χρεωφειλέτης

a debtor

Definition

χρεωφειλέτης refers specifically to a monetary debtor, someone who owes a financial debt to another person. In the New Testament, it is used in two parables of Jesus to illustrate spiritual truths. In Luke 7:41, it describes two men who owe money to a moneylender, setting up a comparison about forgiveness. In Luke 16:5, it refers to the debtors of a rich man's manager, highlighting issues of stewardship and worldly resources.

Biblical Usage

This word is used exclusively in the Gospel of Luke, appearing only in Luke 7:41 and Luke 16:5. In both instances, it is found within parables told by Jesus. The usage is consistently literal, referring to individuals who owe tangible financial debts. These literal debts then serve as metaphors within the parables to teach about spiritual realities like forgiveness (Luke 7) and prudent use of possessions (Luke 16).

Etymology

The word is a compound noun formed from χρέος (chreos, G5534), meaning 'debt' or 'obligation,' and ὀφειλέτης (opheiletēs, G3781), meaning 'one who owes' or 'debtor.' Thus, it literally means 'a debt-ower,' emphasizing the state of being under a financial obligation. It is a more specific and formal term than the more common ὀφειλέτης.

Semantic Range

While the word itself is a mundane financial term, its use in Jesus's parables gives it theological significance. In Luke 7:41-47, the debtors illustrate the greater love that comes from understanding one's greater debt of sin forgiven by God. In Luke 16:1-9, the debtors are part of a parable about using worldly wealth to gain eternal friends, challenging believers to be shrewd and faithful stewards. Understanding this Greek term highlights how Jesus used everyday economic realities to explain profound spiritual principles of grace, forgiveness, and eternal priorities.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, debt was a serious and common social reality. Debtors could face severe consequences, including imprisonment (Matthew 18:30) or being sold into slavery along with their family. Jesus's listeners would have immediately understood the gravity and urgency implied by the term. The cultural context makes the spiritual analogy—being in debt to God for sin—more powerful and relatable.

ὀφειλέτης (opheiletēs, G3781) — A more general term for a debtor or one who owes an obligation, which can be financial, moral, or spiritual (e.g., Romans 1:14, Romans 8:12).

Word Details

Scripture References