ἐλε-ημοσύνη G1654
alms, charitable giving, merciful deed — money or aid given out of compassion for the poor
Eleemosyne derives from eleos ('mercy, pity') and originally meant an act of compassion. By the Hellenistic period, and especially in Jewish and Christian usage, it had narrowed to denote charitable giving to the poor — almsgiving as a concrete expression of mercy. Jesus' teaching in Matthew 6:2-4 defines the word's NT profile: give alms without fanfare, without letting the left hand know what the right is doing. Luke emphasizes its spiritual potency — 'give alms, and all things are clean' (Luke 11:41), 'sell your possessions and give alms' (Luke 12:33). In Acts, Cornelius' prayers and alms rise as a memorial before God (Acts 10:2, 4, 31). Spanish 'limosna,' French 'aumone,' and German 'Almosen' are all ultimately borrowed from this same Greek word.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Charitable giving to the poor, almsgiving as a tangible expression of mercy. Jesus instructs secret generosity rather than public display (Matt 6:2-4). Luke connects alms with inner purity and eschatological treasure (Luke 11:41, 12:33). In Acts, Tabitha is remembered for her alms (Acts 9:36), and Cornelius' almsgiving is noted approvingly by God (Acts 10:2, 4, 31). The word's etymological root in eleos ('mercy') reveals that giving money to the poor was understood not as mere philanthropy but as an embodied act of divine compassion. The modern English 'alms' descends directly from this Greek term through Old English aelmysse. 13×
AR["الصَّدَقَةِ", "صَدَقَاتٍ", "صَدَقَاتُكَ", "صَدَقَةً", "صَدَقَتُكَ"]·ben["দান", "দান,", "দানে", "ভিক্ষা"]·DE["Almosen"]·EN["alms", "as-alms", "charity", "of-alms"]·FR["aumône"]·heb["צְדָקָה", "צְדָקוֹת", "צְדָקוֹתֶיךָ"]·HI["-मन्दिर-के", "दान", "दानों"]·ID["sedekah", "sedekah-sedekahmu", "sedekahmu"]·IT["elemosina"]·jav["dana", "dedana", "sadekah", "sedekah"]·KO["구제금을", "구하려고", "그-", "받으려고", "자선", "자선-을", "자선들-로", "자선들-을", "자선들-이", "자선으로", "자선을"]·PT["esmola", "esmolas"]·RU["милостыни", "милостыню", "милостыня"]·ES["como-limosna", "limosna", "limosnas"]·SW["sadaka"]·TR["almak", "sadaka", "sadakalar", "sadakaların", "sadakan", "sadakaya"]·urd["بھیک", "خیرات"]
Matt 6:2, Matt 6:3, Matt 6:4, Luke 11:41, Luke 12:33, Acts 3:2, Acts 3:3, Acts 3:10, Acts 9:36, Acts 10:2, Acts 10:4, Acts 10:31 (+1 more)
Related Senses
G2309 1. want, desire (166×)G0025 1. to love actively (133×)H0157 1. love (verb, active Qal) (129×)H8055 1. Qal: rejoice, be glad (123×)H7453 1. neighbor, fellow man (120×)G0026 1. of love (115×)H1058 1. Qal: to weep, cry (112×)H0954 1. to be ashamed, feel shame (Qal) (95×)H8057 1. joy, gladness, delight (90×)H2781 1. disgrace, shame, dishonor (68×)G2307 1. will, desire, purpose (63×)G5463 1. rejoice, be glad (63×)G0027 1. beloved (61×)H8130 1. Qal: to hate, detest (60×)G5479 1. (59×)G1680 1. (53×)H8130 2. Qal ptcp: hater, enemy (53×)H0014 1. be willing, want (51×)H0157 2. lover, friend (Qal participle substantive) (51×)H1945 1. woe (50×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐλε-ημοσύνη, ἡ, pity, mercy, Refs 3rd c.BC+ __2 charity, alms, LXX+NT+3rd c.AD+