ἀνταπόδοσις (G469) — Greek Lexicon

ἀνταπόδοσις

antapódosis

G469 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

The act of giving back in return, especially as repayment or recompense; denotes the rendering of what is due in response to an action—this can be positive (reward, recompense, giving back in gratitude), or negative (retribution, punishment, repayment for wrongdoing). In Koine contexts, commonly refers to both reward and retribution, depending on the nature of the prior action.

Semantic Range

repayment, recompense, retribution, reward, paying back, giving what is due (good or bad), return of favor or harm

Root / Etymology

From the compound verb ἀνταποδίδωμι (to give back in return, to recompense), formed from ἀντί (in return, against) + ἀποδίδωμι (to give, pay, return). Thus, ἀνταπόδοσις is a noun formed on the action of repaying or reciprocating.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἀνταπόδοσις was used of reciprocal actions, repayments, or exchanges. In the Septuagint, it frequently rendered Hebrew terms for recompense, both positive (reward, benefit) and negative (retribution, vengeance), such as מִשּׁ֣וּב (mishub) or גְּמוּל (gemul). In the New Testament, ἀνταπόδοσις appears rarely, with the sense of recompense for both good and evil—used, for example, for the ultimate giving back of what is due, either as divine reward or retribution. English translations often render it as "reward" or "recompense," but the meaning is reciprocal and context-dependent, not exclusively positive. The nuance of fair or appropriate return—whether beneficial or punitive—should be recognized. Closely related are words such as μισθός (wages, reward) and ἀμοιβή (exchange, recompense), but ἀνταπόδοσις emphasizes the aspect of reciprocation or return rather than mere payment or salary.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ἀνταποδίδωμι; requital (properly, the act):--reward.

Root Family

ἀνταπόδοσις (antapodosis) — repayment, recompense, retribution, reward, reciprocation

Root ἀνταποδιδ- to give back, to repay, to recompense, to reciprocate

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G469-01`	ἀνταπόδοσιν	antapodosin	`N ACC F SG`	reward	repayment	repayment	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G469-01`	Colossians 3:24	ἀνταπόδοσιν	antapodosin	`N ACC F SG`	reward	repayment	repayment

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