χήρα γυνή

χήρα, ας, ἡ (Hom.+) a woman whose husband has died, widow

ⓐ of a widow as such (with and without γυνή)—γυνὴ χήρα (Hom. et al.; BGU 522, 7; POxy 1120, 12; Jos., Ant. 4, 240; 8, 320; LXX) a widow Lk 4:26 (after 3 Km 17:9). Elsewh. ἡ χήρα alone, widow (Hom.; Soph., Aj. 653; Eur.+; ins, pap, LXX, TestJob; SibOr 3, 77; Philo; Jos., Ant. 16, 221; Ar. 15, 7; Just.); the idea of neediness is oft. associated with this word, and it is oft. joined w. orphans (ὀρφανός 1) Mt 23:13 (14) v.l.; Mk 12:40, 42f (HHaas, ‘Das Scherflein d. Witwe’ u. seine Entsprechung im Tripitaka 1922); Lk 2:37; 4:25; 7:12; 18:3, 5; 20:47 (JRoth, The Blind, The Lame, and the Poor, diss. Vanderbilt ’94, esp. 320ff); 21:2f; Ac 6:1 (cp. X., Oec. 7, 42f on elderly women losing esteem); 9:39, 41; 1 Cor 7:8; 1 Ti 5:4, 11 (on the relatively young age [ca. 30 years in the Hellenic world] s. bibl. and ins reff. SEG XLIII, 1331), 16a; Js 1:27; 1 Cl 8:4 (Is 1:17); B 20:2; 1 Sm 6:2; IPol 4:1; Pol 6:1; Hv 2, 4, 3; m 8:10; Hs 1:8; 5, 3, 7; 9, 26, 2; 9, 27, 2; GJs 4:4. ἡ ὄντως χήρα the real widow (ὄντως b) 1 Ti 5:3b, 5, 16b.—Metaph., in the proud words of the harlot of Babylon κάθημαι βασίλισσα καὶ χήρα οὐκ εἰμί Rv 18:7 (cp. La 1:1).

ⓑ of a special class in the Christian communities, to which only widows meeting certain requirements could belong. One had to be ὄντως χήρα (s. 1 above) 1 Ti 5:3, 9; ISm 13:1 (s. παρθένος a); Pol 4:3.—On widows in the churches s. LZscharnack, Der Dienst der Frau 1902, 100ff; ABludau, D. Versorgung der Witwen (1 Ti 5:3–16): Der kathol. Seelsorger 19, 1907, 165–67; 204–11; 255–60; 305–10; 350–53; ALudwig, Weibl. Kleriker: Theolog.-prakt. Monatsschrift 20, 1910, 548–57; 609–17; EvdGoltz, D. Dienst d. Frau in d. christl. Kirche² 1914; JViteau, L’institution des Diacres et des Veuves: Revue d’ Hist. ecclés. 22, 1926, 513–36; AKalsbach, D. Altkirchl. Einrichtung d. Diakonissen 1926; JMüller-Bardoff, EFascher Festschr. ’58, 113–33; L-MGünther, Witwen in der griechischen Antike, Zwischen Oikos und Polis: Historia 42, ’93, 308–25; FSpencer, CBQ 56, ’94, 715–34; RPrice, The Widow Traditions in Luke-Acts (SBLDS 155) ’97.—S. also s.v. γυνή 1.—B. 131. DELG. M-M. EDNT. TW. Sv.

πᾰλιν-σάγης· χήρα γυνή, Id.

ἀβοήθ-ητος, ον,

A admitting of no help, without remedy, incurable, of disease, Hp.Acut. (Sp.) 33;

πάθος Plu.2.454d

; of wounds, Plb.1.81.5, etc.; fatal, of poisons, Thphr.HP9.16.6; ἀ. ἔχειν τὴν ἐπικουρίαν, unserviceable, useless, D.S.20.42;

νὺξ ἀ. Gal.19.481

. Adv.

- τως Dsc.Ther.12

, Gal. 5.122.

II of persons, helpless, LXX Ps.87(88).6, Plu.Arat.2, Epict.Ench.24;

γυνὴ χήρα καὶ ἀ. BGU970.8

(ii A. D.).

III [voice] Act., unhelpful,

ἀφιλανθρωπία -ήτους ποιεῖ Phld.Oec.p.68J.