Strong's Lexicon opheiletés: Debtor, one who owes Original Word: ὀφειλέτης Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ὀφείλω (opheilō), meaning "to owe" or "to be indebted." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of a debtor in Hebrew is often linked to the word חוֹב (chov), meaning "debt" or "obligation," though there is no direct one-to-one equivalent for "opheiletés." Usage: The term "opheiletés" refers to someone who is under obligation or indebted to another, either financially or morally. In the New Testament, it is often used metaphorically to describe a spiritual or moral obligation, such as the debt of love or the obligation to live according to the Spirit. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, debt was a common aspect of economic life, and being a debtor could lead to severe consequences, including slavery or imprisonment. The concept of debt also had significant moral and religious implications, as it was often used to describe one's obligations to God and others. In Jewish thought, the idea of debt was closely linked to sin and forgiveness, as seen in the Lord's Prayer where debts are equated with sins (Matthew 6:12). HELPS Word-studies 3781 opheilétēs (a masculine noun) – a debtor; someone under obligation to pay back (discharge) a debt. For the believer, 3781 /opheilétēs ("being a debtor") ends at Calvary where Christ paid all our debt in His blood. He extends total release to us, forgiving the penalty for each time we spent His gift of life rather than invested it. Indeed, the blood of Jesus removes all the penalty (condemnation) of sin (Jn 19:30). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom opheiló Definition a debtor NASB Translation culprits (1), debtors (1), indebted (1), owed (1), under obligation (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3781: ὀφειλέτηςὀφειλέτης, ὀφειλετου, ὁ (ὀφείλω), one who owes another, a debtor: properly, of one who owes another money (Plato, legg. 5, 736 d.; Plutarch; others); with a genitive of the sum due, Matthew 18:24. Metaphorically, a. one held by some obligation, bound to some duty: ὀφειλέτης εἰμί, equivalent to ὀφείλω, followed by an infinitive, Galatians 5:3 (Sophocles Aj. 590); ὀφειλέτης εἰμί τίνος, to be one's debtor i. e. under obligations of gratitude to him for favors received, Romans 15:27; τίνι (dative commodi), to be under obligation to do something for someone, Romans 1:14; Romans 8:12. b. one who has not yet made amends to one whom he has injured: Matthew 6:12; in imitation of the Chaldean חַיָב, one who owes God penalty or of whom God can demand punishment as something due, i. e. a sinner, Luke 13:4. From opheilo; an ower, i.e. Person indebted; figuratively, a delinquent; morally, a transgressor (against God) -- debtor, which owed, sinner. see GREEK opheilo Englishman's Concordance Matthew 6:12 N-DMPGRK: ἀφήκαμεν τοῖς ὀφειλέταις ἡμῶν NAS: as we also have forgiven our debtors. KJV: forgive our debtors. INT: forgive the debtors of us Matthew 18:24 N-NMS Luke 13:4 N-NMP Romans 1:14 N-NMS Romans 8:12 N-NMP Romans 15:27 N-NMP Galatians 5:3 N-NMS Strong's Greek 3781 |