ἐφήμερος

for the day, daily

Definition

The adjective ἐφήμερος means 'for the day' or 'daily,' describing something that is sufficient or necessary only for a single day. It emphasizes transience and immediate, short-term provision. In its sole New Testament occurrence in James 2:15, it modifies 'food' (τροφή) and 'covering' (σκέπασμα), referring to the basic bodily necessities required for daily survival. This contrasts with more permanent provisions or spiritual sustenance.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in James 2:15. It appears in a rhetorical example about faith without works, describing a brother or sister who is 'naked and lacking daily food.' Here, ἐφήμερος is used in a practical, ethical context to highlight the most immediate and tangible human needs—food and clothing—which a genuine faith should prompt believers to meet.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi, 'upon' or 'for') and ἡμέρα (hēmera, 'day'), the word literally means 'for the day.' It is related to the English word 'ephemeral,' which captures its core sense of being temporary or lasting only a short time. The concept is of something that meets the needs of the present day without extending into the future.

Semantic Range

Though used only once, ἐφήμερος is theologically significant in James' argument about authentic faith. It grounds the discussion of faith and works in the concrete, daily reality of human physical need. Understanding this Greek term underscores that Christian love must address immediate, bodily necessities (James 2:15-16), not just spiritual or future concerns. It connects to broader biblical themes of God's daily provision (as in the Lord's Prayer's 'daily bread') and the call for believers to be agents of that provision.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, the insecurity of daily life for the poor was acute. Lacking 'daily food' was a real and common threat, not a metaphorical condition. James' use of ἐφήμερος would have resonated powerfully with an audience familiar with subsistence living, where each day's needs were a primary concern. This cultural reality makes the failure of a professed believer to help in such a situation even more starkly condemnable.

καθ’ ἡμέραν (kath' hēmeran, G2596) — an adverbial phrase meaning 'daily' or 'day by day,' describing frequency rather than the nature of the provision itself.

Word Details

Scripture References