ὑστέρησις (husterēsis)
husterēsis
poverty
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun husterēsis describes a state of need or poverty, specifically referring to what is lacking rather than general destitution. It appears only twice in the New Testament, both times within Mark’s Gospel and Paul’s letter to the Philippians. In each instance, it stands in direct contrast to abundance or surplus.
In Mark 12:44, Jesus uses the word to describe the poor widow who gave two small coins. He notes that she gave out of her husterēsis, meaning from her very need, whereas others gave from their excess. This usage highlights a sacrificial giving that touches the giver’s own security. Similarly, in Philippians 4:11, Paul mentions being content in whatever circumstances he finds himself, whether in plenty or in need.
The term derives from a root meaning "to be late" or "to fall behind," suggesting a sense of deficiency or shortfall. Translators often render it as "need" or "want" to capture this specific nuance of lacking what is necessary. It serves as a stark counterpoint to the Greek word for surplus, emphasizing that true generosity can come from those who have little.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word husterēsis points to a specific kind of need—the gap between what we have and what is necessary. It is not about general poverty, but the sharp awareness of lacking something essential. This term appears only twice in the New Testament, highlighting how God sees those who give from their very scarcity rather than their surplus.
In Mark 12:44, Jesus watches a poor widow give two small coins. He notes she gave out of her husterēsis, meaning from her need. Her gift was not measured by its size but by the cost it carried for her security. This shows that true generosity is often found in those who have little left to spare.
Paul also uses this word in Philippians 4:11 when he speaks of learning contentment in whatever state he finds himself. He does not hide his need but acknowledges it as part of his journey with Christ. This word invites us to see our own limitations not as failures, but as spaces where God’s grace can be most clearly seen.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- poverty1×
- destitution1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὑστέρησιν1×
- ὑστερήσεως1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 12:44
for they all gave out of their abundance, but she, out of her poverty, gave all that she had to live on.”
Jesus contrasts the widow's giving from her husterēsis with others giving from abundance, highlighting sacrificial generosity.
-
Philippians 4:11
Not that I speak because of lack, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content in it.
Paul uses the term to describe his own state of need while emphasizing that he has learned contentment in it.