Greek word · G1959

ἐπιμελέομαι

epimeleomai

to care

To take care of, look after, attend to, manage. It is used for personal care of someone in need and for responsible oversight of a household or of affairs.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἐπι-μελεομαι, -οῦμαι

[in LXX: Genesis 44:21 (עַיִן שׂוּם) I Est.6:27, Proverbs 27:25, Sirach 30:25, 1Ma.11:37 * ;]

to take care of: with genitive, Luke 10:34-35, 1 Timothy 3:5.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Luke 10:34

Range of meaning

To take care of, look after, attend to, manage. It is used for personal care of someone in need and for responsible oversight of a household or of affairs.

Against the English

'Took care of him' (BSB, KJV, WEB, ESV) is accurate. YLT's 'was careful of him' is archaic and now sounds like caution. What English can hide is that the verb is repeated in the next verse.

Used elsewhere in the period

Gen 44:21 (Greek): Joseph says, 'I will look after him'. Common in papyri and inscriptions for attentive management. 1 Tim 3:5 uses it for an overseer 'caring for' God's church. In the New Testament it occurs only in Luke 10:34, 35 and 1 Tim 3:5.

From the study of 1 Timothy 3:5

Range of meaning

To take care of, attend to, see to, be responsible for. It ranges from personal nursing care to official supervision. The related noun epimelētēs was a standard Greek title for a public curator or supervisor.

Against the English

'Take care of' / 'care for' (KJV, BSB, ESV, NIV) is accurate. The English can sound purely tender, but the Greek also includes responsible oversight. It is not just affection.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 10:34–35: the Samaritan 'took care of him' and asks the innkeeper to 'take care of him'. These are the only other New Testament uses. Septuagint Genesis 44:21: Joseph says 'I will look after him' (Benjamin). In inscriptions and papyri it is common for officials attending to public works and duties.

Similar words

Where it appears

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 10:34 ἐπεμελήθη took care

    He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him.

    Here: 'He took care of him': he attended to him personally, apparently through the night. In v. 35 the same verb is his instruction to the innkeeper ('take care of him'), so he hands on the very care he gave.

  2. Luke 10:35 ἐπιμελήθητι do take care

    The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Take care of him,’ he said, ‘and on my return I will repay you for any additional expense.’

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 3:5 ἐπιμελήσεται; will he care for?

    For if someone does not know how to manage his own household, how can he care for the church of God?

    Here: Future: 'how will he take care of?' It means attentive, responsible care. The only other New Testament uses are in Luke 10:34–35, where the Samaritan looks after the wounded man. The verb chosen for the church is gentler than 'lead', though it can still mean supervising.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.