What does ὀφείλω · ὀφείλημα mean in the Bible?
ὀφείλω · ὀφείλημα is a Greek phrase meaning "duty".
Greek · G3784, G3783
ὀφειλήν
To owe · debt
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
ὀφείλωG3784to owe
Pronunciationopheílō
Moral or spiritual obligation, not just financial debt; what one is bound or duty-bound to do
Open lexicon entry →ὀφείλημαG3783debt
Pronunciationopheílēma
Sin conceived as debt owed to God; obligation incurred that must be repaid or forgiven.
Open lexicon entry →What does ὀφειλήν (opheilēn) mean in the Bible?
ὀφείλω · ὀφείλημα is a Greek phrase meaning "duty".
Full entry for ὀφειλήν (G3784, G3783) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G3784, G3783?
G3784, G3783 is connected to 35 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. duty
Source Gloss
duty
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms35TensesPresent, ImperfectVoicesActive, Passive
Tenses
Voices
Indicativestates a fact or reality30×
Present ActiveMatt 23:16 · Matt 23:18 · John 19:7 · 1 Cor 7:36 · 1 Cor 9:10 · 1 Cor 11:7 · 1 Cor 11:10 · 2 Cor 12:14 · Phlm 1:18 · Heb 5:3 · 1 John 2:6 · Acts 17:29 · Rom 15:1 · 2 Thess 1:3 · 2 Thess 2:13 · 1 John 3:1624×
Imperfect ActiveMatt 18:28 · Luke 7:41 · Heb 2:17 · Luke 17:10 · 1 Cor 5:10 · 2 Cor 12:116×
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality4×
Present PassiveMatt 18:30 · Matt 18:342×
Present ActiveLuke 11:4 · Heb 5:122×
Imperativecommand or strong request1×
Present ActiveRom 13:81×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 35 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present29imperfect6
Voice
active33passive2
Mood
indicative30participle4imperative1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 18:28ὤφειλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundMatthew 18:28ὀφείλειςpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 18:30ὀφειλόμενονpresent passive participleparticipleMatthew 18:34ὀφειλόμενονpresent passive participleparticipleMatthew 23:16ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoingMatthew 23:18ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 7:41ὤφειλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundLuke 11:4ὀφείλοντιpresent active participleparticipleLuke 16:5ὀφείλειςpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 16:7ὀφείλειςpresent active indicativeongoingLuke 17:10ὠφείλομενimperfect active indicativebackgroundJohn 13:14ὀφείλετεpresent active indicativeongoingJohn 19:7ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoingActs 17:29ὀφείλομενpresent active indicativeongoingRomans 13:8ὀφείλετεpresent active imperativeimperativeRomans 15:1Ὀφείλομενpresent active indicativeongoingRomans 15:27ὀφείλουσινpresent active indicativeongoing1 Corinthians 5:10ὠφείλετεimperfect active indicativebackground1 Corinthians 7:36ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoing1 Corinthians 9:10ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoing1 Corinthians 11:10ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoing1 Corinthians 11:7ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoing2 Corinthians 12:11ὤφειλονimperfect active indicativebackground2 Corinthians 12:14ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoingEphesians 5:28ὀφείλουσινpresent active indicativeongoing2 Thessalonians 1:3ὀφείλομενpresent active indicativeongoing2 Thessalonians 2:13ὀφείλομενpresent active indicativeongoingPhilemon 1:18ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoingHebrews 2:17ὤφειλενimperfect active indicativebackgroundHebrews 5:12ὀφείλοντεςpresent active participleparticipleHebrews 5:3ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoing1 John 2:6ὀφείλειpresent active indicativeongoing1 John 3:16ὀφείλομενpresent active indicativeongoing1 John 4:11ὀφείλομενpresent active indicativeongoing3 John 1:8ὀφείλομενpresent active indicativeongoing
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
ὀφειλήν is built from this root:
ὄφελοςG3786