ἐλεημοσύνη

ἐλεημοσύνη — eleēmosýnē

ἐλεημοσύνη, ἐλεημοσύνης, ἡ (ἐλεήμων), the Sept. for חֶסֶד and צְדָקָה (see δικαιοσύνη, 1 b.);

1. mercy, pity (Callimachus in Del. 152; Isa 38:18; Sir 17:22, etc.), especially as exhibited in giving alms, charity: Mat 6:4; ποιεῖν ἐλεημοσύνην, to practise the virtue of mercy or beneficence, to show one's compassion (A. V. do alms) (cf. the similar phrases δικαιοσύνην, ἀλήθειαν, etc. ποιεῖν), Mat 6:1 Rec., 2, 3, (Sir 7:10; Tob 4:7 Tob 12:8, etc.; for חֶסֶד עָשָׂה, Gen 47:29); ἐλεημοσύνας, acts of beneficence, benefactions (cf. Winers Grammar, 176 (166); Buttmann, 77 (67)), Act 10:2; εἰς τινα, Act 24:17. Hence,

2. the benefaction itself, a donation to the poor, alms (the German Almosen (and the English alms) being (alike) a corruption of the Greek word): ἐλεημοσύνην διδόναι (((Diogenes Laërtius 5, 17)), Luk 11:41; Luk 12:33; αἰτεῖν, Act 3:2; λαμβάνειν, Act 3:3; πρός τήν ἐλεημοσύνην for (the purpose of asking) alms, Act 3:10; plural, Act 9:36; Act 10:4; Act 10:31.