Dictionary entry

ἐπιούσιος

G. Abbott-Smith's A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament with Strong's

*† ἐπιούσιος, -ον

(cf. περιούσιος, [in LXX for סְגֻלָּה, De 7:6, etc.]),

found only in the phrase ἄρτος ἐ., EV, daily; R, mg., for the coming day: Mt 6:11, Lk 11:3. (Several derivations find support, each pointing to a different meaning.

1. < ἐπιοῦσα (sc. ἡμέρα) (or, < ἐπὶτὴν ἰοῦσαν (sc. ήμέραν), Zorell, s.v.), hence, for the morrow or for the coming day (R, mg.).

(a) < ἐπί + οὐσία, hence, for subsistence, needful (Am. R, mg.);

(b) < ἐπί + εἶναι in fem. ptcp. form, hence, pertaining to (the day). For renderings of versions and views of various writers, v. reff. in DB, ext., 36 f.; DCG, ii, 58 f., 62a; ICC on Lk, l.c. The EV, daily, is based on the Vg. (Lk; OL, Mt, Lk, quotidianus). "It is difficult not to think that τὸν ἐ. rests upon misunderstanding of an original Aramaic phrase, or upon a Greek corruption" (ICC on Mt, l.c.; cf. also Cremer, 239).†