ἐκδίδωμι
I give out, let, let out for my own advantage
Definition
The verb ἐκδίδωμι means 'to give out' or 'to let out,' specifically in the context of leasing property. In its active voice, it describes the action of a landowner handing over a vineyard or field to tenants, as seen in the parable of the wicked tenants (Matthew 21:33, Mark 12:1, Luke 20:9). In its middle voice, the meaning shifts to 'to let out for one's own advantage' or 'to hire out,' emphasizing the landowner's intent to derive profit from the lease. This nuance is highlighted in Matthew 21:41, where listeners suggest the owner will 'let out' the vineyard to other tenants.
Biblical Usage
This word is used exclusively in the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) within the parallel parable of the tenants. In all four occurrences, it describes a wealthy landowner leasing his vineyard to farmers. The context is uniformly agricultural and economic, serving as a narrative setup for Jesus' teaching about Israel's leadership and God's kingdom.
Etymology
Derived from the preposition ἐκ (ek), meaning 'out of' or 'from,' combined with the common verb δίδωμι (didōmi), meaning 'to give.' Thus, the compound literally means 'to give out.' This construction perfectly fits its specialized meaning of handing over or leasing out property.
Semantic Range
This word is theologically significant as it anchors Jesus' parable of the wicked tenants. The act of 'letting out' the vineyard establishes God as the sovereign owner (the landowner) and Israel's leaders (and by extension, humanity) as temporary stewards. Understanding this specific leasing terminology enriches the parable's critique of unfaithfulness and the consequent transfer of stewardship, pointing to the inclusion of others in God's purposes.
In the first-century agrarian society, leasing land to tenant farmers was a common economic arrangement. A landowner (often absentee) would provide the capital (vineyard, wall, winepress) and receive a portion of the harvest as rent. This cultural backdrop makes the parable immediately understandable: the tenants' refusal to pay and violence against the owner's servants was a recognized form of rebellion and theft.
μισθόω (misthoō, G3409) — a more general term for hiring or renting, often for wages or services, not specifically for leasing land.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
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