ἐπιμέλ-εια G1958
care, attention, oversight
A noun denoting care, attention, or diligent oversight. Acts 27:3 records Julius the centurion treating Paul kindly and allowing him to go to friends 'to receive care (ἐπιμελείας).' Classical usage included medical treatment, attention to civic duties, or care bestowed on anything requiring diligence. Here it suggests friends providing for Paul's needs—food, medical attention, comfort—during the journey to Rome.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke notes the centurion's humane treatment of his prisoner. The multilingual glosses (Spanish 'cuidado,' French 'soin') converge on care and attention. Julius permits Paul to visit believers in Sidon who will attend to his practical needs. This small kindness reflects both the centurion's character and divine providence ensuring Paul's welfare en route to his Roman trial. The noun captures comprehensive caregiving, not mere casual help. 1×
AR["عِنَايَةً"]·ben["যত্নের"]·DE["ἐπιμελείας"]·EN["care"]·FR["soin"]·heb["טִפּוּל"]·HI["देखभाल"]·ID["perawatan"]·IT["ospitalita"]·jav["pangopan"]·KO["돌보아-받기를"]·PT["de-cuidado"]·RU["заботы"]·ES["cuidado"]·SW["matunzo"]·TR["bakıma"]·urd["دیکھ-بھال"]
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
ἐπιμέλ-εια, ἡ, written -εα “IG” 22.483.24 Refs 4th c.BC+; Ionic dialectgenitive -λίης Ps.-Refs 5th c.BC+: —care bestowed upon a thing, attention paid to it, and absolutely, attention, diligence, Prose word, once in Refs 5th c.BC+: in plural, pains, Refs 5th c.BC+ (hence, of medical treatment, Refs 5th c.BC+; πρὸς τοὺς θεούς, πρὸς τὴν πόλιν, Refs 2nd c.BC+; ἐπιμέλειάν τινος ποιεῖσθαι, ἔχειν, Refs…