ἐπικουρία
epikouría
G1947 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Assistance, support, or aid provided from an external source, especially help given in times of need or difficulty. The term primarily denotes active assistance or succor, whether material or strategic, with nuances of reinforcement or auxiliary aid. In some contexts, refers specifically to military reinforcements or auxiliary troops.
Semantic Range
assistance, support, help, aid, succor, military reinforcement, auxiliary troops, organized aid
Root / Etymology
From the prepositional prefix ἐπί (upon, in addition to) and the noun κουρία (not directly attested in classical Greek, but related to ἐπίκουρος, 'ally, auxiliary, helper'), itself perhaps based on the root κορ- (as in κόραξ, κορυφή), though the exact derivation is debated; commonly understood as related to the idea of an 'ally' or 'helper'; ultimately a formation based on ἐπίκουρος ('helper, ally') + nominalizing ending -ία.
Historical & Contextual Notes
Historically attested in classical Greek (e.g., Herodotus, Thucydides) and later periods, ἐπικουρία primarily denotes the provision of assistance, particularly in military contexts as 'reinforcements' or 'auxiliary troops'. In broader Koine usage, the term can also refer more generally to any form of help or support. Its usage in the New Testament is rare, but when it occurs, it carries the sense of 'help' or 'assistance' in either practical or metaphorical terms. The word reflects the broader Greek concept of civic and military support, contrasting with more private or personal aid (as captured by terms like βοήθεια or βοήθεια). Standard English translations as 'help' capture the gist but may miss the nuance of organized or official support present in the original Greek. Unlike simple 'aid', ἐπικουρία often implies structured or external assistance rather than spontaneous charity.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a compound of ἐπί and a (prolonged) form of the base of κοράσιον (in the sense of servant); assistance:--help.
Root Family
ἐπικουρία (epikouria) — assist, support, reinforce
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1947-01 |
ἐπικουρίας | epikourias | N GEN F SG |
help | of supporting aid | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 total occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G1947-01 |
Acts 26:22 | ἐπικουρίας | epikourias | N GEN F SG |
help | of supporting aid |