ἐπαρκ-έω G1884
assist, help, relieve; provide aid especially to those in need
This verb means to be strong enough to help, to assist or relieve someone in need. In classical usage it could mean to ward off harm or provide support. In the New Testament it appears exclusively in 1 Timothy 5, in Paul's instructions about which widows the church should support. The word carries the sense of providing practical relief and assistance, especially to vulnerable persons who lack other resources.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Translators consistently use terms for helping or assisting: Spanish socorra/socorrió ('help, helped'), German helfen ('help'). All three occurrences are in 1 Timothy 5, addressing widow support: a woman who has 'assisted' the afflicted (5:10), whether any believer has widows to 'assist' (5:16, first use), and the exhortation to 'let her assist them' rather than burdening the church (5:16, second use). The context is practical material relief for vulnerable widows, showing the verb's focus on tangible aid. 3×
AR["أَغاثَتِ", "تُساعِدَ", "لِتُساعِدْهُنَّ"]·ben["সে-সাহায্য-করুক", "সে-সাহায্য-করে।", "সে-সাহায্য-করেছে,"]·DE["helfen"]·EN["it-may-assist", "let-her-assist", "she-assisted"]·FR["ἐπήρκεσεν", "ἐπαρκέσῃ", "ἐπαρκείτω"]·heb["עָזְרָה", "תְּסַיֵּעַ"]·HI["मदद-करे", "मदद-कि"]·ID["dapat-menolong", "hendaklah-dia-menolong", "menolong"]·IT["eparkeitō", "eparkesē", "epērkesen"]·jav["dipun-biyantu.", "padha-mbiyantu", "sampun-mbiyantu,"]·KO["도와주게-하라", "도와주게-하라.", "도왔다면,"]·PT["socorra", "socorra-as", "socorreu"]·RU["да-помогает", "помогала"]·ES["socorra", "socorrió", "socórralas"]·SW["aliwasaidia", "awasaidie", "liwasaidie"]·TR["yardım-etmişse", "yardım-etsin"]·urd["مدد-کرے", "مدد-کرے۔", "مدد-کی"]
Related Senses
H8104 1. Qal: keep, observe (law/covenant) (399×)G3101 1. disciple, learner (263×)H5826 1. Qal: to help, aid (53×)H8334 1. to minister, serve (52×)H8334 2. minister, servant, attendant (46×)G5083 1. observe or obey commands (41×)H8104 2. Niphal: beware, take heed (34×)G1247 1. to serve or minister to (32×)H3256 1. discipline, chastise (Piel active) (27×)H5833 1. help, aid, assistance (26×)H8104 3. Qal: watch, look out (26×)H5341 1. keep, observe (commandments) (24×)G5083 2. guard or protect someone (23×)H5647 2. serve, minister to (a person) (21×)H5826 2. Qal participle: helper (21×)G5219 1. obey, be obedient to (20×)H5341 2. guard, protect, preserve (a person) (20×)G1398 1. serve, render service to (19×)H5828 1. help, assistance (19×)H5411 1. Nethinim, temple servants (18×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπαρκ-έω, future -έσω (see. below): Epic dialect aorist infinitive ἐπαρκέσσαι Refs 3rd c.BC+:—to be strong enough for a thing, in Refs 8th c.BC+. with accusative of things et dative person, ward off something from one, οὐδέ τί οἱ τό γ᾽ ἐπήρκεσε λυγρὸν ὄλεθρον Refs 8th c.BC+prohibebit quominus.., Refs 4th c.BC+ __2 with accusative of things, ward off, prevent, ἐπαρκέσσαι κακότητα Refs 3rd c.BC+;…