Lexical Summary daneion: Loan, debt Original Word: δάνειον Strong's Exhaustive Concordance debt. From danos (a gift); probably akin to the base of didomi; a loan -- debt. see GREEK didomi NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom the same as danizó Definition a loan NASB Translation debt (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1156: δάνειονδάνειον (WH δανιον, see Iota), δανειου, τό, (δάνος a gift), a loan: Matthew 18:27. (Deuteronomy 15:8; Deuteronomy 24:13 (11); Aristotle, eth. Nic. 9, 2, 3; Diodorus 1, 79; Plutarch; others.) STRONGS NT 1156: δανιον [δανιον, see δάνειον.] Topical Lexicon Scope of the Term in Scripture Strong’s Greek 1156 appears once in the New Testament, in Matthew 18:27, within the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant. The term points to a financial obligation owed to a superior, yet the narrative employs it to illuminate deeper spiritual realities—sin-debt before God and the radical nature of divine pardon. Although rare in the New Testament, the concept it expresses is woven throughout Scripture, binding together legal, ethical, and redemptive themes. Historical and Cultural Background First-century Palestine was a cash-poor, agrarian society in which borrowing was common. Tenants advanced seed money, paid taxes, and covered emergencies by taking loans, often secured by land or personal freedom. While Roman law permitted harsh measures—imprisonment, forced labor, or sale of debtors—Jewish law mandated compassion (for example, Deuteronomy 15:1-11; Leviticus 25:35-46). Jesus’ listeners understood the precarious nature of debt and the mercy implicit in canceling it. Placement within the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant In Matthew 18:23-35 Jesus contrasts a servant who owed an astronomical sum with a fellow servant’s trivial debt. At the heart sits verse 27: “The master of that servant had compassion, released him, and forgave him the debt” (Matthew 18:27). The loan’s cancellation illustrates the heavenly Father’s lavish forgiveness, framing the moral demand that redeemed sinners, in turn, forgive others. The term becomes a narrative hinge: once the debt is gone, the servant’s refusal to forgive exposes a heart untouched by grace. Old Testament Foundations of Debt and Release 1. Sabbatical Year: Every seventh year Israel was to grant a “remission” of debts (Deuteronomy 15:1-2), establishing divine precedent for release. These statutes reveal God’s concern for social mercy and anticipate the gospel’s fuller grace. Theological Themes 1. Grace over Merit: The forgiven loan in Matthew 18:27 symbolizes unearned favor. Salvation is not renegotiated debt but complete release (Colossians 2:13-14). Applications for Discipleship and Ministry • Pastoral Counseling: Hurts inflicted within families or congregations often feel “unpayable.” Pointing to the master’s forgiveness equips believers to release resentment. Illumination in Early Church Teaching Early Christian writers echoed the parable’s logic. The Didache 1:5 urges believers to “share all things” and refuse repayment demands, linking generosity to God’s forgiveness. Tertullian framed sin as indebtedness satisfied only by Christ’s cross, urging mercy toward fellow servants. Thus, Strong’s 1156 became a touchstone for preaching reconciliation. The single New Testament occurrence of this term, though brief, unlocks wide vistas on divine compassion, the ethics of forgiveness, and the church’s witness in a world still enslaved by spiritual and financial debt. Forms and Transliterations δάνειον δάνειόν δανιον δάνιον daneion dáneionLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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