ἀποδεκατόω
apodekatóō
G586 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To take or give a tenth part; in Koine Greek usage, to levy, deliver, or pay a tenth portion (often of produce, possessions, or income), usually in fulfillment of a legal, cultic, or contractual obligation. Can refer both to the act of assessing (imposing) a tithe and to the act of paying or giving it.
Semantic Range
to levy or impose a tithe, to pay or deliver a tithe, to give a tenth part as prescribed, to assess as a tithe, to tithe (as debtor or creditor)
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἀπό ('from, out of') and the verb δεκατόω ('to take or give a tenth part'). The verb compound forms a causative or active sense: 'to take out a tenth,' hence 'to tithe.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, tithe terminology is rare and tends to designate official assessments, such as levies or taxes paid to temples or the state. By the Hellenistic and Second Temple periods, ἀποδεκατόω and related nouns are associated primarily with the practice of offering one-tenth of agricultural produce, livestock, or income to temples or cultic officials. In the Septuagint, the verb appears in the context of the Israelite/Judean law of the tithe (e.g., Lev 27:32; Deut 14:22), where it denotes the formal dedication of a tenth to temple service. In the New Testament, the term is found in discussions of legalistic or ritual piety, such as in the Gospels (e.g., Matt 23:23; Luke 18:12), usually with the sense of giving or legally observing the tithe according to Judean religious customs. The English 'tithe' is a traditional rendering but does not always capture the full sense: in Koine usage, the verb may emphasize the procedure of assessment and obligation as much as the act of voluntary giving. Distinct from other Greek terms for giving, such as διδόναι ('to give'), which lacks this legal or cultic connotation.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and δεκατόω; to tithe (as debtor or creditor):--(give, pay, take) tithe.
Root Family
ἀποδεκατόω (apodekatoō) — to take a tenth, to give a tenth, to tithe
Word Forms
3 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G586-03 |
ἀποδεκατοῦτε | apodekatoute | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you tithe | you are giving a tenth | you are giving a tenth | 2 |
G586-01 |
ἀποδεκατεύω | apodekateuo | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I give tithes | I tithe | I tithe | 1 |
G586-02 |
ἀποδεκατοῦν | apodekatoun | V PRS ACT INF |
to collect a tenth | to tithe a tenth portion | to tithe a tenth portion | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
4 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G586-03 |
Matthew 23:23 | ἀποδεκατοῦτε | apodekatoute | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you tithe | you are giving a tenth | you are giving a tenth |
G586-03 |
Luke 11:42 | ἀποδεκατοῦτε | apodekatoute | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you tithe | you are giving a tenth | you are giving a tenth |
G586-01 |
Luke 18:12 | ἀποδεκατεύω | apodekateuo | V PRS ACT IND 1P SG |
I give tithes | I tithe | I tithe |
G586-02 |
Hebrews 7:5 | ἀποδεκατοῦν | apodekatoun | V PRS ACT INF |
to collect a tenth | to tithe a tenth portion | to tithe a tenth portion |