προσαίτης
prosaitēs
a beggar
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word "προσαίτης" (prosaïtēs) is a noun that translates to "a beggar." Its meaning is straightforward, referring to an individual who relies on others for financial support. The fact that it appears only twice in the Bible suggests that it is not a commonly used term, but rather a specific designation for a particular social class or occupation. The limited occurrences of "προσαίτης" in the Bible indicate that its usage is likely restricted to specific contexts or authors. Without further information, it is difficult to determine the range of usage or the social implications of this term. However, its definition as a beggar implies that it may be associated with poverty, need, or dependence on others. The significance of "προσαίτης" lies in its depiction of a person in a vulnerable position, reliant on the charity of others for survival. This term may serve as a linguistic representation of the social and economic realities of ancient Greek society, highlighting the existence of a class of individuals who were marginalized and in need of support.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
2 total occurrences across the text