Give us
This phrase reflects a posture of dependence and humility before God. The Greek word for "give" is "δίδου" (didou), which is an imperative form, indicating a request or plea. It underscores the recognition that all provisions come from God, and it is a daily reminder of our reliance on His grace and generosity. In the historical context of the first-century Jewish culture, daily sustenance was not guaranteed, and this prayer would resonate deeply with the audience who understood the precariousness of daily life.

each day
The phrase "each day" emphasizes the continual and ongoing nature of our need for God's provision. The Greek word "καθ' ἡμέραν" (kath' hēmeran) suggests a daily rhythm, aligning with the Israelites' experience of gathering manna in the wilderness, as described in Exodus 16. This daily dependence on God fosters a relationship of trust and faith, reminding believers that God is attentive to their needs every single day.

our daily bread
The term "daily bread" is translated from the Greek "τὸν ἄρτον ἡμῶν τὸν ἐπιούσιον" (ton arton hēmōn ton epiousion). The word "ἐπιούσιον" (epiousion) is unique and somewhat enigmatic, often interpreted as "necessary for existence" or "sufficient for the day." This phrase not only refers to physical sustenance but also symbolizes spiritual nourishment. In a broader scriptural context, bread is a recurring symbol of God's provision, from the manna in the wilderness to Jesus being the "bread of life" in John 6:35. This duality of meaning encourages believers to seek both physical and spiritual sustenance from God, recognizing Him as the ultimate source of all that is needed for life and godliness.

Verse 3. - Give us day by day our daily bread. There would need no comment upon this - at first sight - quite simple prayer, but for the word ἐπιούσιος, rendered "daily." This word, in all Greek literature, occurs only in these two evangelists, in SS. Matthew and Luke's report of the Lord's Prayer. Now, does this strange word mean "daily," as our translation gives it; or is it the rough Greek rendering of some Aramaic word of a loftier signification? Most probably our Lord was speaking Aramaic in this place, far away from the capital, in the heart of Palestine. Jerome attempts to Latinize literally the Greek compound word with supersubstantialis; hence the Rheims Version renders it "supersubstantial," and Wickliffe "over other substance." Generally speaking, the patristic expositors interpret this famous word in such a way that the petition prays, not for the common bread of everyday life, but for a spiritual food, even the Bread from heaven, which giveth life unto the world. So, with unimportant differences, interpret Origen, Tertullian, Cyril of Jerusalem, Athanasius, Ambrose, and Augustine. Among the moderns who adopt the same view may be cited Olshausen, Stier, and Dean Plumptre. The last-named scholar's words are an admirable answer to any who would abandon this higher and nobler meaning, for the sake of preserving the reference to the commonplace of everyday life. "So taken, the petition.., 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." If, however, the interpretation (on the whole unlikely) of common, everyday bread, be accepted, and the simple reference of Luke 10:42 to the necessity for only one dish at table be adopted, then, with the charge to the seventy contained in Luke 10:7, to eat and drink "such things as they give," and the further instruction to "take no thought... what ye shall eat" (Luke 12:22), we have, in this last period of our Lord's public life, clear expressions on the part of the Master of his wish that his followers should ever content themselves with the simplest human food, avoiding not only all excess, but all extravagance, and even consideration and thought, in providing for anything beyond the simplest daily sustenance.

Parallel Commentaries ...


Give
δίδου (didou)
Verb - Present 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.

each
καθ’ (kath’)
Preposition
Strong's 2596: A primary particle; down, in varied relations (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined).

day
ἡμέραν (hēmeran)
Noun - Accusative Feminine Singular
Strong's 2250: A day, the period from sunrise to sunset.

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: Luke 11:3 Give us day by day our daily (Luke Lu Lk)