ἀπελπ-ίζω G0560
to despair, give up hope; or (NT sense) to expect back, hope to receive in return
This verb's classical meaning is 'to despair of' or 'to give up hope regarding' something. However, the NT occurrence in Luke 6:35 carries a contested meaning. Some interpret it as 'expecting nothing in return' (despair of repayment), while others read it as 'expecting back' (hoping to receive). Jesus's command to 'lend, expecting nothing back' or 'not despairing of repayment' both make contextual sense but carry different nuances. The surrounding context—radical generosity toward enemies—supports the first reading: lend without calculating returns.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke 6:35 presents Jesus's radical ethics: 'lend, expecting nothing in return.' The interpretive question is whether 'apelpizontes' means 'despairing of repayment' or 'expecting repayment.' Spanish 'esperando a cambio' (expecting in return), French 'désespérer' (to despair), English 'expecting in return,' and German transcription all reflect this ambiguity. The broader context—loving enemies, doing good to those who hate you—supports generosity without calculation of return. Kingdom economics operate on grace, not reciprocity. 1×
AR["غَيرَ-راجينَ"]·ben["আশা-না-করে"]·DE["ἀπελπίζοντες"]·EN["expecting-in-return"]·FR["désespérer"]·heb["מְקַוִּים"]·HI["आशा-छोड़कर"]·ID["yang-diharapkan-kembali"]·IT["apelpizontes"]·jav["ngarep-arep-wangsul"]·KO["바라지-말고"]·RU["не-ожидая-обратно"]·ES["esperando-a-cambio"]·SW["kukata-tamaa"]·TR["ummayarak;"]·urd["ہوگا"]
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀπελπ-ίζω, Attic dialect future -ιῶRefs 1st c.BC+perfect -ήλπικα:—despair of, τῆς πόλεως τὴν σωτηρίανRefs 4th c.BC+:—passive, to be given up in despair, τὰ πράγματαRefs; of persons, to be despaired of, οἱ ἀπηλπισμένοιLXX+2nd c.BC+ (ἀφηλπ-). __2 ἀ. τινός despair of,Refs 2nd c.BC+ οὐκ ἀ. τινός to be confident of, Refs 1st c.BC+ __3 absolutely, hope that a thing will not happen, Refs 3rd c.AD+ __II…