Understanding δάν(ε)ιον (daneion) Strong’s G1156: The Divine Wisdom Behind Loans and Debt in Biblical Economy

Pronunciation Guide: dah’-ni-on (with emphasis on the first syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1156: The Greek noun δάν(ε)ιον (daneion) refers to a loan, debt, or something borrowed with the expectation of repayment. In biblical contexts, it specifically denotes a sum of money lent on interest or a debt owed according to legal agreement. This term carries significant weight in Scriptural teachings about economic relationships, forgiveness, and stewardship.

Etymology and Morphology

• Noun (neuter)
• Derived from δανείζω (daneidzō, G1155), meaning “to lend”
• Root connection to the ancient Greek concept of economic exchange
• Primarily used in narrative and teaching passages concerning financial responsibilities
• Found in contexts addressing moral obligations in economic relationships

δάν(ε)ιον Morphology:

• δάν(ε)ιον (nominative singular) – a loan
• δαν(ε)ίου (genitive singular) – of a loan
• δαν(ε)ίῳ (dative singular) – in/with a loan
• δάν(ε)ιον (accusative singular) – a loan (as direct object)

Origin & History

The term δάν(ε)ιον has deep roots in ancient Greek economic language, deriving from classical Greek usage where it designated formal lending arrangements. In Attic Greek literature, particularly in the works of Demosthenes (4th century BCE), δάν(ε)ιον appears in legal speeches concerning commercial disputes, indicating a formalized loan with expected interest. His speech “Against Aphobus” contains multiple references to δάν(ε)ιον in the context of estate management and financial obligations.

In the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible, δάν(ε)ιον translates Hebrew terms related to lending and borrowing, particularly in wisdom literature like Proverbs, where financial prudence is a recurring theme. The term bridges Greek economic concepts with Hebrew covenant principles about debt, creating a complex semantic field that the New Testament authors later utilized. Early church fathers like John Chrysostom in his “Homilies on Matthew” employed δάν(ε)ιον when discussing the moral implications of lending and forgiveness, emphasizing the spiritual dimensions of material debts.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A sum of money lent with the legal expectation of repayment
• A financial obligation or debt incurred through borrowing
• The binding agreement between lender and borrower
• The state of being indebted to another party

δάν(ε)ιον Translation Options:

• Loan – emphasizes the originating act of lending and temporary nature of the arrangement
• Debt – focuses on the obligation of the borrower and pending responsibility
• Borrowed sum – highlights the transferred nature of the funds with expectation of return
• Financial obligation – broadens the concept to include the relational and moral dimensions
• Indebtedness – stresses the ongoing condition of owing rather than just the money itself

Biblical Usage

The term δάν(ε)ιον appears prominently in the New Testament within contexts addressing economic relationships and their spiritual parallels. Its most significant appearance occurs in Matthew 18:27 within Yeshua’s parable of the unforgiving servant, where a master forgives his servant’s enormous debt (δάν(ε)ιον). This parable uses financial debt as a powerful metaphor for sin and divine forgiveness, showing how the cancellation of debt—both financial and spiritual—should transform how we treat others.

Though the noun form δάν(ε)ιον occurs sparingly in the New Testament, its verbal cognate δανείζω appears more frequently, particularly in Yeshua’s teachings about generosity and lending without expectation of return in Luke 6:34-35. The conceptual framework around δάν(ε)ιον in the New Testament draws heavily from Old Testament principles about debt forgiveness, particularly the Sabbatical year provisions in Deuteronomy.

• “And his lord was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt [δάνειον].” Matthew 18:27

Cultural Insights

In first-century Jewish society, debt carried profound social and religious implications beyond mere financial transactions. The concept of δάν(ε)ιον must be understood against the backdrop of Torah provisions for debt forgiveness in the Sabbatical year (Shemitah) and the Jubilee year (Yovel). Every seventh year, according to Deuteronomy 15, debts were to be forgiven among fellow Israelites, preventing permanent indebtedness and promoting economic restoration within the covenant community.

The Jewish audience of Yeshua’s teachings would have recognized His references to debt forgiveness as echoing these Torah provisions, but with a radical extension. While some rabbinic interpretations had developed loopholes to avoid the economic impact of Sabbatical debt forgiveness (through the prozbul legal instrument attributed to Hillel), Yeshua’s teachings reinforced and intensified the original intent of debt forgiveness as a reflection of God’s character. When the master in Matthew 18:27 forgives the enormous δάν(ε)ιον, this mirrors יהוה’s forgiveness of His people, connecting economic practice with covenant relationship.

Theological Significance

The concept of δάν(ε)ιον in Scripture reveals profound theological truths about God’s character and our relationship with Him. Our sin creates a form of spiritual debt that we cannot repay—a δάν(ε)ιον of infinite proportion—yet God in His mercy offers complete forgiveness through the Messiah. This understanding transforms δάν(ε)ιον from a merely economic term into a powerful metaphor for the human condition and divine grace.

The forgiveness of δάν(ε)ιον in Matthew 18:27 illuminates the nature of God’s kingdom, where compassion supersedes strict legal claims. By canceling the servant’s enormous debt, the master in the parable demonstrates the kind of mercy that characterizes יהוה’s dealings with humanity. Significantly, this act of forgiveness becomes the foundation for ethical demands on the forgiven—having received mercy, we are called to extend mercy. The theological link between forgiveness received and forgiveness extended reveals that the cancellation of our spiritual δάν(ε)ιον should transform our relationships with others who are indebted to us, whether spiritually, emotionally, or financially.

Personal Application

Understanding δάν(ε)ιον challenges us to examine both sides of our financial and spiritual ledgers. First, we must recognize the immeasurable debt our sin creates before God—a δάν(ε)ιον we could never repay through our own efforts, yet which has been fully canceled through Yeshua’s sacrifice. This recognition should produce profound gratitude and humility, transforming how we view both God’s grace and our own worth.

Second, we must examine how we treat those who owe us in any sense—financially, emotionally, or relationally. The parable in Matthew 18 delivers its sharpest rebuke to those who, having been forgiven much, refuse to forgive little. When we grasp the magnitude of the δάν(ε)ιον God has forgiven us, how can we hold others to strict account for their lesser offenses? This understanding should make us agents of God’s forgiveness in a world burdened by many forms of debt, reflecting His character by extending the same grace we have received.

Related Words

• δανείζω (daneidzō, pronunciation: dah-nay’-zo) – to lend, to loan with expectation of repayment; the verbal form from which δάν(ε)ιον derives, emphasizing the action of lending rather than the debt itself. See G1155
• ὀφείλημα (opheilēma, pronunciation: of-i’-lay-mah) – that which is owed, a debt or obligation; a broader term for debt that appears in the Lord’s Prayer and carries both financial and moral connotations. See G3783
• χρεωφειλέτης (chreōpheiletēs, pronunciation: khreh-o-fi-let’-ace) – a debtor, someone who owes money; specifically refers to the person bearing the obligation rather than the obligation itself. See G5533
• ἄφεσις (aphesis, pronunciation: af’-es-is) – release, pardon, forgiveness; the cancellation of a debt or obligation, highlighting the liberating result of debt forgiveness. See G859
• δανειστής (daneistēs, pronunciation: dan-ice-tace’) – a money-lender, creditor; focuses on the person extending the loan rather than the loan itself. See G1157

Did you Know?

• Did you know that in ancient Greece, defaulting on a δάν(ε)ιον could result in debt slavery, where the debtor or their family members would be forced to work for the creditor until the debt was considered paid? This harsh reality forms the background for Yeshua’s parable in Matthew 18, where the servant unable to pay his debt faced being sold with his family. This historical context makes God’s forgiveness of our spiritual debts even more profound—He releases us from a spiritual slavery we could never work our way out of.
• Did you know that the modern Greek word δάνειο (danio), derived from the ancient δάν(ε)ιον, remains the standard term for loans in contemporary Greece? This linguistic continuity across millennia demonstrates how fundamental the concept of lending and borrowing is to human economic systems. While modern banking practices differ greatly from biblical times, the moral and ethical questions surrounding debt continue to challenge societies today just as they did in the ancient world.
• Did you know that the Essene community at Qumran had stricter interpretations of debt forgiveness laws than mainstream Judaism of the time? Archaeological evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls suggests they viewed lending at interest even to non-Jews as contrary to divine law. This historical context helps us understand the radical nature of Yeshua’s teachings on lending and forgiveness, which challenged even the religious status quo of His day by emphasizing the spirit rather than merely the letter of Torah provisions for debt.

Remember This

The δάν(ε)ιον we could never repay has been completely forgiven through the Messiah, transforming us from desperate debtors into gracious creditors who extend to others the same mercy we have received.