodounai V AOR ACT INF to repay to repay in return to repay in return 3
G467-02 ἀνταποδοθήσεται antapodothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG it will be repaid will be repaid it will be repaid 2
G467-01 ἀνταποδώσω antapodoso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG will repay I will repay I will repay 2

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G467-03 Luke 14:14 ἀνταποδοῦναί antapodounai V AOR ACT INF to repay to repay in return to repay in return
G467-02 Luke 14:14 ἀνταποδοθήσεται antapodothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG it will be repaid will be repaid it will be repaid
G467-02 Romans 11:35 ἀνταποδοθήσεται antapodothesetai V FUT PASS IND 3P SG it will be repaid will be repaid it will be repaid
G467-01 Romans 12:19 ἀνταποδώσω antapodoso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG will repay I will repay I will repay
G467-03 1 Thessalonians 3:9 ἀνταποδοῦναι antapodounai V AOR ACT INF in return to repay in return to repay in return
G467-03 2 Thessalonians 1:6 ἀνταποδοῦναι antapodounai V AOR ACT INF to repay to repay in return to repay in return
G467-01 Hebrews 10:30 ἀνταποδώσω antapodoso V FUT ACT IND 1P SG will repay I will repay I will repay