Brief Overview of ἀσιτία (G776: asitia)

1. Brief Overview:

Transliteration: asitia

Root Words: The term ἀσιτία (asitia) is derived from the Greek prefix a- (meaning “without”) and σιτία (sitia), which means “food” or “nourishment.”

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Primary Meanings:

• Lack of Nourishment: Refers to a state of being without food or nourishment.
• Starvation: Denotes the condition of hunger or starvation, where there is a severe deficiency of food.

2. Detailed Description:

BDAG: BDAG provides a description of ἀσιτία as indicating “hunger” or “starvation.” It denotes a state of deprivation of food, reflecting severe nutritional deficiency.

Thayer’s: Thayer’s Greek Lexicon defines ἀσιτία as “hunger” or “lack of food,” highlighting its use to describe a condition of extreme deprivation or famine.

Vines: Vines’ Expository Dictionary notes that ἀσιτία represents a state of not having enough to eat, emphasizing its association with hunger or famine.

LSJ: The LSJ Lexicon defines ἀσιτία as “starvation” or “hunger,” reflecting the term’s use to describe severe food deprivation.

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance: Strong’s defines ἀσιτία as “hunger,” underscoring its role in describing a lack of food or nourishment.

Bible Verses:

• Luke 15:16 (KJV): “And he would fain have filled his belly with the husks that the swine did eat: and no man gave unto him.”
• The context here illustrates extreme hunger and deprivation, aligning with the meaning of ἀσιτία.

3. Usage in Classic Greek Literature:

• Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics: Discusses various states of well-being, including the absence of nourishment as a condition that impacts human health and ethics.
• Homer’s Odyssey: Mentions the state of hunger experienced by characters, often using terms related to deprivation and starvation.
• Herodotus’ Histories: Describes famine and starvation in various regions, providing examples of how lack of food affects societies.

4. Summary:

ἀσιτία (G776: asitia) denotes a state of hunger or starvation, reflecting a severe lack of nourishment. Used in both biblical and classical Greek contexts, the term emphasizes the critical condition of food deprivation and its impact on individuals and societies. Understanding ἀσιτία provides insight into the challenges faced during periods of famine and the significance of nourishment in historical and literary texts.