καθημέρ-ιος G2522
daily, day by day; pertaining to each day's occurrence
This adjective describes something occurring or pertaining to each day, literally 'according to the day.' In Acts 6:1, it modifies the 'daily distribution' (diakonia kathēmerinē) of food to widows in the Jerusalem church. The term underscores the regularity and ongoing nature of the early church's care ministry—not occasional charity but systematic daily provision. The complaint that Hellenistic widows were being overlooked in this distribution led to the appointment of the Seven, showing how practical needs prompted structural solutions.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Luke highlights the routine nature of the church's widow-care program through kathēmerinos. The Spanish 'diario' (daily) and transliterated forms preserve the temporal regularity. The 'daily distribution' was substantial enough to require dedicated administration, and culturally significant enough that perceived inequity threatened church unity. The apostles' solution—appointing Spirit-filled men to 'serve tables'—validated the importance of physical care while protecting the priority of prayer and word-ministry. 1×
AR["يَوْمِيَّةِ"]·ben["প্রতিদিনের"]·DE["καθημερινῇ"]·EN["daily"]·FR["καθημερινῇ"]·heb["יוֹמְיוֹמִי"]·HI["प्रतिदिन-की"]·ID["sehari-hari,"]·IT["quotidiano"]·jav["saben-dinten,"]·KO["매일의"]·RU["ежедневном"]·ES["diario"]·SW["ya-kila-siku"]·TR["-o"]·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
καθημέρ-ιος, Doric dialect καθᾱμ-, α, ον, day by day, daily (καθ᾽ ἡμέραν), neuter as adverb, Refs 5th c.BC+; μοῖρα κ. Refs 5th c.BC+:—later also καθημερινός, ή, όν, δίαιτα LXX+1st c.AD+; of fevers, quotidian, later word for ἀμφημερινός (which see), especially of non-remittent quotidians, Refs 2nd c.AD+; φρίξ Refs 4th c.AD+