"to owe, be indebted, Mt. 18:28, 30, 34; to incur a bond, to be bound to make discharge, Mt. 23:16, 18; to be bound or obliged by what is due or fitting or consequently necessary, Lk. 17:10; Jn. 13:14; to incur desert, to deserve, Jn. 19:7; to be due or fitting, 1 Cor. 7:3, 36; fr..."
Definition and meaning
to owe, be indebted, Mt. 18:28, 30, 34; to incur a bond, to be bound to make discharge, Mt. 23:16, 18; to be bound or obliged by what is due or fitting or consequently necessary, Lk. 17:10; Jn. 13:14; to incur desert, to deserve, Jn. 19:7; to be due or fitting, 1 Cor. 7:3, 36; from the Aramaic, to be delinquent, Lk. 11:4
In the original Greek the word is written: ὀφείλω
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 opheilo (G3784) across the King James Bible.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
Woe unto you, ye blind guides, which say, Whosoever shall swear by the temple, it is nothing; but whosoever shall swear by the gold of the temple, he is a debtor!
And, Whosoever shall swear by the altar, it is nothing; but whosoever sweareth by the gift that is upon it, he is guilty.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?
Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore.
So likewise ye, when ye shall have done all those things which are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants: we have done that which was our duty to do.
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Common questions
Strong's G3784 (opheilo) is a Greek word that means: to owe, be indebted, Mt. 18:28, 30, 34; to incur a bond, to be bound to make discharge, Mt. 23:16, 18; to be bound or obliged by what is due or fitting or consequently necessary, Lk. 17:10; Jn. 13:14;... It appears 35 times in the King James Bible.
The word opheilo (G3784) appears 35 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3784 is opheilo, a Greek word defined as: to owe, be indebted, Mt. 18:28, 30, 34; to incur a bond, to be bound to make discharge, Mt. 23:16, 18; to be bound or obliged by what is due or fittin. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
opheilo is a Greek word found in the New Testament.