Brief Overview of ἀποτίνω (G661: Apotínō)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: Apotínō

Root Words: ἀποτίνω combines the prefix ἀπό (apó), meaning “away from” or “off,” with τίνω (tínō), meaning “to pay” or “to repay.” Therefore, ἀποτίνω generally means “to pay off” or “to repay in full.”

Primary Meanings:

• To repay or give back something owed.
• To pay off a debt or obligation.
• To give what is due or deserved, often used in contexts of financial transactions or compensations.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich): BDAG defines ἀποτίνω as “to pay off” or “to repay in full,” focusing on the act of settling a debt or fulfilling an obligation completely.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon describes ἀποτίνω as “to pay off” or “to repay,” emphasizing the act of giving back what is due or completing a financial obligation.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary outlines ἀποτίνω as “to repay” or “to pay back,” focusing on the idea of settling debts or compensating fully.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones): LSJ defines ἀποτίνω as “to pay off” or “to repay,” highlighting its use in contexts where one settles a debt or obligation.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀποτίνω as “to pay off,” reflecting its meaning of repaying or settling debts or obligations.

Bible Verses:

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• Matthew 5:26 (NIV): “Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” (ἀποτίνω is used here in the context of repaying a debt or fulfilling a legal obligation.)
• Luke 12:59 (NIV): “I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” (ἀποτίνω appears in a similar context, emphasizing the full repayment of what is owed.)

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

Aristotle (Politics, 4th century BCE): Aristotle uses related terms to describe the concept of fulfilling financial obligations or paying off debts, illustrating the practical application of ἀποτίνω in economic contexts.

Demosthenes (Olynthiacs, 4th century BCE): Demosthenes references ἀποτίνω in his speeches to discuss the settlement of financial debts or the repayment of obligations.

Xenophon (Cyropaedia, 4th century BCE): Xenophon uses terms similar to ἀποτίνω to describe the act of repaying or settling financial matters, highlighting its use in classical economic and administrative contexts.

4. Summary:

ἀποτίνω (apotínō) means “to repay” or “to pay off.” It denotes the action of settling a debt or fulfilling an obligation in full. The term is used in both financial and metaphorical contexts to describe the complete repayment of what is owed. In classical Greek literature, it often appears in discussions of financial transactions and obligations, while in the Bible, it emphasizes the fulfillment of legal or financial duties.