Give us
The phrase "Give us" in Matthew 6:11 reflects a posture of dependence and humility before God. The Greek word used here is "δίδωμι" (didōmi), which means to give or grant. This request acknowledges that all provisions come from God, emphasizing our reliance on His grace and generosity. In the historical context of the Jewish audience, this would resonate deeply, as they were accustomed to daily reliance on God, reminiscent of the Israelites receiving manna in the wilderness. This phrase encourages believers to approach God with the confidence that He is a loving Father who delights in providing for His children.

this day
The phrase "this day" underscores the immediacy and daily nature of our dependence on God. The Greek word "σήμερον" (sēmeron) translates to "today," emphasizing the present moment. This reflects a trust in God's provision for each day, rather than worrying about the future. In the historical context, daily sustenance was a common concern, and Jesus' teaching here encourages a focus on the present, trusting God to meet today's needs. This aligns with the broader biblical theme of living in the present and trusting God for the future, as seen in passages like Lamentations 3:22-23, which speaks of God's mercies being new every morning.

our daily
The term "our daily" is derived from the Greek word "ἐπιούσιος" (epiousios), which is unique to the Lord's Prayer and has been the subject of much scholarly debate. It is often understood to mean "necessary for existence" or "sufficient for the day." This phrase highlights the personal and communal aspect of the prayer, as it is not just a personal request but one made on behalf of the community of believers. Historically, this would resonate with the early Christian community's practice of sharing resources and caring for one another's needs, as seen in Acts 2:44-45. It reminds believers that God's provision is both personal and communal, encouraging a spirit of generosity and mutual support.

bread
The word "bread" in this context is "ἄρτος" (artos) in Greek, which can refer to literal bread or symbolize sustenance and provision in a broader sense. Bread was a staple in the ancient Near Eastern diet, representing the basic necessities of life. In a scriptural context, bread also carries significant theological weight, as it is associated with God's provision (e.g., manna in the wilderness) and with Jesus Himself, who is the "bread of life" (John 6:35). This request for bread is a recognition of God's role as the provider of all our needs, both physical and spiritual. It invites believers to trust in God's provision and to seek Him as the source of all sustenance.

(11) Give us this day our daily bread.--A strange obscurity hangs over the words that are so familiar to us. The word translated "daily" is found nowhere else, with the one exception of the parallel passage in Luke 11:3, and so far as we can judge must have been coined for the purpose, as the best equivalent for the unknown Aramaic word which our Lord actually used. We are accordingly thrown partly on its possible derivation, partly on what seems (compatibly with its derivation) most in harmony with the spirit of our Lord's teaching. The form of the word (see Note in Excursus) admits of the meanings, (1) bread sufficient for the day now coming; (2) sufficient for the morrow; (3) sufficient for existence; (4) over and above material substance--or, as the Vulgate renders it, panis super substantialis. Of these, (1) and (2) are the most commonly received; and the idea conveyed by them is expressed in the rendering "daily bread." So taken, it is a simple petition, like the prayer of Agur in Proverbs 30:8, for "food convenient for us;" and as such, has been uttered by a thousand child-like hearts, and has borne its witness alike against over-anxiety and far-reaching desires for outward prosperity. It is not without some hesitation, in face of so general a concurrence of authority, that I find myself constrained to say that the last meaning seems to me the truest. Let us remember (1) the words with which our Lord had answered the Tempter, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God" (Matthew 4:4); (2) His application of those words in "I have meat to eat that ye know not of" (John 4:32); (3) His own use of bread as the symbol of that which sustains the spiritual life (John 6:27-58); (4) the warnings in Matthew 6:25-31 not only against anxiety about what we shall eat and drink, but against seeking these things instead of seeking simply the kingdom of God and His righteousness--and we can scarcely fail, I think, to see that He meant His disciples, in this pattern Prayer, to seek for the nourishment of the higher and not the lower life. So taken, the petition, instead of being a contrast to the rest of the Prayer, is in perfect harmony with it, and the whole raises us to the region of thought in which we leave all that concerns our earthly life in the hands of our Father, without asking Him even for the supply of its simplest wants, seeking only that He would sustain and perfect the higher life of our spirit. So when we ask for "daily bread," we mean not common food, but the "Bread from heaven, which giveth life unto the world." So the reality of which the Eucharistic bread is the symbol is the Lord's gracious answer to the Prayer He has taught us. . . . Verse 11. - Give us this day our daily bread τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον δὸς ἡμῖν σήμερον Here begin the petitions for our personal needs. The first is for earthly food, the means of maintaining our earthly life. For "in order to serve God it is first of all necessary that we live" (Godet, on Luke). Give us. The order in the Greek emphasizes not God's grace in giving, but the thing asked for. This day. Parallel passage: Luke 11:3, "day by day (τὸ καθ ἡμέραν)." The thought suggested there, of continuance in the supply, is seen also in the verb (δίδου). Daily (ἐπιούσιον); and so Luke (compare especially the classical appendix in Bishop Lightfoot's 'Revision,' etc., pp. 195, etc., and Chase, loc. cit.). It will be sufficient to do little more than indicate the chief lines of proposed derivations and interpretations of this ἅπαξ λεγόμενον.

(1) Ἐπὶ οὐσία

(a) physical, "for subsistence," sufficient or necessary to sustain us;"

(b) spiritual, "for our essential being" (cf. Jerome's rendering with a literalism that recalls the rabbis, super-substantially. . . .

Parallel Commentaries ...

Give
δὸς (dos)
Verb - Aorist Imperative Active - 2nd Person Singular
Strong's 1325: To offer, give; I put, place. A prolonged form of a primary verb; to give.

us
ἡμῖν (hēmin)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Dative 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

this day
σήμερον (sēmeron)
Adverb
Strong's 4594: Today, now. Neuter of a presumed compound of the article ho and hemera; on the day; generally, now.

our
ἡμῶν (hēmōn)
Personal / Possessive Pronoun - Genitive 1st Person Plural
Strong's 1473: I, the first-person pronoun. A primary pronoun of the first person I.

daily
ἐπιούσιον (epiousion)
Adjective - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 1967: For the morrow, necessary, sufficient.

bread.
ἄρτον (arton)
Noun - Accusative Masculine Singular
Strong's 740: Bread, a loaf, food. From airo; bread or a loaf.


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NT Gospels: Matthew 6:11 Give us today our daily bread (Matt. Mat Mt)