ἀποτίνω
apotínō
G661 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
to pay back, restore, or settle (a debt or obligation) fully; chiefly denotes the act of giving or rendering payment to discharge what is owed, whether financial, legal, or moral. It can be used literally (monetary repayment, restitution of owed goods) or metaphorically (fulfilling a required duty or consequence).
Semantic Range
to pay in full, to repay, to make restitution, to discharge a debt or penalty, to fulfill an obligation
Root / Etymology
ἀπό (from, away from) + τίνω (to pay, to pay a penalty). The compounded form intensifies the verb, emphasizing completion or fulfillment in paying off obligations.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἀποτίνω most often appears in contexts of legal or financial transactions, including the payment of debts, fines, or penalties owed. The prepositional prefix ἀπό adds a sense of completion, indicating the debt or obligation is discharged in full. By Hellenistic and Koine periods, the word retains its literal financial sense but may also extend to restitution in broader, even relational, senses (for example, making amends or repaying consequences). In the Septuagint and New Testament, it typically refers to paying back in full—either a literal debt (Matt 5:26) or metaphorically, fulfilling a penalty or requirement. Standard English translations such as "repay," "pay back," or "make restitution" often render it, but these may fail to capture the emphasis on completeness inherent in the Greek, where ἀποτίνω stresses full and final settlement, not partial payment. Contrast with τίνω (to pay, generic) and ἀποδιδόναι (to give back, repay), which lack the same focus on complete fulfillment.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἀπό and τίνω; to pay in full:--repay.
Root Family
ἀποτίνω (apotinō) — to pay, to discharge, to settle
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G661-01 |
ἀποτίσω | apotiso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
will repay | I will pay in full | I will pay in full | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G661-01 |
Philemon 1:19 | ἀποτίσω | apotiso | V FUT ACT IND 1P SG |
will repay | I will pay in full | I will pay in full |