◄ 2183. ephémeria ►
Strong's Lexicon ephémeria: Division, course Original Word: ἐφημερία Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine Transliteration: ephémeria Pronunciation: ef-ay-mer-ee'-ah Phonetic Spelling: (ef-ay-mer-ee'-ah) Definition: a class of priests who served for a stated number of days. Meaning: A division or course of priests who served in the temple on a rotational basis, typically for a week at a time. Word Origin: Derived from the Greek word ἐφήμερος (ephēmeros), meaning "daily" or "for the day." Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The concept of priestly divisions is closely related to the Hebrew term מִשְׁמֶרֶת (mishmereth, Strong's Hebrew 4931), which refers to a watch, guard, or division, particularly in the context of temple service. Another related term is מַחְלָקָה (machlqah, Strong's Hebrew 4256), which means a division or course, often used to describe the organization of the Levites and priests. Usage: The term ἐφημερία is used in the context of the priestly divisions established for temple service. It appears in the New Testament to describe the organized groups of priests who took turns performing their duties in the temple. Context: The concept of ἐφημερία is rooted in the Old Testament system of priestly service, where the descendants of Aaron were divided into 24 courses or divisions, as established by King David (1 Chronicles 24:1-19). Each division was responsible for ministering in the temple for one week, from Sabbath to Sabbath. This system ensured that the temple was continually staffed by priests who could perform the necessary rituals and sacrifices. In the New Testament, the term ἐφημερία is specifically mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. In Luke 1:5, it is used to describe the division of Abijah, to which Zechariah, the father of John the Baptist, belonged: "In the time of Herod king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah. His wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron" (BSB). This reference highlights the continuity of the priestly service system from the Old Testament into the New Testament period. The division of Abijah was the eighth of the 24 courses, as outlined in 1 Chronicles 24. The structured rotation allowed for an orderly and consistent approach to temple worship, reflecting the importance of maintaining a sacred space for the Israelites to connect with God. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origin from ephémeros Definition a class (of priests detailed for service in the temple) NASB Translation division (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2183: ἐφημερία ἐφημερία, ἐφημερίας, ἡ (efeemerios], ἐφημεριον, by day, lasting or acting for a day, daily), a word not found in secular authors; the Sept. in Chronicles and Nehemiah; 1. a service limited to a stated series of days (cf. German Tagdienst,Wochendienst); so used of the service of the priests and Levites: Nehemiah 13:30; 1 Chronicles 25:8; 2 Chronicles 13:10, etc. 2. "the class or course itself of priests who for a week at a time performed the duties of the priestly office" (German Wöchnerzunft): 1 Chronicles 23:6; 1 Chronicles 28:13, etc.; 1 Esdr. 1:2, 15; so twice in the N. T.: Luke 1:5, 8. For David divided the priests into twenty-four classes, each of which in its turn discharged the duties of the office for an entire week from sabbath to sabbath, 1 Chronicles 24:4; 2 Chronicles 8:14; Nehemiah 12:24; these classes Josephus calls πατριαί and ἐφημεριδες, Antiquities 7, 14, 7; de vita sua1; Suidas, ἐφημερία. ἡ πατριά λέγεται δέ καί ἡ τῆς ἡμέρας λειτουργία. Cf. Fritzsche, commentary on 3 Esdras, p. 12. (BB. DD. under the word Priests; Edersheim, Jesus the Messiah, book ii., chapter iii.) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance course. From ephemeros; diurnality, i.e. (specially) the quotidian rotation or class of the Jewish priests' service at the Temple, as distributed by families -- course. see GREEK ephemeros Forms and Transliterations εφημερία εφημερίαι εφημερίαις εφημερίαν εφημεριας εφημερίας εφημέριας ἐφημερίας εφημεριών ephemerias ephemerías ephēmerias ephēmerías Links Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts Englishman's Concordance Luke 1:5 N-GFS GRK: Ζαχαρίας ἐξ ἐφημερίας Ἀβιά καὶ NAS: Zacharias, of the division of Abijah; KJV: Zacharias, of the course of Abia: and INT: Zechariah of [the] division of Abijah and Luke 1:8 N-GFS GRK: τάξει τῆς ἐφημερίας αὐτοῦ ἔναντι NAS: in the [appointed] order of his division, KJV: the order of his course, INT: order of the division of him before Strong's Greek 2183 2 Occurrences ἐφημερίας — 2 Occ.