Lexical Summary chreopheiletés: Debtor Original Word: χρεοφειλέτης Strong's Exhaustive Concordance debtor. From a derivative of chrao and opheiletes; a loan-ower, i.e. Indebted person -- debtor. see GREEK chrao see GREEK opheiletes NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originprobably a comp. of chreos (debt) and opheiletés Definition a debtor NASB Translation debtors (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5533: χρεωφειλέτηςχρεωφειλέτης (L T Tr WH χρεοφειλέτης; cf. Lob. ad Phryn., p. 691; Winers Grammar, § 5, 1 d. 13; (WHs Appendix, p. 152{b}; Tdf. Proleg., p. 89; T (?; see as above) WH χρεωφιλετης, cf. WH's Appendix, p. 154{b} (see Iota))), χρεωφειλετου, ὁ (χρέος or χρέως, a loan, a debt, and ὀφειλέτης, which see), a debtor: Luke 7:41; Luke 16:5. (Proverbs 29:13; Job 31:37; Aesop fab. 289 (edited by Coray, 11th Halm edition); several times in Plutarch; (also in Diodorus, Dionysius Halicarnassus; see Sophocles' Lexicon, under the word).) Topical Lexicon Concept of Debt in Scripture Indebtedness is a pervasive motif in both Testaments, functioning as a tangible social reality and a metaphor for spiritual obligation. Materially, debt could lead to servitude (Nehemiah 5:3–5) or forfeiture of land (Leviticus 25:39–41). Spiritually, sin is pictured as a liability that must be satisfied, whether by the offender (Ezekiel 18:4) or by a gracious substitute (Isaiah 53:6). The figure of the “debtor” thus becomes a theological bridge for understanding grace, forgiveness, and redemption. Occurrences of Strong’s 5533 The noun appears twice, both in Luke. Each setting is a parable in which Jesus illumines divine forgiveness and kingdom ethics through everyday economic transactions. The Parable of the Two Debtors (Luke 7:41–42) “Two men were debtors to a certain moneylender. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they had nothing to pay, he forgave them both. Now which of them will love him more?” (Luke 7:41–42). Spoken in the home of Simon the Pharisee, the illustration exposes Simon’s self-righteousness and magnifies the love of the forgiven woman. The stark disparity between the two sums underscores that the magnitude of perceived debt corresponds to the depth of gratitude. Jesus employs the social reality of debt cancelation to demonstrate that salvation is entirely an act of mercy, apart from human merit. The Parable of the Unjust Steward (Luke 16:1–8) “He called in each one of his master’s debtors. ‘How much do you owe my master?’ he asked the first.” (Luke 16:5). Here the steward reduces liabilities to secure future favor. While the steward’s ethics are questionable, his shrewd foresight is commended. Jesus draws a lesser-to-greater argument: if worldly men use temporal resources to prepare for their future, how much more should believers employ unrighteous mammon for eternal purposes (Luke 16:9). The debtors in the account represent people whose obligations can be alleviated through wise, merciful stewardship. Historical Background of First-Century Debt Under Roman administration, loans were common, often secured by land or harvest. Interest restrictions of the Mosaic Law (Exodus 22:25) were frequently bypassed, especially when dealing with Gentiles. Default could result in imprisonment or loss of property. A moneylender’s voluntary remission therefore signified extraordinary generosity, making Jesus’ parables immediately relatable and striking. Theological Implications 1. Universal Liability: “All have sinned” (Romans 3:23); every person is in spiritual arrears. Practical Ministry Applications • Gospel Presentation: Framing salvation as the cancelation of an unpayable debt resonates across cultures and highlights grace. Christological Significance At the cross, Jesus “canceled the record of debt” (Colossians 2:14), satisfying divine justice and liberating all who believe. The limited appearances of 5533 serve as narrative signposts pointing to this climactic act. Each debtor in Luke prefigures the sinner; each act of remission foreshadows Calvary, where the ultimate Creditor absorbs the full cost. Forms and Transliterations χρεοφειλέται χρεοφειλετῶν χρεοφιλεται χρεοφιλέται χρεοφιλετων χρεοφιλετῶν χρεωφειλέται χρεωφειλέτου χρεωφειλετών chreopheiletai chreopheilétai chreopheileton chreopheiletôn chreopheiletōn chreopheiletō̂nLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 7:41 N-NMPGRK: δύο χρεοφειλέται ἦσαν δανιστῇ NAS: had two debtors: one owed KJV: which had two debtors: the one INT: Two debtors there were to a creditor Luke 16:5 N-GMP Strong's Greek 5533 |
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