Give us this day our daily bread,
English Standard Version (ESV)
While we often think of "daily bread" as just enough food for today, this unique Greek word actually carries a richer meaning. It suggests a specific provision "for the coming day," implying a prayer not just for immediate needs, but for God's ongoing sustenance and care that carries us through each day, preventing anxiety about tomorrow. This subtle emphasis highlights our complete dependence on God's daily faithfulness, not just for food, but for everything we need to live.
Give us this day our daily bread,
English Standard Version (ESV)
Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray, contrasting their prayers with the empty repetitions of pagans. He's just explained not to worry about material needs like clothing, and now he presents a model prayer that addresses both God's glory and human needs, moving from broad concerns to specific requests. This petition for "daily bread" immediately follows prayers for God's kingdom and will, grounding spiritual focus in the reality of our physical existence and daily dependence.
Ever wondered about that peculiar word for 'daily' in the Lord's Prayer? It's more complex than it first appears, hinting at a deeper need.
Jesus uses a unique Greek word here, epiousion, which scholars have debated for centuries! While many translations simply say 'daily,' the word itself is tricky.
Several Possibilities:
Essentially, this prayer asks for what we need – physically and spiritually – for today, acknowledging our total dependence on God.
Why 'this day' and not 'next week's' bread? This prayer teaches us a vital lesson about living in the present with God.
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The phrase 'this day' (or 'day by day' in Luke's version) is intentional. It’s not about asking for a lifetime supply of food or resources.
A Daily Habit of Trust:
It's a call to live moment by moment, trusting that the God who provided yesterday and provides today will be faithful tomorrow.
Did you notice the 'us' and 'our' in this prayer? Jesus wasn't just teaching individuals how to pray.
This prayer isn't a solo act; it’s meant to be prayed by a community – by families, by the church.
Praying Together:
When we pray 'Give us this day our daily bread,' we're acknowledging our interconnectedness and our collective reliance on God’s abundant care.
Understand the original words
artos · Greek Noun
Referring to the provision of physical sustenance necessary for survival and life. In a biblical context, it acknowledges God as the ultimate provider for both physical and spiritual needs.
This passage directly parallels the petition for 'daily bread' by asking God for 'food provided for me,' highlighting the reliance on God for essential sustenance each day.
Exodus 16:4This describes God providing manna daily for the Israelites in the wilderness, illustrating the concept of God's provision for His people's immediate needs, just as requested in Matthew 6:11.
John 6:35Jesus declares, 'I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.' This expands the idea of 'daily bread' to include spiritual nourishment, which is essential for eternal life.
Philippians 4:19This verse assures believers that 'my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus,' reinforcing the trust that God will provide for our daily necessities as we seek His kingdom.
Deuteronomy 8:3The verse states that God 'humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna... so that you might know that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.' This underscores that while physical bread is vital, God's provision encompasses spiritual sustenance as well.
clarkeMatthew 6:11: "Give us this day our daily bread."
Give us this day our daily bread - The word επιουσιαν has greatly perplexed critics and commentators. I find upwards of thirty different explanations of it. It is found in no Greek writer before the evangelists, and Origen says expressly, that it was formed by them, αλλ' εοικε πεπλασθαι υπο των ευαγγελιστων. The interpretation of Theophylact, one of the best of the Greek fathers, has ever appeared to me to be the most correct, Αρτος επι τη ουσια…
barnesMatthew 6:11: "Give us this day our daily bread."
Give us this day ... - The word "bread," here, denotes doubtless everything necessary to sustain life. See the notes at Matthew 4:4 . Compare Deuteronomy 8:3 . This petition implies our dependence on God for the supply of our wants. As we are dependent on him one day as much as another, it was evidently the intention of the Saviour that prayer should be offered every day. The petition, moreover, is expressed in the plural number - give us - and…
While we often think of "daily bread" as just enough food for today, this unique Greek word actually carries a richer meaning. It suggests a specific provision "for the coming day," implying a prayer not just for immediate needs, but for God's ongoing sustenance and care that carries us through each day, preventing anxiety about tomorrow. This subtle emphasis highlights our complete dependence on God's daily faithfulness, not just for food, but for everything we need to live.
Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray, contrasting their prayers with the empty repetitions of pagans. He's just explained not to worry about material needs like clothing, and now he presents a model prayer that addresses both God's glory and human needs, moving from broad concerns to specific requests. This petition for "daily bread" immediately follows prayers for God's kingdom and will, grounding spiritual focus in the reality of our physical existence and daily dependence.
Jesus is teaching his disciples how to pray, contrasting their prayers with the empty repetitions of pagans. He's just explained not to worry about material needs like clothing, and now he presents a model prayer that addresses both God's glory and human needs, moving from broad concerns to specific requests. This petition for "daily bread" immediately follows prayers for God's kingdom and will, grounding spiritual focus in the reality of our physical existence and daily dependence.
"Give us this day our daily bread," — While we often think of "daily bread" as just enough food for today, this unique Greek word actually carries a richer meaning. It suggests a specific provision "for the coming day," implying a prayer…
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Last reviewed October 2026