The noun ζημια (zemia) means loss or damage, or a reimbursement sought after damages. It's not clear where this word comes from but particularly because of the restitution clause and the search for it, it's been proposed that this noun may have something to do with the verb ζητεω (zeteo), to seek, and hence the verb ζεω (zeo), to be impassioned, and thus the word ζηλος (zelos), zeal. Here at Abarim Publications we contrarily propose that our noun ζημια (zemia) may actually have been adapted from the Semitic noun זמה (zimma), meaning plan or device (usually negative: a scheme or plot), from the verb זמם (zamam), to consider, purpose or devise.

But whatever its pedigree, our noun is fairly common in the classics, and speaks primarily of loss in the economic sense: a loss sustained, some unfortunate event to be marked as damage or loss in the books, or an item that was purchased for too high a price. Crucially, our noun could also describe a fine to be paid in money (for whatever perceived infraction), and from there it came to denote any kind of penalty (to be paid in goods, services, time served or some debt forever due). On rare occasions, our word could simply describe the price that was due upon transfer of ownership or responsibility, for whatever reason or whatever the nature of the transaction.

Our noun ζημια (zemia) is used 4 times in the New Testament, see full concordance, and from it derives: