"a debt, Mt. 18:32; met. a duty, due, Rom. 13:7; 1 Cor. 7:3*"
Definition and meaning
a debt, Mt. 18:32; met. a duty, due, Rom. 13:7; 1 Cor. 7:3*
In the original Greek the word is written: ὀφειλή
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of opheile (G3782) across the King James Bible.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
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Common questions
Strong's G3782 (opheile) is a Greek word that means: a debt, Mt. 18:32; met. a duty, due, Rom. 13:7; 1 Cor. 7:3* It appears 2 times in the King James Bible.
The word opheile (G3782) appears 2 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3782 is opheile, a Greek word defined as: a debt, Mt. 18:32; met. a duty, due, Rom. 13:7; 1 Cor. 7:3*. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
opheile is a Greek word found in the New Testament.