μισθαπο-δότης G3406
one who pays wages or gives reward; a rewarder
This compound masculine noun designates one who distributes payment, wages, or reward. In Hebrews 11:6, it describes God as the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. The multilingual glosses uniformly identify the rewarder or one who remunerates (Spanish remunerador, French/German Belohner). The term combines the root for wages (misthos) with the agent suffix, creating the image of God as one who faithfully compensates those who earnestly pursue relationship with Him.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Hebrews 11:6 declares that anyone approaching God must believe He exists and acts as rewarder of those seeking Him. The cross-linguistic evidence consistently renders rewarder or recompenser. This characterization of God counters both deism (God exists but doesn't engage) and works-righteousness (reward earned by merit). Instead, it presents God as one who freely rewards the diligent pursuit of relationship with Him—not payment for achievement but gracious reward for faith-driven seeking. 1×
AR["مُجَازِيًا"]·ben["পুরস্কারদাতা"]·DE["Belohner"]·EN["rewarder"]·FR["Belohner"]·heb["מְשַלֵּם"]·HI["प्रतिफल-देने-वाला"]·ID["pemberi-upah"]·IT["misthapodotēs"]·jav["males-ganjaran"]·KO["보상하는-이가"]·PT["galardoador"]·RU["воздаятелем"]·ES["remunerador"]·SW["mwenye-kuwatuza"]·TR["ödüllendirici"]·urd["بدلہ-دینے-والا"]
Related Senses
H5414 1. give, bestow (1855×)H3947 1. take, seize, grasp (Qal) (940×)G2192 1. possess / have (680×)G1325 1. give, bestow (336×)H5159 1. inherited land or property (170×)G2983 1. receive, obtain (134×)H3423 1. Qal: take possession of land (130×)G2983 2. take, take up (113×)G2398 1. one's own, belonging to oneself (91×)G3860 1. hand over, deliver to custody (78×)H7998 1. spoil, plunder, booty (74×)G1325 2. be given, be granted (70×)H5414 2. put, place, set (68×)H7999a 1. pay, repay, recompense (63×)H7069 1. Buy, purchase (59×)H1892 1. vanity, futility, absurdity (58×)H5159 2. heritage as covenant portion (52×)H6299 1. redeem or ransom (Qal active) (49×)H4376 1. Sell (Qal active) (47×)H1350a 1. Redeem, buy back (46×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
μισθαπο-δότης, ου, ὁ, one who pays wages, rewarder, [prev. work]11.6.