Lexical Summary danizó: To lend, to borrow Original Word: δανίζω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance borrow, lend. From daneion; to loan on interest; reflexively, to borrow -- borrow, lend. see GREEK daneion NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom danos (a loan) Definition to lend, borrow NASB Translation borrow (1), lend (3). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1155: δανείζωδανείζω (T WH δανίζω (see Iota); 1 aorist ἐδανεισα (Luke 6:34 L text T WH Tr marginal reading); 1 aorist middle ἐδανεισαμην; (δάνειον, which see); (from Aristophanes down); to lend money: Luke 6:34f; middle to have money lent to oneself to take a loan, borrow (cf. Winers Grammar, § 38, 3; Riddell, Platonic idioms, § 87): Matthew 5:42. (Deuteronomy 15:6, 8; Proverbs 19:17; in Greek authors from Xenophon, and Plato down.) STRONGS NT 1155: δανίζωδανίζω, see δανείζω. Topical Lexicon Greek Term and Core IdeaStrong’s Greek 1155 (δανείζω, daneizō) portrays the act of extending a loan—material or monetary—under conditions that assume eventual repayment. While the term may include the expectation of interest, the New Testament uses focus on the heart-posture of the lender rather than the financial terms of the contract. Old Testament Background Lending ethics were firmly established in the Torah. Israelites were commanded to open their hands to needy brothers (Deuteronomy 15:7-11) and forbidden to exact interest from fellow Israelites (Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37). Interest could be taken from foreigners (Deuteronomy 23:19-20), highlighting a covenantal economy inside Israel meant to reflect God’s gracious provision. Wisdom literature praises the man who “is ever generous and lends freely” (Psalm 112:5) and warns that “the wicked borrow and do not repay” (Psalm 37:21). This backdrop informs the sharper kingdom ethic articulated by Jesus. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 5:42 – “Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.” These four texts, all spoken by Jesus, re-center lending around mercy rather than monetary gain. Theological Significance 1. Reflection of Divine Generosity The Father “causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good” (Matthew 5:45). Kingdom lending mirrors this indiscriminate benevolence: disciples emulate God by releasing resources without calculating advantage. 2. Eschatological Reward Jesus promises that lenders who forgo earthly return “will be sons of the Most High” (Luke 6:35). The payoff is eschatological, secured by divine recompense rather than human repayment. 3. Redefinition of Reciprocity Greco-Roman culture viewed lending as a reciprocal social contract binding patron and client. Jesus dismantles this economy of honor, calling His followers to a higher righteousness (Matthew 5:20) grounded in self-giving love. 4. Antithesis to Usury By urging loans “expecting nothing in return,” Jesus affirms the Torah’s stance against exploitative interest while intensifying it: not merely zero-interest but open-handed grace even toward enemies. Historical Setting In first-century Palestine, economic stratification was acute. Small agrarian owners often relied on loans secured against land or produce; inability to repay led to debt slavery (cf. Matthew 18:25). Roman taxation compounded hardship. Against this milieu, Jesus’ instruction was radical, subverting a system that routinely commodified the poor. Ministry Implications 1. Personal Stewardship Believers steward possessions as trustees, not owners (Psalm 24:1). Lending thus becomes ministry, a tangible outworking of the Gospel (James 2:15-17). 2. Church Community The Jerusalem church embodied the principle by liquidating assets so “there was no needy one among them” (Acts 4:34-35). Lending within the body safeguards dignity while avoiding dependency. 3. Mercy Ministries Modern applications include micro-loans, benevolence funds, and interest-free support for the vulnerable—practices that demonstrate the Gospel’s social dimension. 4. Witness to the World A generosity that transcends standard financial wisdom testifies to a future kingdom economy and invites inquiry into the hope that motivates such countercultural behavior (1 Peter 3:15). Practical Counsel • Lend prayerfully, recognizing both prudence (Proverbs 22:7) and mercy. Related Concepts Mercy (ἔλεος), generosity, stewardship, almsgiving, koinonia, grace, debt release (Sabbath year), mutual aid, usury. Summary Strong’s Greek 1155 encapsulates more than a financial action; it signals an ethic of grace rooted in God’s character and expressed through Christ’s commands. By lending freely, believers showcase kingdom values, confront societal inequities, and participate in God’s redemptive mission until the day when every debt is finally settled at the cross and in the coming kingdom. Forms and Transliterations δανείζει δανείζεται δανείζετε δανείζητε δανειζόμενος δανείζουσιν δανείζων δανειή δανείσασθαι δανιεί δανιείς δανιζετε δανίζετε δανιζουσιν δανίζουσιν δανιή δανιούσιν δανισασθαι δανίσασθαι δανισητε δανίσητε εδανεισάμεθα danisasthai danísasthai danisete danisēte danísete danísēte danizete danízete danizousin danízousinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 5:42 V-ANMGRK: ἀπὸ σοῦ δανίσασθαι μὴ ἀποστραφῇς NAS: from him who wants to borrow from you. KJV: and from him that would borrow of thee INT: from you to borrow not you shall turn away from Luke 6:34 V-ASA-2P Luke 6:34 V-PIA-3P Luke 6:35 V-PMA-2P Strong's Greek 1155 |
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