1157. danistés

Lexical Summary

danistés: Lender, creditor

Original Word: δανιστής
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: danistés
Pronunciation: dah-nee-STAYS
Phonetic Spelling: (dan-ice-tace')
KJV: creditor
NASB: moneylender
Word Origin: [from G1155 (δανείζω - lend)]

1. a lender

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

creditor.

From daneizo; a lender -- creditor.

see GREEK daneizo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from danizó
Definition
a moneylender
NASB Translation
moneylender (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1157: δανειστής

δανειστής (T WH δανιστής (see Iota)), δανειστοῦ, ὁ (δανείζω, which see), a money-lender, creditor: Luke 7:41. (2 Kings 4:1; Psalm 108:11 (); Proverbs 29:13; Sir. 29:28. Demosthenes, p. 885, 18; Plutarch, Sol. 13, 5; de vitand. acre, etc. 7, 8; (others).)

STRONGS NT 1157: δανιστήςδανιστής, see δανειστής.

Topical Lexicon

Meaning and Incidence within the New Testament

The term appears once in the Greek New Testament (Luke 7:41), referring to a moneylender or creditor who has advanced funds to two debtors. Though singular in occurrence, the concept of a lender extends throughout Scripture, often illustrating the moral and spiritual dynamics of debt, obligation, mercy, and forgiveness.

Economic and Social Background

In first-century Judea, formal moneylending was common. Loans were usually short-term and secured by personal pledges. Interest could be high, and debt carried serious social consequences, including loss of land, indenture, or imprisonment (compare 2 Kings 4:1). Lenders ranged from large estate holders to small-scale creditors. Luke’s audience, familiar with these realities, would have understood the urgency of debt relief and the precarious status of debtors.

Usage in Luke 7:41 and Theological Implications

“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.” (Luke 7:41)

1. The moneylender embodies God’s rightful claim over sinners.
2. The unequal debts symbolize differing degrees of recognized guilt, not differing needs for grace; both are unable to repay.
3. The voluntary cancellation (Luke 7:42) announces the heart of the gospel: divine initiative in forgiveness.
4. The parable confronts self-righteousness. Simon the Pharisee sees himself as the fifty-denarii debtor, while the woman, branded a sinner, is cast as the five-hundred-denarii debtor. Jesus reveals both as spiritually bankrupt.
5. Gratitude becomes the litmus test of genuine reception of mercy (Luke 7:47).

Related Old Testament Principles

• Lending without exploitation: Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37.
• Scheduled debt release: Deuteronomy 15:1-11; demonstrating God’s concern for economic justice.
• Mercy toward the indebted as a mark of righteousness: Psalm 112:5; Proverbs 19:17.

These passages foreshadow the greater spiritual cancellation accomplished in Christ.

Parallels in Jesus’ Teaching

Although other passages use different Greek words for “creditor,” the motif of forgiven debt recurs:
• Matthew 6:12 – “Forgive us our debts…”
• Matthew 18:23-35 – the unforgiving servant, stressing that receiving pardon obligates believers to extend it.
• Luke 11:4 – the petition for debt remission in the Lord’s Prayer.

Applications for Christian Ministry

1. Preaching the Gospel: Emphasize that all stand indebted by sin and that God, in Christ, freely cancels the ledger (Colossians 2:14).
2. Counseling and Discipleship: Encourage believers to translate received mercy into tangible forgiveness of others’ offenses and financial compassion toward the needy (Ephesians 4:32).
3. Stewardship and Social Concern: Advocate lending practices reflecting biblical justice—eschewing exploitation, promoting generosity, and alleviating poverty (James 2:15-17).
4. Worship and Gratitude: Foster awareness that fervent love flows from recognition of forgiven debt, shaping corporate worship and private devotion.

Illustrations from Church History

Early Christian communities practiced voluntary sharing (Acts 4:34-35), embodying the spirit of debt release. Medieval jubilee customs and modern initiatives like church-funded debt relief programs continue this legacy, highlighting the church’s ongoing call to reflect the moneylender’s gracious character.

Summary of Key Themes

• Human sin incurs an unpayable debt.
• God, pictured as the benevolent lender, freely cancels that debt through Christ.
• Grateful love and merciful action are the proper responses.
• Biblical economics instruct believers to mirror divine generosity in social and financial dealings.

Forms and Transliterations

δανειστή δανειστής δανειστού δανιστη δανιστῇ daniste danistē danistêi danistē̂i

Englishman's Concordance

Luke 7:41 N-DMS
GRK: χρεοφειλέται ἦσαν δανιστῇ τινί ὁ
NAS: A moneylender had two
KJV: a certain creditor which had two
INT: debtors there were to a creditor certain the

Strong's Greek 1157
1 Occurrence

δανιστῇ — 1 Occ.