"a widow, Mt. 23:14; Lk. 4:26"
Definition and meaning
a widow, Mt. 23:14; Lk. 4:26
In the original Greek the word is written: χήρα
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of chera (G5503) across the King James Bible.
Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation.
Which devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayers: these shall receive greater damnation.
And there came a certain poor widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing.
And he called unto him his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:
And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day.
But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land;
But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.
Now when he came nigh to the gate of the city, behold, there was a dead man carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow: and much people of the city was with her.
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.
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Common questions
Strong's G5503 (chera) is a Greek word that means: a widow, Mt. 23:14; Lk. 4:26 It appears 25 times in the King James Bible.
The word chera (G5503) appears 25 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5503 is chera, a Greek word defined as: a widow, Mt. 23:14; Lk. 4:26. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chera is a Greek word found in the New Testament.