ἀπονέμω

I apportion, render as due

Definition

The verb ἀπονέμω means to assign, apportion, or render something as due, often implying a rightful or appropriate distribution. In its single New Testament occurrence, it carries the sense of actively granting honor or respect that is owed to someone. The term suggests a deliberate act of giving what is fitting, not merely a casual offering. While not used elsewhere in the New Testament, its classical usage can involve assigning portions, duties, or honors.

Biblical Usage

ἀπονέμω is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Peter 3:7, where husbands are instructed to 'show honor' (ἀπονέμοντες τιμήν) to their wives. The context is within household codes, emphasizing the husband's active duty to render the respect and consideration that is due to his wife as a fellow heir of God's grace. This singular usage highlights a conscious, obligatory act within a relational covenant.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἀπό (apo, meaning 'from' or 'away') and the verb νέμω (nemō, meaning 'to distribute, allot, or manage'). The compound thus literally means 'to distribute from' or 'to apportion out.' It shares a root with words like νομή (nomē, 'pasture' or 'distribution') and is related to the concept of dispensing what is allotted or proper.

Semantic Range

This word is theologically significant as it frames marital honor not as an optional courtesy but as a spiritual duty to be rendered. In 1 Peter 3:7, it connects directly to the wife's status as a 'fellow heir of the grace of life,' grounding the husband's action in the equality of believers before God. Understanding this Greek term enriches the reading by emphasizing that honor in marriage is an active, deliberate assignment of value, integral to unhindered prayer (1 Peter 3:7).

In the Greco-Roman world, honor (τιμή) was a core social value, often tied to public status and reciprocity. Peter's command to 'apportion honor' to one's wife would have been counter-cultural, as wives typically held a lower social status and honor was often reserved for public male relationships. The directive elevates the private marital relationship to a sphere of sacred duty and mutual honor.

δίδωμι (didōmi, G1325) — a more general verb for 'to give,' without the specific connotation of rendering what is due. τιμάω (timaō, G5091) — means 'to honor' or 'value,' but ἀπονέμω specifies the act of apportioning that honor as a rightful due.

Word Details

Scripture References