Strong’s Greek 470 depicts a verbal response that pushes back, a rejoinder that questions, contradicts, or attempts to refute what has just been stated or done. It is more than a mere reply; it is an answering-again that places the speaker in tension—either argumentative resistance or embarrassed silence.

Occurrences in the New Testament

• Romans 9:20 – The only undisputed use in an active, confrontational sense. Paul warns against the presumption of fallen humanity trying to cross-examine its Creator: “But who are you, O man, to answer back to God?”.
• Luke 14:6 – The participial form exposes the impotence of Jesus’ critics: “And they were unable to reply to these things”. Their anticipated counter-argument never materializes.

Old Testament and Septuagint Resonance

Although the exact verb is not found in the Septuagint, its idea surfaces in passages where mortals challenge divine wisdom (Job 38–40; Isaiah 45:9). Paul’s wording in Romans 9:20 intentionally echoes Isaiah’s potter-clay motif, anchoring the New Testament warning in a long-standing biblical theme: finite creatures who dare dispute God are rebuked by the very act of speaking against Him.

Contextual Analysis

Romans 9:20

Paul is defending God’s sovereign right to dispense mercy. The participle ἀνταποκρινόμενος pictures a hypothetical objector interrupting the argument. By confronting this attitude directly, Paul preempts any claim that divine election violates justice. The verb thus frames unbelief not merely as intellectual doubt but as audacious protest.

Luke 14:6

Jesus cures a man with dropsy on the Sabbath. The religious leaders expect to indict Him, yet His question—“Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?”—turns the courtroom around. Their failure ἀνταποκριθῆναι unmasks their hypocrisy. The same root that can signify back-talk here underlines speechlessness; when righteousness speaks, opposition is stilled.

Theological Emphasis

1. Divine Prerogative and Human Posture

The term underscores that God retains absolute authority over His creation. Questioning His justice is portrayed as the height of presumption. Reverent inquiry is welcome (Psalm 10; Habakkuk 1), but argumentative rebellion is not.

2. Christ’s Unassailable Authority

In Luke, the silence of the critics magnifies Jesus’ lordship over both Sabbath and sickness. The verb functions like a narrative spotlight: the One who rightfully heals also rightly silences.

3. Epistemological Humility

Scripture invites believers to reason (Isaiah 1:18) yet simultaneously warns against crossing the line into obstinate contradiction. ἀνταποκρίνομαι marks that boundary.

Pastoral and Ministry Applications

• Cultivating Humility in Prayer

Romans 9:20 cautions against prayer that degenerates into accusation. Pastors can train believers to voice lament without lapsing into defiance.

• Apologetics with Reverence

While defending the faith, Christians must avoid the very attitude Paul condemns—placing God in the dock. Winsome persuasion never drifts into irreverent cross-examination of divine character.

• Church Discipline and Teaching

Luke 14:6 models how godly confrontation—rooted in truth and compassion—often leaves antagonists with nothing to say. Elders may draw courage from Christ’s example when false charges arise.

Historical Insight

Early patristic writers reflected on Romans 9:20 to reinforce divine sovereignty. Irenaeus (Against Heresies IV.39) invokes the passage to silence Gnostic complaints; Augustine cites it in On the Predestination of the Saints. The rarity of the verb made it a rhetorical hallmark of the potter-clay debate in subsequent theological controversy.

Comparative Use Outside Scripture

Hellenistic legal papyri sometimes employ cognate forms when a defendant files a counter-plea. This extra-biblical usage sharpens Paul’s image: humanity is pictured as a litigant attempting an impermissible countersuit against heaven.

Summary

Strong’s Greek 470 appears only twice, yet it powerfully crystallizes two opposite outcomes of encountering divine truth: proud contradiction that presumes to judge God, and humbled silence that cannot gainsay His wisdom. The term beckons believers toward a posture of awe, repentance, and obedient trust whenever God speaks.