ἐπισιτισμός

provision, nourishment, food

Definition

ἐπισιτισμός refers specifically to a supply of food or provisions, particularly for a journey or a specific period. It denotes the act of providing or the provisions themselves, emphasizing sustenance and nourishment. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Luke 9:12, it describes the physical food needed to feed a large crowd. The word carries a sense of necessary, often planned, sustenance rather than a simple meal.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 9:12. The context is the feeding of the five thousand, where the disciples tell Jesus to send the crowd away to the surrounding villages to find 'lodging and provisions' (κατάλυσιν καὶ ἐπισιτισμόν). Its usage here highlights a practical, logistical concern for obtaining necessary food in a remote location, setting the stage for Jesus' miraculous provision.

Etymology

Derived from the preposition ἐπί (epi, meaning 'upon' or 'over') combined with the root related to σῖτος (sitos, meaning 'grain' or 'food'). The compound suggests a supply or provision of food laid up or provided for a purpose. It is related to the more common word σιτισμός (sitismos, G4621), which also means 'food' or 'nourishment,' with the ἐπί prefix adding a sense of addition or supply.

Semantic Range

While a concrete term for provisions, its use in Luke 9:12 is theologically significant. It frames the human perspective of lack and logistical impossibility, starkly contrasting with Jesus' divine power to abundantly provide. The word underscores the disciples' focus on physical, worldly means of supply, which Jesus transcends through the miracle, revealing God as the ultimate provider. Understanding this term enriches the narrative by highlighting the tension between human limitation and divine sufficiency.

In the ancient world, securing provisions for a journey or a large group in a deserted place was a serious and challenging logistical concern. Travelers and crowds were dependent on nearby settlements or carrying their own supplies. The disciples' suggestion to find ἐπισιτισμός in nearby villages reflects this standard cultural practice for managing hunger in remote areas, making Jesus' miraculous feeding all the more remarkable as it bypasses this normal societal mechanism.

σῖτος (sitos, G4621) — The basic word for 'grain' or 'food.' τροφή (trophē, G5160) — A general term for 'nourishment' or 'food,' often used for sustenance or diet. βρῶμα (brōma, G1033) — Means 'that which is eaten,' 'food,' often referring to solid food in distinction from drink.

Word Details

Scripture References