Lexicon ephémeria: Division, course Original Word: ἐφημερία Strong's Exhaustive Concordance course. From ephemeros; diurnality, i.e. (specially) the quotidian rotation or class of the Jewish priests' service at the Temple, as distributed by families -- course. see GREEK ephemeros NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom ephémeros Definition a class (of priests detailed for service in the temple) NASB Translation division (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2183: ἐφημερίαἐφημερία, ἐφημερίας, ἡ (efeemerios], ἐφημεριον, by day, lasting or acting for a day, daily), a word not found in secular authors; the Sept. in Chronicles and Nehemiah; 1. a service limited to a stated series of days (cf. German Tagdienst,Wochendienst); so used of the service of the priests and Levites: Nehemiah 13:30; 1 Chronicles 25:8; 2 Chronicles 13:10, etc. 2. "the class or course itself of priests who for a week at a time performed the duties of the priestly office" (German Wöchnerzunft): 1 Chronicles 23:6; 1 Chronicles 28:13, etc.; 1 Esdr. 1:2, 15; so twice in the N. T.: Luke 1:5, 8. For David divided the priests into twenty-four classes, each of which in its turn discharged the duties of the office for an entire week from sabbath to sabbath, 1 Chronicles 24:4; 2 Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 12:24; these classes Josephus calls πατριαί and ἐφημεριδες, Antiquities 7, 14, 7; de vita sua1; Suidas, ἐφημερία. ἡ πατριά λέγεται δέ καί ἡ τῆς ἡμέρας λειτουργία. Cf. Fritzsche, commentary on 3 Esdras, p. 12. (BB. DD. under the word Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of priestly divisions is closely related to the Hebrew term מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmereth, Strong's Hebrew 4931), which refers to a watch, guard, or division, particularly in the context of temple service. Another related term is מַחְלָקָה (machlqah, Strong's Hebrew 4256), which means a division or course, often used to describe the organization of the Levites and priests. Usage: The term ἐφημερία is used in the context of the priestly divisions established for temple service. It appears in the New Testament to describe the organized groups of priests who took turns performing their duties in the temple. Context: The concept of ἐφημερία is rooted in the Old Testament system of priestly service, where the descendants of Aaron were divided into 24 courses or divisions, as established by King David (1 Chronicles 24:1-19). Each division was responsible for ministering in the temple for one week, from Sabbath to Sabbath. This system ensured that the temple was continually staffed by priests who could perform the necessary rituals and sacrifices. Englishman's Concordance Luke 1:5 N-GFSGRK: Ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά καὶ NAS: Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; KJV: Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and INT: Zechariah of [the] division of Abijah and Luke 1:8 N-GFS |
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