ὀφειλ-ή G3782
debt, what is owed; obligation, whether financial or moral duty
This noun denotes what is owed—a debt in the financial sense or an obligation in the moral sense. In Matthew's parable, the servant's debt is forgiven (Matt 18:32). Paul uses it both literally, urging payment of what is owed to authorities (Rom 13:7), and figuratively for the marital duty spouses owe each other (1 Cor 7:3). The term bridges economic and ethical domains, reminding us that obligations—whether monetary or relational—carry real weight and demand fulfillment.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Cross-linguistic evidence shows both concrete financial debt and abstract duty: English 'debt/debts/duty', Spanish 'deuda/deudas', French 'dette', German 'Schulden/ὀφειλὴν'. The lexicon distinguishes financial debt (primary meaning) from 'one's due' (moral obligation). Matthew 18:32 uses it for monetary debt forgiven by the king. Romans 13:7 emphasizes civic obligations ('pay what is owed'). 1 Corinthians 7:3 speaks of conjugal duty. The word encompasses both concrete financial obligation and abstract moral responsibility. 3×
AR["-الدُّيُونَ", "الدَّيْنِ", "واجِبَ"]·ben["ঋণ", "কর্তব্য", "পাওনাগুলি:"]·DE["Schulden", "ὀφειλὴν"]·EN["debt", "debts", "duty"]·FR["dette"]·heb["הַחוֹב", "חוֹבָה", "חוֹבוֹת"]·HI["करज़", "कर्तव्य", "देनदारियां"]·ID["hutang", "hutang:", "kewajiban"]·IT["debito", "opheilen"]·jav["kuwajiban", "kuwajiban:", "utang"]·KO["빚들을", "빚을", "의무를"]·PT["dívidas:", "obrigação"]·RU["-налог", "долг", "должное"]·ES["deuda", "deudas"]·SW["deni", "deni:", "wake"]·TR["borcunu", "borçları", "o-"]·urd["حق", "قرض", "واجبات"]
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
ὀφειλ-ή, ἡ, debt, NT+5th c.BC+ __2 one's due, NT