διατροφή

nourishment, food

Definition

διατροφή (diatrophē) primarily means 'nourishment' or 'food'—the sustenance necessary to maintain life. In its single New Testament occurrence, it refers to the basic physical provisions of life, specifically food and covering. The word carries the sense of that which supports or sustains the body through daily living. Unlike some broader terms for provisions, it focuses on the fundamental, ongoing need for nourishment.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in 1 Timothy 6:8. Here, the Apostle Paul instructs that having 'food (διατροφή) and covering,' we should be content. Its usage is in a context of ethical teaching about contentment and resisting the love of money, grounding the argument in the sufficiency of God's provision for basic human needs.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition διά (dia), meaning 'through' or 'throughout,' combined with the root τροφή (trophē), meaning 'nourishment' or 'food' (G5160). The compound suggests nourishment that sustains *through* a period or the means of sustenance *through* life. It is related to the verb τρέφω (trephō, G5142), meaning 'to nourish' or 'to feed.'

Semantic Range

Though used only once, διατροφή is theologically significant in its context. It anchors the Christian virtue of contentment not in abundance but in God's faithful provision of life's basic necessities. Understanding this Greek term highlights the biblical contrast between mere sustenance and greedy accumulation, emphasizing trust in God for daily bread as a foundation for godly living, as taught in 1 Timothy 6:6-10.

In the Greco-Roman world, 'διατροφή' represented the fundamental daily sustenance, a constant concern for many. For Paul to list it alongside 'covering' (clothing/shelter) reflects a common ancient understanding of life's irreducible necessities. This would resonate with an audience familiar with economic insecurity, reinforcing the call to find sufficiency in God rather than in material wealth.

τροφή (trophē, G5160) — A more general term for food or nourishment; βρῶμα (brōma, G1033) — Often refers to solid food or something eaten; ἐπισιτισμός (episitismos, G1984) — Provisions or supplies, with a slightly broader sense than just food.

Word Details

Scripture References