ἐφήμερος
ephḗmeros
G2184 attributive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Having duration for or pertaining to a single day; lasting or existing only for a day; daily (in the sense of recurring every day), or ephemeral (in the sense of being transitory or fleeting). In some contexts, the term emphasizes impermanence or the shortness of an object's or state’s existence.
Semantic Range
for a day, daily, diurnal, lasting a day, short-lived, fleeting, temporary, transient
Root / Etymology
From the preposition ἐπί (upon, for) and ἡμέρα (day), hence 'for a day' or 'lasting a day.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ἐφήμερος is frequently used to describe things that last or are relevant only for one day—such as 'daily rations,' 'daily tasks,' or 'things of brief duration.' It may also be used metaphorically for human life or realities considered fleeting or insubstantial. In later Greek, including the Septuagint (e.g., Job 14:1) and Hellenistic literature, ἐφήμερος comes to denote the transitory or perishable nature of life or worldly things. The English 'ephemeral' is a direct cognate; however, most English Bible translations render it as 'daily' or 'short-lived' depending on context, potentially missing the nuance of transience. The term is rare in the New Testament, but where it does appear, it connotes temporariness or the fleeting nature of human existence. It contrasts with lasting or eternal realities, sometimes paralleling terms such as πρόσκαιρος ('for a season; temporary').
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ἐπί and ἡμέρα; for a day ("ephemeral"), i.e. diurnal:--daily.
Root Family
ἡμερ- (ephēmería) — day, daily, pertaining to the day
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2183 | ἐφημερία | of the daily service division |
| G2250 | ἡμέρα | in a day |
| G2522 | καθημερινός | to the daily (feminine singular) |
| G434 | ἀνήμερος | untamed ones |
| G4594 | σήμερον | today |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2184-01 |
ἐφημέρου | ephemerou | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
daily | of a day | daily | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G2184-01 |
James 2:15 | ἐφημέρου | ephemerou | ADJ.A GEN F SG |
daily | of a day | daily |