ἐφήμερ-ος G2184
Daily, for the day; pertaining to each day's needs or occurrence
This adjective means 'for the day' or 'daily,' describing what belongs to each day, recurs daily, or meets daily needs. James uses it in describing a scenario where someone lacks 'daily food' (James 2:15)—the regular sustenance needed each day. The word emphasizes the everyday, recurring character of something, what is needed or experienced on a day-by-day basis.
Senses
1. sense 1 — James' hypothetical example (2:15) of a brother or sister lacking daily food illustrates empty faith that offers pious words without practical help. The translations ('daily,' 'diario,' 'taeglich') emphasize regular, recurring needs—not luxury items but basic daily sustenance. James' point is devastating: faith that won't provide daily bread to hungry believers is dead, proving itself worthless by failing love's most basic test. 1×
AR["اليَومِيِّ"]·ben["প্রতিদিনের"]·DE["taeglich"]·EN["daily"]·FR["ἐφημέρου"]·heb["יוֹמִית"]·HI["प्रतिदिन"]·ID["sehari-hari"]·IT["ephēmerou"]·jav["saben-dinten"]·KO["매일의"]·PT["diário"]·RU["ежедневной"]·ES["diario"]·SW["cha-kila-siku"]·TR["günlük"]·urd["روزانہ"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G3752 1. (123×)H6153 1. evening, time of day (123×)H0227a 1. then (122×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐφήμερ-ος, ον, Doric dialect ἐπάμ- Refs 5th c.BC+ (ἐφαμ- Refs: (ἡμέρα):—more common form of ἐφημέριος, especially in Prose, living but a day: hence, short-lived, τερπνόν Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 of men, ἐφήμεροι creatures of a day, Refs 7th c.BC+ __II for the day, daily, πυρετός NT+5th c.BC+: neuter plural as adverb, once a day, Refs 4th c.AD+ __III φάρμακον ἐ. killing on the same day, Refs 1st c.AD+