Lexical Summary ephémeros: Temporary, fleeting, lasting for a day Original Word: ἐφήμερος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance daily. From epi and hemera; for a day ("ephemeral"), i.e. Diurnal -- daily. see GREEK epi see GREEK hemera NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom epi and hémera Definition for the day NASB Translation daily (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2184: ἐφήμεροςἐφήμερος, ἐφημερον (equivalent to ὁ ἐπί ἡμέραν ὤν); 1. lasting for a day (Pindar, Hippocrates, Plutarch, Galen.; others). 2. daily: ἡ τροφή (Diodorus 3, 32; Dionysius Halicarnassus 8, 41; Aristid. ii., p. 398 Jebb edition; 537, Dindorf edition)), James 2:15. ἐφήμερος (Strong’s 2184) belongs to a family of Greek words that revolve around the concept of “a day.” Outside Scripture it was often used for something fleeting, momentary, or designed to last only until the setting of the sun. In James 2:15 its nuance is “for today,” emphasizing immediate, present-tense need. Usage in James 2:15 “Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food” (James 2:15). Here ἐφήμερος modifies “food,” underscoring that the lack being described is not theoretical or long-range but present and urgent. James employs the word to confront believers who profess faith yet withhold practical relief. The verse implicitly challenges the church to supply the day-to-day necessities of the vulnerable. Old Testament and Intertestamental Background Jewish thought had long recognized the brevity of human life and the need for daily sustenance. Psalm 90:6 pictures grass that “in the evening withers and fades,” and Lamentations 3:23 rejoices that God’s mercies are “new every morning.” While ἐφήμερος does not appear in the canonical Septuagint, the idea of transience saturates its pages, preparing readers to grasp James’s appeal. Transience of Earthly Life New Testament writers repeatedly contrast what endures with what fades. James himself later asks, “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes” (James 4:14). Peter echoes the thought, quoting Isaiah: “All people are like grass” (1 Peter 1:24). The vocabulary of ἐφήμερος aligns with this worldview: worldly provision is temporary, yet essential. Daily Provision and Dependence on God The Lord’s Prayer petitions, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Although a different Greek adjective (ἐπιούσιος) is used there, the shared stress on “today” establishes a biblical pattern: God supplies what is needed for the present day, and believers act as instruments of that supply. Paul testifies to this dynamic in 2 Corinthians 4:16, where inward renewal occurs “day by day.” Ethical Implications for Christian Community James’ context is a gathering of believers where some arrive hungry and poorly clothed. The appearance of ἐφήμερος forbids postponing compassion. Generosity delayed becomes disobedience, because hunger is a daily crisis. The apostle John makes a parallel appeal: “If anyone has worldly possessions and sees his brother in need but closes his heart against him, how can the love of God abide in him?” (1 John 3:17). Christ’s Teaching on Daily Care Jesus fed multitudes, instructing the disciples to distribute bread immediately (Matthew 14:16). His miracles met present hunger even while pointing to the Bread of Life. In Acts 6:1–6, the infant church appoints servants so that no widow’s “daily distribution” is overlooked. Meeting today’s need becomes a hallmark of gospel authenticity. Pastoral and Homiletical Points • Preaching from James 2:14–17 can spotlight ἐφήμερος to illustrate the link between faith and timely action. Summary ἐφήμερος focuses the reader on the urgency of present necessities and the fleeting nature of earthly life. Its solitary appearance in James 2:15 magnifies the point: authentic faith expresses itself in supplying what a neighbor lacks today, confident that the God who provides moment-by-moment mercy will replenish His people for tomorrow. |
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