Understanding αὔριον (aurion) Strong’s G839: The Biblical Concept of Tomorrow that Teaches Trust in God’s Providential Care

Pronunciation Guide: ow-ree-on (with emphasis on the second syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G839: αὔριον (aurion) refers to the coming day, tomorrow, or the next day. It denotes a specific time reference to the day following the present day. In the New Testament, it often appears in contexts discussing future planning, anxiety about coming days, and God’s provision for His people’s needs.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Adverb (occasionally used as a noun with the article)
• Derived from: Related to ἠώς (eos), meaning “dawn” or “morning light”
• Origin: Common Greek temporal reference
• Primary usage: Found in narrative sections, teachings of Jesus, and apostolic instructions
• Frequency: Used 14 times in the New Testament

αὔριον Morphology:

• αὔριον (adverb) – tomorrow, the next day
• ἡ αὔριον (feminine noun with article) – the morrow, the next day
• τῇ αὔριον (dative form with article) – on the morrow, on the next day

Origin & History

The term αὔριον has its linguistic roots connected to the concept of dawn or morning light (ἠώς/eos), emphasizing the arrival of a new day following nightfall. In classical Greek literature, the word appears frequently as a simple temporal marker. Herodotus, in his “Histories,” uses αὔριον when describing military arrangements for the following day. Plato employs it in “The Republic” when discussing the uncertainty of future events and human planning.

In the Septuagint (LXX), αὔριον appears numerous times, particularly in Exodus and Leviticus, where it often relates to divine instructions about upcoming events or warnings. For instance, in the account of the plagues in Egypt, Moses repeatedly uses αὔριον when declaring when יהוה (Yahweh) would bring or remove a plague (e.g., Exodus 8:23 LXX). The early church fathers, including John Chrysostom in his homilies, frequently referenced the term when discussing Jesus’ teachings about anxiety and God’s providential care.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• The literal next calendar day following today
• A near future time reference suggesting imminence
• A symbolic reference to the unknown future that lies beyond human control
• A time marker for planned actions or anticipated events

αὔριον Translation Options:

• “Tomorrow” – The most common and direct translation, appropriate in contexts describing a specific next day
• “The next day” – Useful in narrative contexts where the sequence of events is emphasized rather than the specific day
• “Soon” or “shortly” – In some contexts, αὔριον carries the connotation of imminent future without specifying exactly one day
• “The coming day” – Helpful in passages with eschatological overtones or when speaking of future judgment

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, αὔριον often appears in contexts that contrast human anxiety about the future with God’s faithful provision. Its first appearance is in Matthew 6:30, where Jesus teaches about God’s care for creation: “But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today exists and tomorrow [αὔριον] is thrown into the oven, won’t He much more clothe you, you of little faith?” This establishes a pattern where αὔριον is used to challenge human worry about future needs.

James uses the term to caution against presumptuous planning without acknowledging God’s sovereignty in James 4:13-14, warning those who say, “Today or tomorrow [αὔριον] we will go into this city, spend a year there, trade, and make a profit.” In narrative sections of Acts, Luke employs αὔριον more literally to mark the sequence of events in the early church and Paul’s ministry journeys.

• “Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow [αὔριον] is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?” Matthew 6:30
• “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow [αὔριον], for tomorrow [αὔριον] will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.” Matthew 6:34
• “But when they arrest you and deliver you up, do not worry beforehand, or premeditate what you will speak. But whatever is given you in that hour, speak that; for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit… And brother will betray brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death.” Mark 13:11-12
• “Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow [αὔριον] we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit’…” James 4:13
• “And the next day [τῇ δὲ αὔριον], as they went on their journey and drew near the city, Peter went up on the housetop to pray, about the sixth hour.” Acts 10:9
• “Then Paul, after the governor had nodded to him to speak, answered: ‘Inasmuch as I know that you have been for many years a judge of this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself… But Felix, having more accurate knowledge of the Way, adjourned the proceedings and said, ‘When Lysias the commander comes down, I will make a decision on your case.’ So he commanded the centurion to keep Paul and to let him have liberty, and told him not to forbid any of his friends to provide for or visit him. And after some days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, he sent for Paul and heard him concerning the faith in Christ.” Acts 24:10, 22-24

Cultural Insights

In ancient Jewish culture, the concept of “tomorrow” carried significant theological weight beyond mere chronological meaning. The Hebrew expression “machar” (מָחָר), which αὔριον translates in the Septuagint, was associated with the uncertainty of human life and the limitations of human planning. The rabbinic saying “Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring forth” (based on Proverbs 27:1) reflects this cultural understanding that permeated Jewish thought in Jesus’ time.

This perspective stands in stark contrast to Greco-Roman attitudes about the future, which often emphasized strategic planning and human agency in securing outcomes. The Hellenistic concept of “pronoia” (providence) differed significantly from the Jewish understanding of God’s sovereignty over time. When Jesus and the apostles used αὔριον, they were drawing on this rich Jewish theological tradition that acknowledged human responsibility while recognizing divine sovereignty over all future events. This cultural background illuminates why the New Testament frequently uses αὔριον in contexts addressing anxiety, presumption, and trust in God’s provision.

Theological Significance

The concept of αὔριον in Scripture reveals profound theological truths about God’s character and His relationship with creation. First, it highlights God’s transcendence over time – while humans are bound by chronological sequence and cannot see beyond today, the Lord exists outside time’s constraints. As Psalm 90:4 reminds us, “A thousand years in Your sight are like yesterday when it is past.” This perspective grounds the believer’s approach to αὔριον in humble recognition of human limitations.

More importantly, αὔριον reveals God’s immanent care for His people within time’s flow. Jesus’ teaching about tomorrow in the Sermon on the Mount demonstrates that the Father’s provision isn’t limited to spiritual matters but extends to daily necessities. This reveals a God intimately concerned with human needs at every level. The theological tension between proper planning for αὔριον without anxious worry illuminates the balance of human responsibility and divine sovereignty – we are called to prudent stewardship while trusting in the Lord’s ultimate provision.

Furthermore, the concept of αὔριον carries eschatological significance, pointing toward the ultimate “tomorrow” when the Messiah Jesus will return and establish His kingdom in fullness. The believer’s approach to tomorrow thus becomes a practical expression of faith in God’s redeeming purposes that extend from daily provision to final redemption.

Personal Application

How might understanding αὔριον transform our daily walk with the Lord? First, it invites us to examine our relationship with the future. Do we face tomorrow with anxiety or trust? Jesus’ teaching calls us to a radical present-mindedness – not ignoring prudent planning, but refusing to be consumed by worries about what may come. Each evening, we can practice surrendering tomorrow to God’s care, acknowledging our limitations and His limitless provision.

This word also challenges our cultural obsession with control and certainty. In a world of strategic planning, retirement accounts, and insurance policies (all potentially wise stewardship), αὔριον reminds us that ultimate security comes not from our preparations but from the character of our Provider. When we face uncertain futures – health concerns, financial pressures, relationship challenges – we can rest in knowing that the God who clothes the lilies and feeds the sparrows has already entered our tomorrow and prepares the way before us.

Related Words

• ἡμέρα (hemera) – day, a day’s time. While αὔριον specifically references tomorrow, ἡμέρα is the general term for day that can be modified to indicate various time references. See G2250
• σήμερον (semeron) – today, this day. The natural counterpart to αὔριον, referring to the present day rather than the coming one. Jesus often contrasts these terms to emphasize present responsibility. See G4594
• ὥρα (hora) – hour, time. A more immediate time reference than αὔριον, focusing on specific moments rather than full days. See G5610
• καιρός (kairos) – appointed time, opportune moment. Unlike αὔριον’s chronological meaning, kairos emphasizes qualitative time and divine timing. See G2540
• χρόνος (chronos) – time, period of time. Represents duration or passing time, whereas αὔριον marks a specific future point. See G5550

Did You Know?

• The concept of αὔριον played a significant role in early Christian martyrdom accounts. Many martyrs, when facing execution “tomorrow,” would respond with serene faith rather than anxiety, demonstrating the practical application of Jesus’ teaching about not worrying for tomorrow. This witness profoundly impacted pagan observers who marveled at such peace in the face of imminent death.
• In modern Greek, αὔριο (the contemporary form of αὔριον) retains its meaning of “tomorrow,” but has developed idiomatic expressions similar to English. The phrase “άσ’ το για αύριο” (“leave it for tomorrow”) has become a comment on procrastination – ironically, the opposite of what Jesus taught about dealing with issues in the present rather than postponing them.
• The ancient Jewish practice of not completing major projects before sundown stems partly from the uncertainty of αὔριον. This practice acknowledged human mortality and the reality that no one could guarantee seeing the next day. This cultural perspective informed Jesus’ parable of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21), who presumed upon many “tomorrows” that he would never see.

Remember This

αὔριον calls us to live in the sacred tension between responsible planning and radical trust, recognizing that while tomorrow remains unseen to us, it is already held in the capable hands of our ever-faithful God.