Greek word · G2141

εὐπορέω

euporeō

be prosperous

Literally 'to find a good way through' (eu, 'well', + poros, 'passage, way'). In use: to be well supplied, have enough, be well-off or prosperous. In the middle voice, as here: to have means, to be doing well financially.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

εὐ-πορέω, -ῶ

(εὔτορος, well provided for) [in LXX: Leviticus 25:26, 49 נָשַׂג hi.), Leviticus 25:23 (seel.), Wisdom of Solomon 10:10 * ;]

to prosper, be well off: Acts 11:29.†

(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 Acts 11:29

Range of meaning

Literally 'to find a good way through' (eu, 'well', + poros, 'passage, way'). In use: to be well supplied, have enough, be well-off or prosperous. In the middle voice, as here: to have means, to be doing well financially.

Against the English

KJV and BSB 'according to his ability'; ESV similar; NIV 'as each one was able'; WEB 'as any... had plenty'; YLT 'as any one was prospering'; NASB 'in the proportion that any... had means'. WEB, YLT and NASB keep the financial sense clearest.

How it drifted

In 1611 'ability' commonly meant financial means or wealth, a sense now mostly lost. Modern readers tend to hear 'ability' as skill or capacity, or as willingness ('whatever they felt able to give').

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for having resources (e.g. Aristotle and the papyri). The related noun euporia means 'wealth, prosperity' in Acts 19:25, where the silversmiths say their prosperity comes from making shrines. The New Testament uses the verb only here.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 11:29 εὐπορεῖτό was prospered

    So the disciples, each according to his ability, decided to send relief to the brothers living in Judea.

    Here: 'Was faring well / had means.' The past continuous tense describes each person's ongoing financial situation; the only time this verb appears in the New Testament. It is about money and resources, not talent.

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