Epiousios

[Michael_C]

Tim

I recently found that the word “epiousios” is only used twice in the Bible in Matt. 6:11 & Luke 11:3. I learned this word was not a common word and was invented to convey a meaning that does not mean “daily”. And that Jesus is teaching us to ask for something beyond daily food. When I understand that Jesus said, “I am the bread(arton) of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst”- John 6:35, just after feeding the five thousand, we know he means more than bread. When I read his prayer in Matthew and Luke now I cannot say daily bread. It brings the idea of the mana God sent daily for the Hebrews to survive and that none of it would last more than a day. They had to rely on it daily to get them through for tomorrow.

Am I praying for Jesus to give to me what will help prepare me for what is coming? This seems to me to be what these verses are asking.

[Karl Kozlowski]

I’ve seen a discussion on this word in a book. It mentions that some scholars have tried to analyze its potential etymology and have offered alternative renderings, including the following:

“Give us this day our continuous bread.”
“Give us this day our supersubstantial bread.”
“Give us this day bread for our sustenance.”
“Give us this day our bread for this day [i.e., “our daily bread”].”

It then adds, “Each of these renderings has its supporters, each makes sense in the context, and each was derived from the limited information that is available.”

I, too, have wondered how Tim was going to render it in Matthew 6:11, so I’m glad I’m not the only one!

[Author]

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