Understanding ἀντιμετρέω (antimetreō) Strong’s G488: The Divine Principle of Reciprocal Measure in God’s Kingdom Economy

Pronunciation Guide: an-tee-met-REH-oh

Basic Definition

Strong’s G488: Ἀντιμετρέω (antimetreō) conveys the profound concept of measuring back in return or reciprocating a measurement. It embodies the divine principle that what we extend to others will be returned to us in like manner. This compound verb captures the spiritual law of reciprocity that operates throughout Scripture, particularly in the context of judgment, mercy, and generosity.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Verb
• Compound word: formed from ἀντί (anti, “in return, instead of”) + μετρέω (metreō, “to measure”)
• Language origin: Koine Greek
• Primary usage: Teaching sections, particularly in Yeshua’s discourses on judgment and the Kingdom principles
• Voice: Passive
• Tense: Future
• Mood: Indicative

Ἀντιμετρέω Morphology:

• ἀντιμετρηθήσεται (future passive indicative, 3rd person singular) – it will be measured back
• ἀντιμετρῶ (present active indicative, 1st person singular) – I measure in return
• ἀντιμετρεῖν (present active infinitive) – to measure back
• ἀντιμετρήσω (future active indicative, 1st person singular) – I will measure in return

Origin & History

The verb ἀντιμετρέω emerges from two rich conceptual streams in Greek thought. The prefix ἀντί carries the fundamental idea of correspondence, exchange, or reciprocation—something given “in place of” or “in return for” something else. The root verb μετρέω refers to the careful measurement of quantities, distances, or values, and was commonly used in commercial contexts for measuring grain, oil, or wine.

While ἀντιμετρέω appears rarely in classical Greek literature, the concept it embodies—proportional return—was well-established in Greek ethical thought. Aristotle, in his “Nicomachean Ethics,” explores the principle of reciprocity (ἀντιπεπονθός) as fundamental to justice in human relationships. The Septuagint (LXX) employs the related concept in passages like Exodus 21:23-25, where the lex talionis (law of retaliation) establishes proportional justice. By the time of the New Testament, this concept had developed spiritual dimensions beyond mere retribution, as evidenced by its placement in Yeshua’s teaching on mercy and judgment.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• The act of measuring back to someone what they have measured out
• The divine principle of reciprocity in judgment and blessing
• The returning of like for like in God’s economy of justice and mercy
• The spiritual law that establishes that the standard one uses for others will be applied to oneself

Ἀντιμετρέω Translation Options:

• “Measure back” – Emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the action, highlighting that what goes out returns in kind
• “Return in equal measure” – Captures the proportionality implied in the compound structure
• “Reciprocate according to the same standard” – Reflects the judicial principle at work in divine judgment
• “Measure out in return” – Preserves the commercial imagery of measuring commodities that would have been familiar to Yeshua’s audience

Biblical Usage

The verb ἀντιμετρέω appears explicitly only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 7:2, where Yeshua establishes a fundamental principle of His Kingdom: “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.” This same teaching is recorded with slight variations in Mark 4:24 and Luke 6:38, though these passages use the related verb μετρέω with the prepositional phrase “in return” rather than the compound verb.

This principle of reciprocal measure permeates Scripture beyond its explicit verbal form. We find it in Yeshua’s teaching on forgiveness, where our forgiveness from the Father is contingent upon our forgiveness of others (Matthew 6:14-15). Similarly, Paul expresses this concept when discussing giving and receiving in 2 Corinthians 9:6, where he states that “he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.”

• “For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back [ἀντιμετρηθήσεται] to you.” Matthew 7:2
• “Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured [μετρηθήσεται] to you; and to you who hear, more will be given.” Mark 4:24
• “Give, and it will be given [δοθήσεται] to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back [ἀντιμετρηθήσεται] to you.” Luke 6:38

Cultural Insights

In the ancient marketplace of first-century Judea, proper measurement was a matter of significant ethical importance. Merchants used various measures—the ephah for dry goods and the hin for liquids—and the Torah explicitly commanded honest weights and measures (Leviticus 19:35-36). A dishonest merchant might use a smaller measure when selling and a larger one when buying. The prophets frequently condemned such practices as an abomination to יהוה (Yahweh) (Proverbs 20:10).

When Yeshua spoke of measurement being returned in kind, His audience would have immediately grasped the commercial and ethical implications. The image of the generous merchant who adds a little extra—”pressed down, shaken together, and running over”—would resonate as a picture of divine generosity that exceeds human expectations. This cultural backdrop transforms ἀντιμετρέω from a mere abstract principle to a vivid picture of marketplace ethics elevated to spiritual significance.

Additionally, in rabbinic Judaism, there existed the principle of middah keneged middah (measure for measure), which taught that God’s justice operates with perfect proportionality. The Mishnah states, “With the measure a person measures, they measure to him” (m. Sotah 1:7), a teaching that Yeshua echoes almost verbatim in His use of ἀντιμετρέω.

Theological Significance

The principle embodied in ἀντιμετρέω reveals profound truths about God’s character and His governance of the moral universe. Far from being arbitrary, divine justice operates according to perfectly calibrated principles of reciprocity. What we extend outward—whether judgment, mercy, generosity, or forgiveness—establishes the standard by which we ourselves will be measured.

This principle illuminates the remarkable convergence of justice and mercy in God’s economy. The Messiah’s teaching on reciprocal measure is not primarily a threat but an invitation to align ourselves with the generous nature of the Father. When we understand that our treatment of others establishes the measure for our own treatment, we are motivated to extend the same grace we hope to receive. This is not works-righteousness but recognition of the integrated moral fabric of God’s Kingdom.

Furthermore, ἀντιμετρέω points to the ultimate expression of divine reciprocity in the Messiah’s sacrifice. Yeshua, who judges justly, submitted Himself to human judgment that we might receive God’s justification. He who deserved all honor became the servant of all, establishing a new economy of grace where the first become last and the greatest become servants. Through His example, we see that the highest application of this principle is found not in demanding precise retribution but in extending unmerited grace.

Personal Application

The principle of ἀντιμετρέω invites us to examine the measures we use in our daily interactions. Are we quick to judge and condemn, or do we extend the benefit of the doubt? Do we forgive reluctantly or generously? Do we give sparingly or abundantly? Whatever measure we use establishes the standard for what we will receive—not as divine retribution, but as the natural outworking of spiritual principles.

Consider how this might transform our relationships if taken seriously. When tempted to harsh judgment, we might pause and ask: “Is this the standard I want applied to my own failings?” When deciding how much grace to extend to someone who has wronged us, we might remember that our own forgiveness is bound up with our willingness to forgive. This doesn’t mean we enable harmful behavior, but rather that we approach others with the same redemptive intent with which God approaches us.

Related Words

• μετρέω (metreō, “to measure”) – The root verb from which ἀντιμετρέω derives, referring to the action of measuring quantities, distances, or values without the specific connotation of reciprocity. While ἀντιμετρέω emphasizes the returning of measure, μετρέω focuses on the initial act of measurement. See G3354
• ἀποδίδωμι (apodidōmi, “to give back, repay”) – Carries the sense of returning something owed or due, often in fulfillment of an obligation or in response to someone’s actions. While ἀντιμετρέω specifically involves measurement, ἀποδίδωμι encompasses broader forms of reciprocation and recompense. See G591
• κρίνω (krinō, “to judge, decide”) – Refers to the act of making a determination or judgment, often in legal or moral contexts. While ἀντιμετρέω focuses on the reciprocal nature of judgment, κρίνω emphasizes the initial evaluative process that establishes the standard. See G2919
• ἀνταποδίδωμι (antapodidōmi, “to repay, recompense”) – Denotes giving back in return, either positively as reward or negatively as punishment. Like ἀντιμετρέω, it carries the prefix ἀντί indicating reciprocity, but applies to broader contexts beyond measuring. See G467
• σπείρω (speirō, “to sow seed”) – Although not etymologically related, this agricultural term operates within the same spiritual principle of reciprocity, where what one sows determines what one reaps. This complements ἀντιμετρέω’s commercial imagery with agricultural metaphors. See G4687

Did you Know?

• Did you know that the concept behind ἀντιμετρέω appears in multiple ancient wisdom traditions beyond the Hebraic context? Confucius expressed a similar principle in what we now call the “Silver Rule”: “Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.” This widespread recognition of reciprocal measure suggests that God has embedded this principle deeply in human moral intuition across cultures.
• Did you know that Jewish sages developed elaborate teachings around the concept of middah keneged middah (measure for measure), noting that God’s merciful measures always exceed His measures of judgment? The Talmud states that God’s measure of reward is five hundred times greater than His measure of punishment (b. Sotah 11a). This demonstrates how ἀντιμετρέω encompasses not just exact equivalence but can involve abundant overflow, especially in contexts of blessing.
• Did you know that in modern psychology, the principle embodied in ἀντιμετρέω finds expression in what researchers call “the reciprocity norm”? Studies consistently show that humans across cultures feel strongly obligated to repay what they receive from others. This psychological principle seems to reflect the divine design revealed in Yeshua’s teaching about reciprocal measure, suggesting that God has woven this principle into the very fabric of human social interaction.

Remember This

Ἀντιμετρέω reminds us that in God’s perfectly balanced economy, what we extend to others—whether judgment or mercy, scarcity or abundance—establishes the measure by which we ourselves will be evaluated and blessed.