Pronunciation Guide: ek-dap-an-ah'-o (emphasis on the "ah")

Basic Definition

Strong's G1550: The Greek verb ἐκδαπανάω (ekdapanaō) describes the act of completely expending or utterly spending oneself for another's benefit. It carries the powerful connotation of sacrificial giving to the point of total exhaustion of resources or energy. This intensified compound verb conveys not merely spending, but spending out completely, highlighting a wholehearted commitment that holds nothing back in service to others.

Etymology and Morphology

• Verb (Future Indicative Middle, 1st Person Singular)
• Compound word formed from the preposition ἐκ (ek, "out of, completely") + δαπανάω (dapanaō, "to spend, expend")
• Root word δαπάνη (dapanē) meaning "cost, expense"
• Used primarily in teaching/epistolary contexts
• Appears only once in the New Testament
• Intensified form of δαπανάω, emphasizing completeness of the action

ἐκδαπανάω Morphology:

• ἐκδαπανήσω (future indicative middle/passive, 1st person singular) – I will spend completely
• ἐκδαπανηθήσομαι (future indicative passive, 1st person singular) – I will be completely spent
• ἐκδαπανώμεθα (present subjunctive passive, 1st person plural) – we might be completely spent
• ἐκδαπανηθῶ (aorist subjunctive passive, 1st person singular) – I might be completely spent

Origin & History

The compound verb ἐκδαπανάω represents an intensification of the more common δαπανάω, which appears in classical Greek literature relating to household expenditures and financial outlays. The base word δαπάνη can be traced to early Greek writings, including Herodotus' "Histories" (5th century BCE), where it refers to costs or expenses incurred. The intensifier prefix ἐκ adds the dimension of thoroughness and completion to the act of spending.

In the Septuagint (LXX), while δαπανάω appears several times (such as in Daniel 5:17), the intensified compound form ἐκδαπανάω is notably absent from the Greek Old Testament. This suggests that the compound form may represent a later development in Koine Greek, or possibly even a Pauline innovation to express the extreme nature of sacrificial giving that characterizes the apostle's ministry. Church Father John Chrysostom, in his homilies on 2 Corinthians, particularly emphasized this word as exemplifying the radical nature of Paul's commitment to the Corinthian believers.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• To spend entirely, to exhaust completely (financially or physically)
• To expend oneself fully for someone else's benefit
• To be utterly consumed in service to others
• To use up all one's resources for a greater purpose

ἐκδαπανάω Translation Options:

• "Spend myself completely" – Emphasizes the voluntary and intentional nature of the expenditure
• "Be utterly spent" – Highlights the passive result of giving oneself fully to a cause
• "Exhaust myself entirely" – Stresses the totality of the expenditure to the point of depletion
• "Pour myself out completely" – Captures the metaphorical sense of emptying oneself for others
• "Expend myself to the utmost" – Conveys both the active process and extreme degree of giving

Biblical Usage

The word ἐκδαπανάω appears only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 12:15, where Paul expresses his willingness to sacrifice everything for the spiritual welfare of the Corinthian believers. This singular usage gives the word particular significance, as it represents the apex of sacrificial ministry in Paul's vocabulary. The intensified form underscores the radical nature of Paul's commitment—not merely spending but spending himself out completely for those he loves spiritually.

Though the compound verb appears only in this passage, the root verb δαπανάω occurs in several New Testament contexts, including the Prodigal Son's wasteful spending (Luke 15:14) and James' warning about spending on pleasures (James 4:3). The intensified form in 2 Corinthians represents a redemptive transformation of the concept, showing how complete expenditure can be virtuous when directed toward others' spiritual wellbeing.

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• "I will most gladly spend and be spent completely [ἐκδαπανηθήσομαι] for your souls." 2 Corinthians 12:15

Cultural Insights

In the Greco-Roman economic context, the concept of completely spending oneself would have evoked images of bankruptcy or financial ruin. However, Paul transforms this potentially negative economic metaphor into a powerful picture of spiritual investment. The first-century Mediterranean world operated largely on a patronage system, where wealthy benefactors would "spend" on clients and community projects to gain honor and social standing. What makes Paul's use of ἐκδαπανάω so countercultural is that he inverts this system—he spends himself completely without expectation of repayment or social advancement.

Additionally, this language of complete expenditure would have resonated with the Jewish understanding of sacrifice, particularly the whole burnt offering (Hebrew: עוֹלָה, olah), where the entire sacrifice was consumed on the altar. Just as nothing of the olah remained after sacrifice, Paul pictures himself as holding nothing back in his service. This creates a powerful connection between the Levitical sacrificial system and the apostle's ministry, implicitly positioning his self-giving as a form of spiritual worship in keeping with the Hebrew tradition while pointing to the Messiah's ultimate sacrifice.

Theological Significance

The profound theological depth of ἐκδαπανάω lies in its mirroring of the Messiah's own sacrificial giving. When Paul declares his willingness to "be utterly spent" for the Corinthians, he reflects the character of Yeshua who "though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor" (2 Corinthians 8:9). This word captures the essence of divine love—not a sentimental feeling but a costly, deliberate pouring out of oneself for the beloved. It exemplifies the kenosis (self-emptying) described in Philippians 2:7 where Messiah "emptied Himself" for humanity's redemption.

Moreover, ἐκδαπανάω illuminates the economic aspect of redemption. Just as Paul would spend himself completely for the Corinthians' spiritual welfare, Yahweh has "spent" His Son as the complete and final sacrifice for sin. This reflects the divine economy of grace where God's resources aren't merely allocated but extravagantly poured out. This spending is never wasteful but purposeful—aimed at the spiritual flourishing of those being served. The once-for-all nature of Christ's sacrifice is thus mirrored in the absolute totality expressed in this Greek verb, showcasing God's unreserved commitment to His covenant people.

Personal Application

When we grasp the full meaning of ἐκδαπανάω, we're confronted with a radical challenge to our contemporary understanding of commitment. In a world that often promotes self-preservation and careful boundary-setting, Paul's willingness to be "completely spent" presents a counterintuitive spiritual principle: true fulfillment comes not through holding back but through pouring out. This doesn't advocate for unhealthy self-neglect, but rather reframes our understanding of spiritual investment—the currency of our time, energy, and resources gains its greatest value when freely expended in service to others.

Consider areas in your life where you might be holding back from full commitment to God's purposes. Are there relationships, ministries, or callings where you've calculated the cost and decided it's too high? The concept of ἐκδαπανάω invites us to see beyond the apparent loss to the divine economy where nothing given for the sake of the kingdom is truly lost. Like Paul, we are called to live with open hands and open hearts, trusting that the God who gave everything for us will sustain us as we pour ourselves out for others.

Related Words

• δαπανάω (dapanaō, pronounced dap-an-ah'-o) – to spend or expend, the unintensified form of the word, lacking the "complete" aspect of ἐκδαπανάω but sharing the basic concept of expenditure. See G1159
• κενόω (kenoō, pronounced ken-o'-o) – to empty oneself, as Christ did in His incarnation, capturing a similar concept of self-emptying but without the specific financial connotations. See G2758
• προσδαπανάω (prosdapanaō, pronounced pros-dap-an-ah'-o) – to spend additionally, sharing the same root but with the preposition προς (towards) instead of ἐκ (out completely), suggesting further expenditure rather than complete exhaustion. See G4325
• θυσιάζω (thusiazō, pronounced thoo-see-ad'-zo) – to sacrifice, sharing the conceptual space of giving something valuable for a higher purpose but specifically in a religious context. See G2380
• λειτουργέω (leitourgeō, pronounced li-toorg-eh'-o) – to serve in a public capacity, often at personal expense, sharing with ἐκδαπανάω the concept of service that costs the servant. See G3008

Did you Know?

• Did you know that ἐκδαπανάω is a hapax legomenon in the New Testament? This means it appears only once in the entire biblical text, making Paul's choice of this particular word in 2 Corinthians 12:15 especially significant. Biblical scholars often give special attention to these unique words as they frequently carry particular theological weight or represent concepts the author wanted to emphasize in a distinctive way.
• Did you know that the concept behind ἐκδαπανάω finds a beautiful parallel in Jewish marriage customs? In ancient Jewish weddings, the bridegroom would spare no expense in preparing for his bride, often spending lavishly on the wedding feast and gifts. This cultural practice reflects the same spirit of unreserved giving that Paul expresses in his ministry and points prophetically to the Messiah's extravagant love for His bride, the Church.
• Did you know that modern Greek still uses the root word δαπάνη (dapane) to refer to expenses or costs? While the intensified compound ἐκδαπανάω has largely fallen out of contemporary usage, its root continues in words like δαπανηρός (dapaneros, "expensive") and δημόσιες δαπάνες (dimosies dapanes, "public expenditures"). This linguistic continuity helps us appreciate how the economic metaphor would have been immediately accessible to Paul's first-century audience.

Remember This

ἐκδαπανάω captures the essence of Messiah-like love—not merely giving from our abundance but pouring ourselves out completely for others, knowing that in God's kingdom economy, what appears to be loss becomes our greatest spiritual gain.