Lexical Summary aponemó: To assign, to distribute, to apportion Original Word: ἀπονέμω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance assign, bestow, apportionFrom apo and the base of nomos; to apportion, i.e. Bestow -- give. see GREEK apo see GREEK nomos HELPS Word-studies 632 aponémō (from 575 /apó, "from" and nemō, "to dispense the proper portion," J. Thayer) – properly, to apportion honor, "giving someone their due" (L-S; so also in classical Gk). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom apo and the same as nomos Definition to assign, apportion NASB Translation show (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 632: ἀπονέμωἀπονέμω; (νέμω to dispense a portion, to distribute), to assign, portion out (ἀπό as in ἀποδίδωμι (which see, cf. ἀπό, V.)): τίνι τί viz. τιμήν, showing honor, 1 Peter 3:7 (so Herodian, 1, 8, 1; τήν τιμήν καί τήν εὐχαριστίαν, Josephus, Antiquities 1, 7, 1; τῷ ἐπισκόπω πᾶσαν ἐντροπήν, Ignatius ad Magnes. 3 [ET]; first found in (Simonides 97 in Anthol. Pal. 7, 253, 2 (vol. i., p. 64, Jacobs edition)); Pindar Isthm. 2, 68; often in Plato, Aristotle, Plutarch, others.). Topical Lexicon Biblical OccurrenceThe verb ἀπονέμω appears only once in the Greek New Testament, in 1 Peter 3:7. Peter exhorts Christian husbands to “treat your wives with consideration as a delicate vessel, and honor them as co-heirs of the gracious gift of life, so that your prayers will not be hindered” (1 Peter 3:7). The participle ἀπονέμοντες calls husbands to an active, deliberate bestowal of honor—an intentional “apportioning” of respect rather than a passive attitude. Sense and Range of Meaning Classically, the word carries the idea of assigning, distributing, or granting a rightful portion. When Peter employs it, the distribution is not of material goods but of esteem. Honor becomes something that must be consciously allotted to one’s wife, reflecting God’s own assignment of worth to every believer (Romans 12:10; 1 Corinthians 12:24). Old Testament and Jewish Background Although ἀπονέμω is rare in the Septuagint, analogous language of “giving honor” is frequent (for example, Esther 6:6-11; Proverbs 3:9). In the wisdom tradition, honor is a commodity to be dispensed with discernment: “Honor the LORD with your wealth” (Proverbs 3:9). Peter’s wording resonates with this covenantal principle—honor rightly distributed signals alignment with God’s order. Honor in the Greco-Roman World In first-century society, honor was a limited good fiercely contested among males. By urging husbands to apportion honor to wives—who were typically lower on the social ladder—Peter subverts prevailing norms. The gospel transforms honor from a zero-sum, male-centered commodity into a grace-filled gift that can be shared without loss. Theological Emphasis 1. Reflecting Divine Justice God “apportions” rewards impartially (Romans 2:6-11). Husbands mirror that justice when they deliberately honor their wives. 2. Preserving Spiritual Vitality Peter links the husband’s distribution of honor to the efficacy of prayer. Neglect or withholding of honor creates a spiritual blockage, showing that relational righteousness and communion with God are inseparable (Matthew 5:23-24). 3. Modeling Christ and the Church Christ bestows honor on His bride, the Church (Ephesians 5:25-27). Husbands, by ἀπονέμοντες τιμήν, dramatize that redemptive pattern within their homes. Ministerial and Pastoral Applications • Premarital counseling: stress the biblical duty of husbands intentionally to confer esteem, making honor a measurable practice rather than a vague sentiment. Doctrinal Significance The solitary New Testament use of ἀπονέμω underscores Scripture’s internal coherence regarding honor. Whether in the Torah’s commands to honor parents, the wisdom literature’s counsel to honor God, or Paul’s charge to outdo one another in showing honor, the biblical narrative consistently presents honor as something believers consciously dispense. Peter applies this ethic to marriage, revealing that even the most intimate relationships are theaters for displaying the kingdom’s values. Summary Strong’s Greek 632 highlights a single but potent call: intentionally distribute honor in accordance with God’s created order and redemptive purposes. In doing so, believers—especially husbands—bear witness to divine justice, nurture unhindered fellowship with the Father, and embody the gospel within the domestic sphere and beyond. Forms and Transliterations απένειμε απονεμοντες απονέμοντες ἀπονέμοντες aponemontes aponémontesLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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