"pity, compassion; in NT an act of kindness, alms, almsgiving, Mt. 6:2, 3, 4; Lk. 11:41"
Definition and meaning
pity, compassion; in NT an act of kindness, alms, almsgiving, Mt. 6:2, 3, 4; Lk. 11:41
In the original Greek the word is written: ἐλεημοσύνη
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 eleemosyne (G1654) across the King James Bible.
Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth:
That thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.
But rather give alms of such things as ye have; and, behold, all things are clean unto you.
Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple;
Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms.
And they knew that it was he which sat for alms at the Beautiful gate of the temple: and they were filled with wonder and amazement at that which had happened unto him.
Now there was at Joppa a certain disciple named Tabitha, which by interpretation is called Dorcas: this woman was full of good works and almsdeeds which she did.
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Common questions
Strong's G1654 (eleemosyne) is a Greek word that means: pity, compassion; in NT an act of kindness, alms, almsgiving, Mt. 6:2, 3, 4; Lk. 11:41 It appears 14 times in the King James Bible.
The word eleemosyne (G1654) appears 14 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G1654 is eleemosyne, a Greek word defined as: pity, compassion; in NT an act of kindness, alms, almsgiving, Mt. 6:2, 3, 4; Lk. 11:41. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
eleemosyne is a Greek word found in the New Testament.