Visit (1980) (episkeptomai - see study of episkopeo from epí = upon or intensifying already existing idea in verb + skopeo = regard, give attention to, look at, contemplate) literally means to look upon, to go to see, to examine closely, to inspect, to examine the state of affairs of something, to look after or to oversee. The idea of visiting is more than just making a social call. As Hiebert writes...
In classical Greek, it was commonly used of visiting the sick, whether by a doctor or a friend.' In Jewish usage, it commonly denoted to visit with the aim of caring for and supplying the needs of those visited (Job 2:11; Jer. 23:2; Ezek. 34:11; Zech. 11:16; Mt. 25:36, 43). The term implies concern and personal contact with the needy; it involves more than a matter of charity by proxy.
This verb expresses careful regard of those in position of responsibility. It depicts one going to see another with the intent to render help. In some context it means to have regard for, care for or be concerned about (Acts 15:14, He 2:6-note). It is often used of visiting the sick. In the Septuagint it speaks of a visitation from God, most often a visitation for good.
The present tense calls for this practice to be our habitual practice or our fundamental attitude and not just an isolated act of "do-goodism"! Have you ever visited an orphan/widow in their distress?
Vincent writes that...
James strikes a downright blow here at ministry by proxy, or by mere gifts of money. Pure and undefiled religion demands personal contact with the world’s sorrow: to visit the afflicted, and to visit them in their affliction. “The rich man, prodigal of money, which is to him of little value, but altogether incapable of devoting any personal attention to the object of his alms, often injures society by his donations; but this is rarely the case with that far nobler charity which makes men familiar with the haunts of wretchedness, and follows the object of its care through all the phases of his life” (Lecky, “History of European Morals,” ii., 98).
Our word visit is from the Latin viso, to look steadfastly at, and thence to visit. We retain the original thought in the popular phrases go to see one, and to look in upon one.
TDNT writes that...
1. In secular Greek episkeptomai has the following senses: a. “to look upon,” “consider,” “have regard to” (something or someone), with such references as inspecting, supervising, having a care to, looking down on, or watching over (the gods); b. “to reflect on,” “examine,” “investigate” (something), e.g., a document, or virtue; c. “to visit,” e.g., the sick (friends or the doctor).
2. The Septuagint (LXX) adds some new meanings and intensifies the religious reference. Thus we find a. “to visit,” b. “look on,” c. “investigate,” but also d. “care for” (Je 23:2), e. “find out” (Nu 14:34), f. “muster” (Ex 30:12), and g. “miss” or, passive, “be missed, absent” (1Sa 20:6). The term has a religious content only when God is subject, e.g., when he watches over the land (Dt 11:12) or visits his people in judgment or mercy (Zech 10:3). Visitation in judgment produces sense h. “to punish” (Ex 32:34; Job 35:15), and visitation in mercy sense i. “to accept” (Ge 21:1). A final sense j. is “to appoint,” “instal,” as in Nu 4:27; Neh 7:1.
There are 11 uses of episkeptomai in the NT -
Matthew 25:36 naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.'
Matthew 25:43 I was a stranger, and you did not invite Me in; naked, and you did not clothe Me; sick, and in prison, and you did not visit Me.'
Luke 1:68 "Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, For He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people,
Luke 1:78 Because of the tender mercy of our God, With which the Sunrise from on high shall visit us,
Luke 7:16 And fear gripped them all, and they began glorifying God, saying, "A great prophet has arisen among us!" and, "God has visited His people!"
Acts 6:3 "But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task.
Acts 7:23 "But when he was approaching the age of forty, it entered his mind to visit his brethren, the sons of Israel.
Acts 15:14 "Simeon has related how God first concerned Himself about taking from among the Gentiles a people for His name. (ESV - Acts 15:14 Simeon has related how God first visited the Gentiles, to take from them a people for his name.)
Acts 15:36 And after some days Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us return and visit the brethren in every city in which we proclaimed the word of the Lord, and see how they are."
Hebrews 2:6 (note) But one has testified somewhere, saying, "What is man, that Thou rememberest him? Or the son of man, that Thou art concerned about (ESV = care for) him?
James 1:27 This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Episkeptomai is found 14.27" class="scriptRef">27 times in the non-apocryphal Septuagint (LXX) - 21.1" class="scriptRef">Ge 21:1; 25" class="scriptRef">25" class="scriptRef">50:24, 25; 6" class="scriptRef">Ex 3:16; 4:31; 13.9" class="scriptRef">19" class="scriptRef">19" class="scriptRef">13:19; 29.32" class="scriptRef">32" class="scriptRef">32.34" class="scriptRef">32:34; 38:25; Lv 13:36; Nu 1:3, 19, 44, 47; 2:4, 6, 8f, 11, 13, 15f, 19, 21, 23f, 26, 28, 30f; 3:15f, 39f, 42; 4:23, 27, 29-Num.4.49" class="scriptRef">29f, 32, 34, 37f, 41f, 45f, 48f; 16:5; 26:54, 63f; 27:16; Jos. 8:10; Jdg. 15:1; 20:15, 17; 21:3, 9; Ru 1:6; 1Sa 2:21; 11:8; 13:15; 14:17; 15:4; 20:6, 18f, 25, 27; 2Sa 2:30; 18:1; 24:2, 4; 1Ki. 20:15, 26f; 2Ki. 3:6; 9:34; 10:19; 1 Chr. 26:31; 2Chr 24:6; Ezra 1:2; 4:15, 19; 5:17; 6:1; 7:14; Neh 7:1; 12:42; Job 2:11; 35:15; Ps. 8:4; 17:3; 27:4; 59:5; 65:9; 80:14; 89:32; 106:4; Jer. 3:16; 5:9, 29; 9:9, 25; 11:22; 13:21; 15:15; 23:2; 27:8; 29:10, 32; 30:20; 32:41; 36:31; 44:13, 29; 49:8; La 4:22; Ezek 20:40; 23:21; 34:11; Ho 4:14; Zeph 2:7; Zech 10:3; 11:16; Mal 3:10.
Genesis 21:1 (ESV) The LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did to Sarah as he had promised.
Genesis 50:24 And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am about to die, but God will surely take care (Heb = paqad = attend, visit, search out; Lxx = episkeptomai) of you, and bring you up from this land to the land which He promised on oath to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob."
Exodus 13:19 And Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for he had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, "God shall surely take care (Heb = paqad = attend, visit, search out; Lxx = episkeptomai) of you; and you shall carry my bones from here with you."
Exodus 32:34 But now go, lead the people to the place about which I have spoken to you; behold, my angel shall go before you. Nevertheless, in the day when I visit (Heb = paqad = attend, visit, search out; Lxx = episkeptomai), I will visit (Heb = paqad = attend, visit, search out; Lxx = episkeptomai) their sin upon them."
1 Samuel 2:21 And the LORD visited (Heb = paqad = attend, visit, search out; Lxx = episkeptomai) Hannah; and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. And the boy Samuel grew before the LORD.
Ruth 1:6 (note) for she had heard in the land of Moab that the LORD had visited (Heb = paqad = attend, visit, search out; Lxx = episkeptomai) His people in giving them food.
Psalm 65:9 Thou dost visit the earth, and cause it to overflow; Thou dost greatly enrich it; The stream of God is full of water; Thou dost prepare their grain, for thus Thou dost prepare the earth.
Psalm 80:14 O God of hosts, turn again now, we beseech Thee; Look down from heaven and see, and take care of this vine,
Ps89:32 Then I will visit their transgression with the rod,
Psalm 106:4 Remember me, O LORD, in Thy favor toward Thy people; Visit me with Thy salvation,
Zephaniah 2:7 And the coast will be For the remnant of the house of Judah, They will pasture on it. In the houses of Ashkelon they will lie down at evening; For the LORD their God will care for them and restore their fortune (This promise will be fulfilled to Israel in the millennium).
Orphans and widows - It is interesting to note that in the Greek there is no connecting conjunction (no "and"). These two groups were some of the most needy classes of people in ancient (and modern) times. Orphans/widows are found together only here in the NT, but this combination is more frequently mentioned in the OT (Ex 22:21; Dt. 10:18; Is 1:17; Je 5:28; Ezek 22:7; Zech 8:10) to identify those who needed help and compassion.
Jamieson feels that this absence of and points out that
so close is the connection between active works of mercy to others, and the maintenance of personal unworldliness of spirit, word, and deed; no copula ( = something that connects) therefore is needed.
Orphans (3737) (orphanos; Latin = orbus - bereaved) signifies bereft of parents or of a father (only other NT use = Jn 14:18) whether through death or abandonment (See Orphan)
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Naves Topic
Orphans
General scriptures concerning Exodus 22:22-24; Deuteronomy 10:18; 14.28-Deut.14.29" class="scriptRef">14:28,29; 16:11,14; 24:17-22; 26:12,13; 27:19; Job 6:27; 22:9; 24:3,9; 29:12,13; 31:16-18,21; Psalms 10:14,17,18; 27:10; 68:5; 82:3; 94:6; 146:9; 23.10" class="scriptRef">Proverbs 23:10; Isaiah 1:17,23; 10:1,2; Jeremiah 5:28; 7:6,7; 22:3; 49:11; Hosea 14:3; Malachi 3:5; James 1:27
INSTANCES OF
Lot -Genesis 11:27,28
Daughters of Zelophehad -Numbers 27:1-5
Jotham -Judges 9:16-21
Mephibosheth -2 Samuel 9:3
Joash -2 Kings 11:1-12
Esther -Esther 2:7
A figure of Zion in affliction -Lamentations 5:3
Thompson Chain Reference
Fatherless, Orphans
Admonitions in regard to - Exodus 22:22 Deuteronomy 14:29 Deuteronomy 24:17 Deuteronomy 26:12 Proverbs 23:10 Isaiah 1:17 Jeremiah 22:3 James 1:27
God's Care for -Deuteronomy 10:18 Psalms 10:14 Psalms 68:5 Psalms 146:9 Proverbs 15:25 Jeremiah 49:11 Hosea 14:3
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Widows (5503) (chera) (See widow) is a woman who has lost her husband.
There are 26 uses in the NT - Mk. 12:40, 42, 43; Lk. 2:37; 5-Luke.4.26" class="scriptRef">4:25, 26; 7:12; 18:3, 5; 20:47; 21:2, 3; Acts 6:1; 9.39" class="scriptRef">9:39, 41; 1 Co. 7:8; 1 Tim. 5:3, 4, 5, 9, 11, 16; James 1:27; Rev 18:7 and is always translated widow or widows.
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Torrey's Topic
Widows
Character of true -Luke 2:37; 1 Timothy 5:5,10
GOD
Surely hears the cry of -Exodus 22:23
Judges for -Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalms 68:5
Relieves -Psalms 146:9
Establishes the border of -Proverbs 15:25
Will witness against oppressors of -Malachi 3:5
Exhorted to trust in God -Jeremiah 49:11
SHOULD NOT BE
Afflicted -Exodus 22:22
Oppressed -Jeremiah 7:6; Zechariah 7:10
Treated with violence -Jeremiah 22:3
Deprived of raiment in pledge -Deuteronomy 24:17
SHOULD BE
Pleaded for -Isaiah 1:17
Honoured, if widows indeed -1 Timothy 5:3
Relieved by their friends -1 Timothy 5:4,16
Relieved by the Church -Acts 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:9
Visited in affliction -James 1:27
Allowed to share in our blessings -14.29" class="scriptRef">Deuteronomy 14:29; 16:11,14; 24:19-21
Though poor, may be liberal -Mark 12:42,43
When young, exposed to may temptations -1 Timothy 5:11-14
SAINTS
Relieve -Acts 9:39
Cause joy to -Job 29:13
Disappoint not -Job 31:16
THE WICKED
Do no good to -Job 24:21
Send, away empty -Job 22:9
Take pledges from -Job 24:3
Reject the cause of -Isaiah 1:23
Vex -Ezekiel 22:7
Make a prey of -Isaiah 10:2; Matthew 23:14
Slay -Psalms 94:6
Curse for perverting judgment of -Deuteronomy 27:19
Woe to those who oppress -Isaiah 10:1,2
Blessings on those who relieve -Deuteronomy 14:29
A type of Zion in affliction -Lamentations 5:3
Were released from all obligation to former husbands -Romans 7:3
Were clothed in mourning after the decease of husbands -Ge 38:14,19; 2Sa 14:2,5
Reproach connected with -Isaiah 54:4
Increase of, threatened as a punishment -Exodus 22:24; Jeremiah 15:8; 18:21
LAWS RESPECTING
Not to be oppressed -Exodus 22:22; Deuteronomy 27:19
Raiment of, not to be taken in pledge by creditors -Deuteronomy 24:17
Bound to perform their vows -Numbers 30:9
Not to intermarry with priests -Leviticus 21:14
To be allowed to glean in fields and vineyards -Deuteronomy 24:19
To have a share of the triennial tithe -Deuteronomy 14:28,29; 26:12,13
To share in public rejoicings -Deuteronomy 16:11,14
When daughters of priests and childless to partake of the Holy things -Leviticus 22:13
When left childless, to be married by their husband’s Nearest of kin -Deuteronomy 25:5,6; Ruth 3:10-13; 4:4,5; Matthew 22:24-26
Allowed to marry again -Romans 7:3
Intermarrying with, of kings considered treason -1 Kings 2:21-24
Not to be deplored by, considered a great calamity -Job 27:15; Psalms 78:64
Were under the special protection of God -Deuteronomy 10:18; Psalms 68:5
Were frequently oppressed and persecuted -Job 24:3; Ezekiel 22:7
Specially taken care of by the Church -Acts 6:1; 1 Timothy 5:9
Often devoted themselves entirely to God’s service -Luke 2:37; 1 Timothy 5:10
Instances of great liberality in -1 Kings 17:9-15; Mark 12:42,43
ILLUSTRATIVE OF
A desolate condition -Isaiah 47:8,9
Zion in captivity -Lamentations 1:1
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NAVE'S TOPIC
WIDOW
Vows of, binding, Nu 30:9.
When daughters of priests, to be supported by their fathers, Lev. 22:13.
Priests forbidden to marry, Lev. 21:14.
Marriage of, authorized, Rom. 7:3; 1 Cor. 7:39.
Unclassified Scriptures Relating to - 22.22-Exod.22.24" class="scriptRef">Ex. 22:22-24; Deut. 10:18; 9" class="scriptRef">Deut. 14:28, 29; 16.11-Deut.16.14" class="scriptRef">Deut. 16:11-14; Deut. 24:17, 21" class="scriptRef">19-21; Deut. 25:5-10; Deut. 27:19; Job 22:5, 9; Job 24:3, 21; Job 29:13; Job 31:16, 22; Psa. 68:5; Psa. 94:6; Psa. 146:9; Prov. 15:25; Isa. 1:17, 23 Ezek. 22:7. Isa. 10:1, 2; Jer. 7:6, 7; Jer. 22:3; Jer. 49:11; Zech. 7:10; Mal. 3:5; Matt. 23:14 Mark 12:40; Luke 20:47. Acts 6:1; 1 Tim. 5:3-6, 9-12, 16; Jas. 1:27
Instances of
Naomi, Ruth 1:3.
Ruth, Ruth 1:5f
The widow of Zarephath, who sustained Elijah during a famine, 1Ki 17.
The woman whose sons Elisha saved from being sold for debt, 2Ki 4:1-7.
Anna, Luke 2:36, 37.
The woman who gave two pennies in the temple, Mark 12:41, 42, 43, 44; Lk 21:2;
Of Nain, whose only son Jesus raised from the dead, Luke 7:11, 12, 13, 14, 15.
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Who Will Visit? - I read in “a Taste of Joy” by Calvin Miller about a wealthy woman who was found dead in her home. She had lived alone. The coroner found no organic reason for her death. Miller commented, “I think the cause was neglect. She was weary of setting a single plate at the table and fixing her coffee one cup at a time. The old woman had written on her calendar only one phrase, ‘No one came today.’” (Source Unknown)
Charity and purity
are the two great garments of Christianity.
-Spurgeon
Spurgeon writes that...
Charity and purity are the two great garments of Christianity.
I sometimes fear lest we should by no means insist too much on purity, but should certainly insist too little upon charity. The visitation of the fatherless and widows in their affliction is not left optional. It is not to be the privilege of a few worldly men who give all their substance to orphanages. Every Christian is bound to wear his part of the external dress of religion, that is, charity. This charity is to be manifested especially to those who need it most, whose need cannot be a matter of imposture, but must be real. These are the fatherless and widows, during the time of their destitution and affliction, when the orphans are not able to earn the bread that perishes, and the mother has her children weeping around her, and pining in poverty. Not only may this charity be shown, but it must be manifested if we would have pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father. The increase of charity, of careful and discreet consideration for the poor and needy, would bring a great blessing with it; and is what is greatly needed even in these times, when, perhaps, we fancy that we are doing almost enough in this direction, although we certainly are not.
Yet charity without purity will be of no avail. In vain should we give all our substance to the poor, and give our bodies to be burned, if we do not walk in the way of holiness, “without which no man shall see the Lord.” If we do not come out from the world, and keep ourselves from its polluting influence, we have not yet learned what pure and undefiled religion really is. We may be very orthodox in creed, or we may be very far advanced in our knowledge of religious matters, we may think ourselves to be Hebrews of the Hebrews, Pharisees of the Pharisees, and as touching the righteousness which is of the law, blameless; but we are in the sight of God only as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal, unless, by divine grace, we have learned to keep ourselves unspotted from the world. (Read the rest of Spurgeon's sermon on James 1:27, where you will note that he places most of his emphasis upon keeping oneself unstained by the world - Charity and Purity)
Steven Cole writes that God...
has a special concern for the helpless who could not provide for themselves.
(1) The applied word results in selfless conduct in the sight of God.
The word “visit” means more than dropping in for a social call, although it includes that. It comes from the same word that is translated “overseer,” describing the work of elders. It means to look out for, care for, and be concerned about. To show this concern for orphans and widows requires that a person take his focus off of himself and his needs and think about others and their needs. Usually, there is no payback when you care for orphans and widows. In that society, they were poor and not able to work.
What motivates you to care for them is, you know they have needs, you apply the golden rule (how you would want to be treated if you were in their situation), and you do it to please God, who sent His Son so that you could be adopted into His family. The point is that when God’s word takes root in our hearts, it shifts our focus from self to others.
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