ἀπαιτ-έω G0523
to demand back, require return, ask back; to call for repayment or require an accounting
This verb means to demand back or require return of something. Both occurrences appear in Luke. In Luke 6:30, Jesus teaches not to demand back what is taken. Luke 12:20 records God's declaration to the rich fool: 'This night they demand your soul from you.' Classical usage included demanding things forcibly taken, calling down punishment, and requiring payment. The New Testament uses it for demanding return and divine reckoning. Translations (Spanish demandan/reclames, French redemander) emphasize the demanding or requiring aspect.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke's Jesus teaches radical generosity: when someone takes what's yours, don't demand it back—using the imperative ἀπαίτει. The same verb appears in God's judgment on the rich fool: 'They demand your soul'—the impersonal plural suggesting divine agency. The verb links human generosity and divine accounting. Humans shouldn't demand back earthly goods; God will demand back the soul. The present tense ἀπαιτοῦσιν emphasizes the immediacy of divine reckoning. 2×
AR["تَطلُب", "يَطْلُبُونَهَا"]·ben["চাওয়া-হচ্ছে", "ফেরত-চাও"]·DE["ἀπαίτει", "ἀπαιτοῦσιν"]·EN["demand-back", "they-demand"]·FR["redemander"]·heb["דּוֹרְשִׁים", "תִּדְרֹשׁ"]·HI["माँगते-हैं", "वापस-मांग"]·ID["dituntut", "engkau-minta-kembali"]·IT["apaitei", "apaitousin"]·jav["dipuntuntut", "nyuwun-wangsul"]·KO["도로-요구하지-말라", "되찾는다"]·RU["требуй-обратно", "требуют"]·ES["demandan", "reclames"]·SW["tena", "wanadai"]·TR["geri-isteme;", "istiyorlar"]·urd["مانگیں-گے"]
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀπαιτ-έω, demand back, demand to have returned, especially of things forcibly taken or rightfully belonging to one, Refs 5th c.BC+; τὸ μισθάριον γὰρ ἂν ἀπαιτῇς Refs 4th c.BC+; τὴν ψυχήνNT; ἀ. τινά τι demand something of one, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀ. ὑπέρ τινοςRefs 4th c.BC+: with infinitive, ἀ. τινὰ ποιεῖν τιRefs 5th c.BC+ __b call down on oneself, ποινάςRefs 4th c.AD+ __c of things, require, νοῦσοι…