προσαίτης

From the study of John 9:8

Range of meaning

The verb means to ask for something, especially alms; the noun means one who asks for alms, a beggar. In the New Testament the words are rare: the noun appears only here and in Mark 10:46 (Bartimaeus, in the critical text). The verb appears here and in Luke 18:35.

Against the English

"Beggar" is accurate. Modern English, though, tends to hear someone who has fallen through the cracks, or even a nuisance. In first-century Judaism begging by people with disabilities was a recognised, almost fixed social role, and it sat inside a religious culture that saw almsgiving as an act of righteousness.

How it drifted

The modern picture of begging as marginal or shameful has no built-in religious frame. The ancient one did: giving alms was a duty and was thought to earn merit.

Used elsewhere in the period

Plutarch and other Greek writers use the verb for asking alms. Jewish tradition treated almsgiving as "righteousness" (Tobit 12:8–9; Sirach 3:30; Matthew 6:2–4). Acts 3:2 shows a man lame from birth placed daily at a temple gate to ask alms, which fits the scene John assumes.

From the study of Mark 10:46

Range of meaning

A beggar: one who asks (aiteō) for things, specifically someone who lives by asking for alms. The word is rare. BDAG cites only a handful of Greek writers of the Roman period.

Against the English

'Beggar' is accurate. The KJV's 'sat… begging' reflects a different Greek text (the participle προσαιτῶν, 'begging') rather than a different meaning.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament the noun occurs only here and in John 9:8, also of a man born blind who 'used to sit and beg'. In both places the critical text has the noun and the Byzantine text has the participle. Almsgiving was one of the core religious duties of Second Temple Judaism (Tobit 4:7–11; Sirach 3:30; 29:12; Matthew 6:2–4), and beggars stationed themselves where giving was most likely: at gates, along roads, and at the Temple (Acts 3:2).