Understanding δωρεά (dōrea) Strong’s G1431: The Divine Gift that Reveals God’s Generous Heart

Pronunciation Guide: dō-re-AH (with emphasis on the final syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1431: δωρεά refers to a free gift given voluntarily, without expectation of return, emphasizing both the gratuitous nature and the benevolent spirit behind the giving. Unlike other Greek terms for gifts, δωρεά specifically highlights that the gift is freely bestowed without cost or condition to the recipient, pointing to the generosity and grace of the giver rather than any merit of the receiver.

Etymology and Morphology

• Feminine noun
• Derived from δίδωμι (didōmi, “to give”)
• Related to δῶρον (dōron, “gift, present”)
• Appears most frequently in narrative and teaching passages
• Primarily used in contexts emphasizing divine grace in the New Testament
• Often appears with the preposition δωρεάν (dōrean), used adverbially meaning “freely, without cost”

δωρεά Morphology:

• δωρεά (nominative singular) – a gift
• δωρεᾶς (genitive singular) – of a gift
• δωρεᾷ (dative singular) – with/by a gift
• δωρεάν (accusative singular) – a gift (as direct object)
• δωρεαί (nominative plural) – gifts
• δωρεῶν (genitive plural) – of gifts
• δωρεαῖς (dative plural) – with/by gifts
• δωρεάς (accusative plural) – gifts (as direct objects)

Origin & History

The concept of δωρεά has deep roots in ancient Greek culture, where gift-giving was a significant social practice reflecting honor and establishing relationships. In classical Greek literature, Herodotus uses the term to describe royal gifts bestowed by Persian kings, emphasizing their voluntary and magnanimous nature. Thucydides employs it when describing gifts given without expectation of repayment, distinguishing it from transactional exchanges.

In the Septuagint (LXX), δωρεά appears notably in contexts describing offerings to God or gifts from God to His people. For example, in Proverbs 21:14, a δωρεά is described as having the power to appease anger. The term’s development in Jewish religious thought positioned it perfectly for its New Testament theological significance, where early church fathers like Clement of Alexandria in his “Stromata” would later expand on δωρεά as representing divine grace that transcends human merit or achievement, setting the foundation for Christian understanding of gift as pure grace.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A free gift given without payment or compensation
• A gift bestowed out of generous intention rather than obligation
• A gratuity that reflects the giver’s character and generosity
• A benefaction given freely and voluntarily without expectation of return
• A present that emphasizes unmerited favor from giver to recipient

δωρεά Translation Options:

• Free gift – Emphasizes the costless nature to the recipient, highlighting that nothing was required in return
• Gracious gift – Captures the spirit of benevolence behind the giving while maintaining the voluntary aspect
• Divine grant – Especially appropriate when used in theological contexts referring to gifts from God
• Unmerited favor – Useful when translating passages emphasizing the recipient’s lack of deserving such a gift
• Benefaction – Highlights the beneficial nature and generosity of the giver, particularly appropriate in historical-cultural contexts

Biblical Usage

The term δωρεά occurs 11 times in the New Testament, with particularly significant usage in Acts and the Pauline epistles. Its first appearance in John 4:10 establishes the foundational theological concept where Yeshua (Jesus) describes salvation as “the gift of God” to the Samaritan woman. This pattern continues throughout the New Testament, where δωρεά consistently refers to divine gifts that cannot be earned or purchased, particularly the Holy Spirit and salvation itself.

In Acts, Peter repeatedly references the Holy Spirit as God’s δωρεά, emphasizing that this divine endowment comes solely through God’s generosity rather than human merit or ritual. Paul extends this usage in his epistles to describe justification and salvation as the ultimate expression of divine δωρεά, contrasting it with works-based righteousness. This consistent usage establishes δωρεά as a technical theological term for God’s unmerited supernatural provisions to believers.

• “[If you knew] the gift [δωρεά] of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” John 4:10
• “But Peter said to him, ‘May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift [δωρεά] of God with money!'” Acts 8:20
• “If then God gave the same gift [δωρεά] to them as he gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” Acts 11:17
• “But the free gift [δωρεά] is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.” Romans 5:15
• “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts [δωρεά] of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.” Hebrews 2:3-4
• “Every good gift [δωρεά] and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” James 1:17
• “As each has received a gift [δωρεά], use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” 1 Peter 4:10

Cultural Insights

In the ancient Mediterranean world, gift-giving functioned as a crucial aspect of patronage relationships, creating social bonds and obligations between giver and recipient. However, δωρεά stood apart from this system by emphasizing gifts given without expectation of reciprocity. This distinction was particularly meaningful in the first-century Greco-Roman world, where virtually all relationships involved some form of expected reciprocity. The concept of a truly “free” gift would have been both striking and countercultural.

In Jewish tradition, the Hebrew concept of מַתָּנָה (mattanah) closely parallels δωρεά, describing gifts given from a generous heart. The ancient rabbis distinguished between different types of giving, with the highest form being anonymous giving without expectation of recognition or return—exactly the connotation captured by δωρεά in the New Testament. This cultural understanding adds profound depth to biblical passages describing God’s salvific actions as δωρεά, as they portray יהוה (Yahweh) as the ultimate generous patron who gives freely without requiring recipients to “earn” His favor through traditional patronage obligations.

Theological Significance

The concept of δωρεά stands at the very heart of New Testament soteriology, emphasizing that salvation comes not through human merit or effort but solely through God’s gracious giving. This theological foundation challenges both ancient and modern tendencies toward works-based righteousness, establishing that relationship with God begins with receiving rather than achieving. God’s character as the ultimate giver is revealed through these divine δωρεά, particularly in the gift of His Son and the Holy Spirit.

The use of δωρεά to describe both salvation and the Holy Spirit creates a powerful theological connection between these gifts. Just as salvation cannot be earned but only received as δωρεά, so too the Holy Spirit comes not through ritual obligation or human worthiness but as God’s freely given endowment. This reinforces the New Testament’s consistent message that God’s kingdom operates not by the transactional principles of human economies but by the transformational principle of divine generosity. Through δωρεά, we see God’s heart as one that delights in giving good gifts to His children, revealing a Father whose nature is fundamentally generous and grace-oriented.

Personal Application

Recognizing the nature of God’s blessings as δωρεά—truly free gifts—transforms our spiritual posture from striving to receiving. When we internalize that salvation, the Holy Spirit, and spiritual gifts all come as divine δωρεά, we’re freed from the exhausting cycle of trying to earn what can only be received. This truth invites us to approach God with empty hands rather than full résumés, acknowledging our need and His sufficiency.

This understanding should also transform how we give to others. Having received so generously from God, we’re called to extend δωρεά-style giving to those around us—giving without mental calculations of what we might receive in return. When we give time, resources, forgiveness, or love with the same spirit of δωρεά that God has shown us, we participate in and reflect His divine nature. The question becomes: Are we allowing our experience of receiving God’s δωρεά to reshape us into people who give freely, joyfully, and without expectation of return?

Related Words

• δῶρον (dōron) – a present, gift, offering; focuses on the concrete item given rather than the act of giving. While δωρεά emphasizes the freely given nature of a gift, δῶρον focuses more on the gift itself, often used for offerings brought to the Temple. See G1435
• χάρις (charis) – grace, favor, kindness; the divine influence upon the heart. While closely related to δωρεά, χάρις is broader, encompassing not just gifts but the entire disposition of favor. δωρεά is often the concrete expression of χάρις. See G5485
• χάρισμα (charisma) – a gift of grace, spiritual endowment. More specific than δωρεά, χάρισμα typically refers to particular spiritual gifts or abilities given to believers, while δωρεά often encompasses broader divine provisions like salvation. See G5486
• δωρεάν (dōrean) – freely, without cost (adverbial form of δωρεά); emphasizes the manner of giving rather than the gift itself. This related adverb specifically highlights the “freely given” aspect that is central to understanding δωρεά. See G1432
• εὐλογία (eulogia) – blessing, bounty; focuses on the beneficial outcome of the giving rather than its freely given nature. While δωρεά emphasizes that a gift is unmerited, εὐλογία highlights the positive impact or good fortune resulting from divine favor. See G2129

Did You Know?

• Ancient papyri documents discovered in Egypt reveal that δωρεά was sometimes used in legal contexts to describe land grants from rulers to loyal subjects, emphasizing that these were given by sovereign choice rather than legal obligation. This historical usage illuminates the New Testament’s presentation of salvation as God’s sovereign δωρεά to believers, emphasizing both His authority to give and the recipient’s position of grateful acceptance rather than entitlement.
• In the early church, the Eucharist (communion elements) was sometimes referred to as “δωρεά,” highlighting the understanding that Christ’s body and blood were freely given gifts that could never be earned or purchased. This terminology reinforced the theological understanding that salvation comes entirely as an unmerited gift from God, not as something earned through religious ritual or moral performance.
• Modern Greek still uses forms of δωρεά in everyday language. The adjective “δωρεάν” (dorean) is commonly seen on signs and advertisements meaning “free of charge,” and charitable donations are called “δωρεές” (dorees). This linguistic continuity across thousands of years highlights how fundamental the concept of “freely given gifts” remains in human experience, connecting ancient biblical theology to contemporary life.

Remember This

δωρεά reveals the heart of God as the ultimate Giver whose most precious gifts—salvation, the Holy Spirit, and eternal life—flow not from our deserving, but from His overflowing generosity that delights in freely giving what could never be earned.