CategoryArchaic Word
Modern Equivalentcharitable gifts; aid to the poor.
KJV Word TypeNoun
DefinitionGifts, money, or acts of charity given to relieve the poor or needy.
Key Verses"Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them." (Matthew 6:1)
KJV Usage NoteFrequently connected with mercy, generosity, and public or private acts of giving.
Common MisunderstandingIt refers specifically to charitable giving, not merely kindness in general.
EtymologyFrom Old English aelmesse, from Greek eleemosyne, meaning "mercy" or "charitable giving."