1157. danistés
Lexical Summary
danistés: Lender, creditor

Original Word: δανιστής
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: danistés
Pronunciation: dah-nee-STAYS
Phonetic Spelling: (dan-ice-tace')
KJV: creditor
NASB: moneylender
Word Origin: [from G1155 (δανείζω - lend)]

1. a lender

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
creditor.

From daneizo; a lender -- creditor.

see GREEK daneizo

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from danizó
Definition
a moneylender
NASB Translation
moneylender (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 1157: δανειστής

δανειστής (T WH δανιστής (see Iota)), δανειστοῦ, (δανείζω, which see), a money-lender, creditor: Luke 7:41. (2 Kings 4:1; Psalm 108:11 (); Proverbs 29:13; Sir. 29:28. Demosthenes, p. 885, 18; Plutarch, Sol. 13, 5; de vitand. acre, etc. 7, 8; (others).)

STRONGS NT 1157: δανιστήςδανιστής, see δανειστής.

Topical Lexicon
Meaning and Incidence within the New Testament

The term appears once in the Greek New Testament (Luke 7:41), referring to a moneylender or creditor who has advanced funds to two debtors. Though singular in occurrence, the concept of a lender extends throughout Scripture, often illustrating the moral and spiritual dynamics of debt, obligation, mercy, and forgiveness.

Economic and Social Background

In first-century Judea, formal moneylending was common. Loans were usually short-term and secured by personal pledges. Interest could be high, and debt carried serious social consequences, including loss of land, indenture, or imprisonment (compare 2 Kings 4:1). Lenders ranged from large estate holders to small-scale creditors. Luke’s audience, familiar with these realities, would have understood the urgency of debt relief and the precarious status of debtors.

Usage in Luke 7:41 and Theological Implications

“Two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty.” (Luke 7:41)

1. The moneylender embodies God’s rightful claim over sinners.
2. The unequal debts symbolize differing degrees of recognized guilt, not differing needs for grace; both are unable to repay.
3. The voluntary cancellation (Luke 7:42) announces the heart of the gospel: divine initiative in forgiveness.
4. The parable confronts self-righteousness. Simon the Pharisee sees himself as the fifty-denarii debtor, while the woman, branded a sinner, is cast as the five-hundred-denarii debtor. Jesus reveals both as spiritually bankrupt.
5. Gratitude becomes the litmus test of genuine reception of mercy (Luke 7:47).

Related Old Testament Principles

• Lending without exploitation: Exodus 22:25; Leviticus 25:35-37.
• Scheduled debt release: Deuteronomy 15:1-11; demonstrating God’s concern for economic justice.
• Mercy toward the indebted as a mark of righteousness: Psalm 112:5; Proverbs 19:17.

These passages foreshadow the greater spiritual cancellation accomplished in Christ.

Parallels in Jesus’ Teaching

Although other passages use different Greek words for “creditor,” the motif of forgiven debt recurs:
Matthew 6:12 – “Forgive us our debts…”
Matthew 18:23-35 – the unforgiving servant, stressing that receiving pardon obligates believers to extend it.
Luke 11:4 – the petition for debt remission in the Lord’s Prayer.

Applications for Christian Ministry

1. Preaching the Gospel: Emphasize that all stand indebted by sin and that God, in Christ, freely cancels the ledger (Colossians 2:14).
2. Counseling and Discipleship: Encourage believers to translate received mercy into tangible forgiveness of others’ offenses and financial compassion toward the needy (Ephesians 4:32).
3. Stewardship and Social Concern: Advocate lending practices reflecting biblical justice—eschewing exploitation, promoting generosity, and alleviating poverty (James 2:15-17).
4. Worship and Gratitude: Foster awareness that fervent love flows from recognition of forgiven debt, shaping corporate worship and private devotion.

Illustrations from Church History

Early Christian communities practiced voluntary sharing (Acts 4:34-35), embodying the spirit of debt release. Medieval jubilee customs and modern initiatives like church-funded debt relief programs continue this legacy, highlighting the church’s ongoing call to reflect the moneylender’s gracious character.

Summary of Key Themes

• Human sin incurs an unpayable debt.
• God, pictured as the benevolent lender, freely cancels that debt through Christ.
• Grateful love and merciful action are the proper responses.
• Biblical economics instruct believers to mirror divine generosity in social and financial dealings.

Forms and Transliterations
δανειστή δανειστής δανειστού δανιστη δανιστῇ daniste danistē danistêi danistē̂i
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 7:41 N-DMS
GRK: χρεοφειλέται ἦσαν δανιστῇ τινί ὁ
NAS: A moneylender had two
KJV: a certain creditor which had two
INT: debtors there were to a creditor certain the

Strong's Greek 1157
1 Occurrence


δανιστῇ — 1 Occ.

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