Lexical Summary endees: Needy, lacking, deficient Original Word: ἐνδεής Strong's Exhaustive Concordance lacking. From a compound of en and deo (in the sense of lacking); deficient in -- lacking. see GREEK en see GREEK deo Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1729: ἐνδεήςἐνδεής, ἐνδης (from ἐνδέω to lack, middle to be in need of), needy, destitute: Acts 4:34. (From (Sophocles), Herodotus down; the Sept..) Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope The word translated “needy” (Strong’s Greek 1729) conveys a state of material lack so significant that basic necessities are unobtainable without assistance. It describes more than temporary inconvenience; it speaks of destitution that invites compassionate intervention from the covenant community. Biblical Occurrence The New Testament employs this term once, in Acts 4:34, to summarize the economic atmosphere inside the Jerusalem church: “There were no needy persons among them, because those who owned lands or houses would sell their property and bring the proceeds from the sales” (Acts 4:34). Old Testament Foundation The ideal of a community without destitution reaches back to the Torah. Moses promised, “Then there will be no poor among you, because the LORD will surely bless you” (Deuteronomy 15:4). Israel’s law mandated gleaning rights (Leviticus 19:9-10), regular tithes for the disadvantaged (Deuteronomy 14:28-29), and the Jubilee (Leviticus 25), all safeguards against chronic poverty. Prophets repeatedly condemned oppression of the poor (Isaiah 3:14-15; Amos 5:11-12), revealing God’s enduring concern that lack be met with justice and mercy. Christ’s Teaching on the Needy Jesus announced His mission with Isaiah’s words: “He has sent Me to proclaim freedom to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed” (Luke 4:18). He blessed “you who are poor” (Luke 6:20) and urged His followers, “Sell your possessions and give to the poor” (Luke 12:33). His ministry consistently moved toward those in want—materially and spiritually—revealing the heart of God embodied in human flesh. The Early Church Manifestation (Acts 4:34) Luke’s report that “there were no needy persons among them” paints a striking fulfillment of Deuteronomy 15:4 within the messianic community. Believers voluntarily liquidated assets, placed proceeds at the apostles’ feet, and saw resources distributed “to each according to his need” (Acts 4:35). This generosity was: The term marks a watershed moment when the Kingdom ethic took tangible form, overturning the prevailing Greco-Roman indifference to systemic poverty. Theological Significance 1. Covenant Fulfillment: The absence of the “needy” signals the reversal of the curse motifs tied to covenant unfaithfulness (Deuteronomy 28:47-48) and anticipates the promised blessing of universal provision. Pastoral and Ministry Implications • Stewardship: Believers hold possessions as trust from God, ready for deployment toward need (Proverbs 19:17; 1 Timothy 6:17-19). Historical Witness of the Church Patristic writers such as Tertullian boasted that Christians’ shared funds supported “orphans, the aged, prisoners, and the ship-wrecked.” Medieval hospitals, Reformation poor laws, and modern mission agencies arose from the same conviction that the gospel confronts destitution. Although institutional expressions vary, the calling to erase “neediness” remains central. Eschatological Anticipation While poverty persists in a fallen world, every act of relieving need testifies to the coming reign of Christ, when justice and abundance will be universal (Isaiah 65:21-23). The single use of Strong’s 1729 in Acts anchors that hope in concrete history, urging continual pursuit of a community where “there were no needy persons among them.” Related Scriptures for Further Study Deuteronomy 15:7-11; Psalm 34:10; Psalm 72:12-14; Proverbs 22:9; Isaiah 41:17; Matthew 25:35-40; Acts 20:35; 2 Corinthians 8:13-15; Galatians 6:10; James 2:5-6. Forms and Transliterations ενδεεί ενδεείς ενδεέσι ενδεή ενδεης ενδεής ἐνδεής ενδεία ένδεια ένδειαν ενδείας ενδεούς endees endeēs endeḗsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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