### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek verb ἀποδεκατόω (apodekatóō, `{{G586}}`) is a compound word formed from the preposition ἀπό (apo), meaning "from" or "off," and the verb δεκατόω (dekatoō), meaning "to take a tenth" or "to tithe." The prefix ἀπό in this context can intensify the action or signify separation, indicating the specific act of setting apart a tenth. The core meaning of ἀποδεκατόω is "to tithe," encompassing both the act of paying a tenth and, less frequently in the New Testament, the act of receiving a tenth. Its semantic range is primarily confined to the religious practice of tithing, the dedication of a tenth of one's produce, income, or spoils, typically to a sacred purpose or for the support of religious personnel, such as priests.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The verb ἀποδεκατόω appears a few times in the New Testament, offering significant contextual insights:
* **[[Matthew 23:23]] / [[Luke 11:42]]**: In these parallel passages, Jesus critiques the Pharisees for their meticulous tithing of even the smallest garden herbs (mint, dill, and cumin), while simultaneously neglecting "the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness" (Matthew) or "justice and the love of God" (Luke). Here, ἀποδεκατόω refers to the act of *giving* the tithe. Jesus does not condemn tithing itself but the hypocrisy of prioritizing external ritual over internal moral and spiritual integrity.
* **[[Luke 18:12]]**: The self-righteous Pharisee in Jesus' parable boasts, "I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get." Again, ἀποδεκατόω describes the act of *paying* the tithe. This illustrates the Pharisee's reliance on external religious performance for self-justification, contrasting sharply with the humble prayer of the tax collector.
* **[[Hebrews 7:5]]**: This verse states that the Levitical priests, "according to the law, receive tithes from the people." Here, the verb (in its passive/middle voice, ἀποδεκατοῦντες) denotes the *receiving* of tithes by the priests. This highlights the prescribed role of the Levitical priesthood in the Mosaic Law.
* **[[Hebrews 7:6]]**: Speaking of Melchizedek, the text notes that "he whose genealogy is not traced from them received tithes from Abraham." This usage again refers to the act of *receiving* tithes.
* **[[Hebrews 7:9]]**: The author of Hebrews makes a profound theological statement: "One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham." Here, ἀποδεκατόω (in its active voice, δεδεκάτωται) describes Levi *paying* tithes. This is a crucial interpretive move, arguing that Levi, as a descendant of Abraham, was implicitly part of Abraham's act of tithing to Melchizedek, thereby establishing Melchizedek's superior status.
Across these occurrences, ἀποδεκατόω consistently refers to the practice of tithing, a foundational aspect of Israelite religious life. The contexts range from exposing religious hypocrisy to constructing a complex theological argument about priesthood.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **Hebrew Equivalents:** The primary Old Testament verb for tithing is עָשַׂר ('asar, `{{H6237}}`), meaning "to tithe" or "to take a tenth." The corresponding noun for "tithe" is מַעֲשֵׂר (ma'aser, `{{H4643}}`).
* **Greek Cognates/Synonyms:**
* δεκάτη (dekatē, `{{G1181}}`): The noun form meaning "a tenth part" or "tithe."
* δεκατόω (dekatoō, `{{G1182}}`): The simpler verb form from which ἀποδεκατόω is derived, also meaning "to take a tenth" or "to tithe." The prefix ἀπό in ἀποδεκατόω often adds a sense of completion or emphasis to the act of setting apart the tenth.
* **Related Concepts:**
* **Tithing (מעשר, δέκατη):** The practice of dedicating a tenth of one's income or produce, a practice with ancient Near Eastern roots codified in Mosaic Law ([[Leviticus 27:30-32]], [[Numbers 18:21-28]], [[Deuteronomy 14:22-29]]).
* **Firstfruits:** A related concept involving the offering of the initial and best portion of a harvest or flock.
* **Offerings/Sacrifices:** Broader categories of giving to God as acts of worship and obedience.
* **Stewardship:** The theological principle that all possessions belong to God and humans are entrusted with their management. Tithing is often seen as a tangible expression of this principle.
* **Law (Torah):** Tithing was a specific commandment under the Mosaic Law, supporting the Levites and the Temple cult.
* **Priesthood:** Tithes were fundamentally linked to the support and authority of the priesthood, whether Levitical or, as in the case of Melchizedek, a pre-Mosaic order.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἀποδεκατόω is multifaceted:
* **Obedience and Recognition of Divine Sovereignty:** In the Old Testament, tithing was a direct command from God, signifying obedience and acknowledging God as the ultimate provider and owner of all things ([[Psalm 24:1]]). It was an act of worship and trust, ensuring the sustenance of the priestly class and the maintenance of the tabernacle/temple.
* **Critique of Hypocrisy:** Jesus' use of ἀποδεκατόω in the Gospels serves as a powerful critique of religious hypocrisy. By meticulously tithing minor items while neglecting "justice, mercy, and faithfulness," the Pharisees demonstrated a superficial adherence to the law that missed its core ethical and relational demands. This highlights a key New Covenant emphasis on internal transformation and genuine righteousness over external ritualistic performance.
* **Superiority of Christ's Priesthood:** In Hebrews, the verb ἀποδεκατόω is central to the argument for the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood over the Levitical, and by extension, the superiority of Christ's priesthood. The fact that Abraham, the ancestor of the Levitical priesthood, *paid* tithes to Melchizedek (who *received* them) signifies Melchizedek's greater authority. Since "the less is blessed by the greater" ([[Hebrews 7:7]]), Abraham's act of tithing established Melchizedek's preeminence. Furthermore, the argument that Levi, still "in the loins" of Abraham, also "paid tithes" through Abraham, underscores the theological claim that the entire Levitical system, though divinely ordained, was subordinate to the enduring and perfect priesthood of Christ, who is "a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek."
### Summary
The Greek verb ἀποδεκατόω (apodekatóō, `{{G586}}`) precisely denotes the act of tithing, whether giving or receiving a tenth. Its etymology, combining ἀπό and δεκατόω, emphasizes the setting apart of this portion. In the New Testament, its usage is confined to specific, highly significant contexts. In the Gospels, particularly in Jesus' condemnations of the Pharisees ([[Matthew 23:23]], [[Luke 11:42]], [[Luke 18:12]]), ἀποδεκατόω highlights the danger of external religious performance devoid of internal righteousness, exposing the hypocrisy of those who meticulously observe ritual while neglecting justice, mercy, and faithfulness. In the Epistle to the Hebrews ([[Hebrews 7:5-6]], [[Hebrews 7:9]]), the verb is foundational to a profound theological argument. The act of Abraham tithing to Melchizedek, and by extension, Levi tithing through Abraham, serves to establish Melchizedek's superior priestly authority. This superiority, in turn, prefigures and underscores the eternal and perfect priesthood of Jesus Christ, who is a priest "after the order of Melchizedek," thereby superseding the temporary and imperfect Levitical system. Thus, ἀποδεκατόω is far more than a term for a financial transaction; it is a word rich with theological implications concerning true obedience, the nature of righteousness, and the transcendent authority of Christ's priestly office.
TRV