ἀπαιτέω

I ask back, ask what is my due

Definition

The verb ἀπαιτέω means to demand back something that is owed or to ask for the return of what is rightfully one's own. In Luke 6:30, it describes the act of demanding back a possession that has been taken, set within Jesus's teaching on non-retaliation and generosity. In Luke 12:20, God uses the word in a parable to demand back a rich man's life, shifting the sense to a divine, irrevocable claim. Thus, the core meaning involves a rightful claim, whether in human financial contexts or in God's ultimate authority over life.

Biblical Usage

ἀπαιτέω is used only twice in the New Testament, both in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 6:30, it appears in Jesus's Sermon on the Plain, instructing listeners not to demand back goods taken from them, highlighting a theme of radical grace. In Luke 12:20, it is used by God in the parable of the rich fool to declare, 'This night your soul is demanded back from you,' emphasizing God's sovereign claim on human life. Both uses involve a demand for what is due, but in contrasting contexts—human ethics and divine judgment.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix ἀ- (often meaning 'from' or 'back') combined with the root αἰτέω (aiteō, G154), meaning 'to ask' or 'to request.' Thus, ἀπαιτέω literally means 'to ask back' or 'to demand from.' It intensifies the sense of asking to imply a rightful or forceful reclaiming, distinguishing it from simple requests.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it underscores God's ultimate ownership and authority. In Luke 12:20, it vividly portrays God's right to demand a person's life, challenging human assumptions of autonomy and wealth. Understanding ἀπαιτέω enriches reading by highlighting themes of divine judgment, stewardship, and the reversal of worldly values in Jesus's teachings, reminding believers that all things belong to God.

In the Greco-Roman world, demanding back debts or property was a common legal and social practice, often involving formal claims. Jesus's instruction in Luke 6:30 to not demand back would have been countercultural, challenging norms of personal rights and honor. In Luke 12:20, the cultural expectation of securing one's life through wealth is overturned by God's sudden demand, reflecting biblical themes of mortality and divine sovereignty over human plans.

αἰτέω (aiteō, G154) — a general term for asking or requesting, without the connotation of demanding back what is owed; ἐκζητέω (ekzēteō, G1567) — to seek out or demand diligently, often with intensity but not specifically 'back'; ἀπολαμβάνω (apolambanō, G618) — to receive back or get back, focusing on the receipt rather than the demand.

Word Details

Scripture References