παραδίδωμι

Pronunciation Guide: par-ad-id’-o-mee

Quick Answer: Strong’s G3860 παραδίδωμι fundamentally means “to hand over” or “deliver,” encompassing everything from betrayal to entrustment. This powerful verb describes both Judas betraying Yeshua and the Father delivering His Son for our salvation—capturing the profound tension between human treachery and divine love.

What Does παραδίδωμι Mean?

Strong’s G3860: The Greek verb παραδίδωμι (paradidōmi) carries profound theological weight throughout Scripture, representing the sacred act of handing something or someone over from one party to another. At its core, this word describes the transfer of custody, authority, or responsibility, but its biblical usage reveals layers of meaning that illuminate both human failure and divine grace. The term encompasses betrayal in its darkest form—as when Judas handed over the Messiah—yet also describes the ultimate act of love when יהוה (Yahweh) the Father delivered His Son for humanity’s redemption. This dual nature makes παραδίδωμι one of the most theologically rich verbs in the New Testament, bridging the gap between human treachery and divine sacrifice. The word appears at pivotal moments in Scripture, marking transitions where divine purposes unfold through both faithful obedience and human weakness.

Key Insight: παραδίδωμι reveals that even acts of betrayal can serve יהוה’s redemptive purposes.

Where Does παραδίδωμι Come From?

• Part of Speech: Verb (active and passive voices)
• Root Words: παρά (G3844, “beside, from”) + δίδωμι (G1325, “to give”)
• Language Origin: Classical Greek compound verb
• Primary Usage: Transfer of custody, responsibility, or authority
• Hebrew Equivalents: Primarily נתן (natan, “to give”), מסר (masar, “to deliver”)

What Is the Historical and Cultural Context of παραδίδωμι?

In classical Greek literature, παραδίδωμι served as a standard term for transmission and transfer across multiple domains of life. Herodotus used it to describe the Persian postal system, where messengers would παραδίδωμι their messages to the next relay runner, establishing a chain of reliable communication across the empire. Plato employed the term when discussing how teachers παραδίδωμι knowledge and virtue to their students, emphasizing the sacred responsibility of educational transmission. Thucydides recorded how military commanders would παραδίδωμι their cities to enemies during sieges, capturing the gravity of surrender and defeat.

The Septuagint translators chose παραδίδωμι to render various Hebrew concepts, most commonly נתן (natan, “to give”), but the Greek term carried additional nuances of formal transfer and responsibility that the Hebrew sometimes lacked. This semantic expansion enriched the theological vocabulary available to New Testament writers, allowing them to express complex concepts about divine sovereignty and human responsibility.

Cultural Significance in the Ancient World

In Greco-Roman society, the act of παραδίδωμι held deep legal and social implications. When applied to persons, it often meant handing someone over to authorities for judgment or punishment. In commercial contexts, it described the formal transfer of goods or property. Most significantly for biblical understanding, the term carried religious connotations related to tradition (παράδοσις), the handing down of sacred teachings from generation to generation.

Historical Summary: παραδίδωμι evolved from a simple transfer verb to a profound theological term expressing divine sovereignty over human affairs.

How Is παραδίδωμι Used in the Bible?

Throughout the New Testament, παραδίδωμι appears 119 times in various forms, making it one of the most frequently used verbs for describing divine and human interactions. The word functions in three primary theological contexts: betrayal and surrender, divine entrustment, and prophetic fulfillment. Each usage reveals different aspects of יהוה’s sovereignty over human history and the complex interplay between human choice and divine purpose.

Patterns of Usage

The Synoptic Gospels employ παραδίδωμι most frequently in passion narratives, where it describes both Judas’s betrayal and the Father’s delivery of His Son. Paul uses the term to explain doctrinal transmission and divine judgment, while Peter emphasizes the example of the Messiah’s willing surrender to suffering. The verb’s flexibility allows biblical authors to express both the horror of betrayal and the beauty of sacrificial love using the same fundamental concept.

Usage Summary: παραδίδωμι bridges human failure and divine grace, showing how יהוה works through all circumstances for redemption.

• Matthew 4:12 – “Now when Yeshua heard that John had been taken into custody [παραδίδωμι], He departed into Galilee”
• Matthew 26:15 – “And they weighed out thirty pieces of silver to him. From then on he sought opportunity to betray Him [παραδίδωμι]”
• Romans 8:32 – “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over [παραδίδωμι] for us all”
• 1 Corinthians 15:24 – “Then comes the end, when He hands over [παραδίδωμι] the kingdom to יהוה, even the Father”
• 1 Peter 2:23 – “While being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He did not threaten, but kept entrusting [παραδίδωμι] Himself to Him who judges righteously”

How Should παραδίδωμι Be Translated?

Translation Tip: Context determines whether παραδίδωμι expresses positive entrustment or negative betrayal.

παραδίδωμι Translation Options:

What Does παραδίδωμι Teach Us About God?

The theological richness of παραδίδωμι reveals יהוה’s absolute sovereignty over human history, even in moments that appear to contradict His purposes. When the Father delivered up His Son (Romans 8:32), this act of παραδίδωμι demonstrated divine love that transforms betrayal into redemption. The same verb that describes Judas’s treachery also describes the Father’s sacrifice, revealing how יהוה works through all circumstances—both good and evil—to accomplish His redemptive purposes.

Divine Character Revealed

The usage of παραδίδωμι in Scripture illuminates יהוה’s justice and mercy working in perfect harmony. When sinners are “given over” to their sinful desires (Romans 1:24-28), this represents divine justice allowing natural consequences to unfold. Yet when the Messiah is “delivered up” for transgressors, this same action expresses infinite mercy, showing how יהוה’s righteousness and love meet at the cross. The verb thus captures the mysterious intersection of divine wrath and grace that defines the gospel message.

Theological Core: παραδίδωμι reveals יהוה as both Judge and Redeemer, sovereign over all human actions.

How Can I Apply παραδίδωμι to My Life?

The biblical concept of παραδίδωμι calls believers to surrender control and trust יהוה’s sovereignty even in difficult circumstances. Like Yeshua, who continually entrusted Himself to the Father (1 Peter 2:23), we are called to παραδίδωμι our lives, dreams, and fears into יהוה’s capable hands. This requires recognizing that human betrayals and disappointments cannot thwart divine purposes, and that יהוה specializes in bringing good from evil situations.

Practical Living

When facing betrayal or injustice, remember that Yeshua experienced the ultimate παραδίδωμι—both being betrayed by a friend and being delivered up by the Father for our salvation. This dual experience means He understands both the pain of human treachery and the purpose behind divine surrender. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, believers can follow His example of faithful submission rather than bitter retaliation.

Self-Examination Questions:
• What areas of my life am I reluctant to παραδίδωμι (hand over) to יהוה’s control?
• How can I follow Yeshua’s example of trusting the Father even when facing betrayal or suffering?
• Am I faithfully παραδίδωμι (transmitting) the gospel truth to the next generation?

What Words Are Similar to παραδίδωμι?

Did You Know?

• What does παραδίδωμι mean in modern Greek? It still means “to hand over” or “deliver,” but has expanded to include “surrender” in military contexts and “transmit” in academic settings.
• How did Herodotus use παραδίδωμι? He described the Persian postal relay system where messengers would παραδίδωμι their messages to the next runner, creating history’s first documented chain of communication.
• What’s the difference between παραδίδωμι and δίδωμι? While δίδωμι simply means “to give,” παραδίδωμι adds the concept of formal transfer with the prefix παρά (“beside”), implying a structured handover process.
• Why does the Bible use παραδίδωμι in John 19:30? When Yeshua “yielded up His spirit,” the verb emphasizes His voluntary, controlled surrender of life rather than passive death.
• How does παραδίδωμι relate to apostolic tradition? The noun παράδοσις (tradition) comes from this verb, emphasizing how apostolic teachings were formally “handed down” through faithful transmission.
• What causes spiritual blindness today? According to Romans 1:24-28, יהוה sometimes παραδίδωμι people over to their sinful desires when they persistently reject His truth, resulting in darkened understanding.
• Hidden Connection to Prayer – When Yeshua taught “deliver us from evil” (Matthew 6:13), He used a different verb (ῥύομαι), but the concept connects to παραδίδωμι by asking the Father not to παραδίδωμι us into temptation’s power.

Remember This

Key Takeaway: παραδίδωμι reveals that יהוה transforms even betrayal into blessing, working all things together for His glory and our good.