4165. poimainó

Strong's Lexicon

poimainó: To shepherd, to tend, to feed, to guide

Original Word: ποιμαίνω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: poimainó
Pronunciation: poy-MY-no
Phonetic Spelling: (poy-mah'-ee-no)
Definition: To shepherd, to tend, to feed, to guide
Meaning: I shepherd, tend, herd; hence: I rule, govern.

Word Origin: Derived from ποιμήν (poimēn), meaning "shepherd."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - H7462 - רָעָה (ra'ah): To pasture, tend, graze, feed

- H7469 - רֹעֶה (ro'eh): Shepherd, herdsman

Usage: The verb "poimainó" primarily means to act as a shepherd, which involves tending, feeding, and guiding a flock. In a broader sense, it is used metaphorically in the New Testament to describe the spiritual leadership and care provided by church leaders or Christ Himself. It implies nurturing, protecting, and guiding those under one's care.

Cultural and Historical Background: In ancient agrarian societies, shepherding was a common occupation, and shepherds were responsible for the well-being of their sheep. This included leading them to pastures, protecting them from predators, and ensuring their overall health. The imagery of shepherding was deeply embedded in the cultural and religious consciousness of the Israelites, with God often depicted as the Shepherd of Israel (e.g., Psalm 23). In the New Testament, this imagery is applied to Jesus Christ, who is referred to as the "Good Shepherd" (John 10:11).

HELPS Word-studies

Cognate: 4165 poimaínō – properly, to shepherd, caring for (protecting) the flock.

4165 /poimaínō ("shepherding, pastoring") is distinct from "feeding" (1006 /bóskō). 4165 (poimaínō) focuses on "tending" ("shepherding") (WS, 274), which includes guarding, guiding, and folding the flock and is only provided (ultimately) by Jesus Christ – the Shepherd, who calls under-shepherds (such as elder-overseers) to guard and guide His people by His direction (1 Pet 5:1-5). See 4166 (poimēn).

[4165 /poimaínō ("to shepherd, tend") occurs 11 times in the NT, usually with a figurative sense of "shepherding (tending) God's flock." This provides Spirit-directed guidance (care) conjunction with feeding His people (teaching them Scripture).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from poimén
Definition
to act as a shepherd
NASB Translation
caring (1), rule (3), shepherd (5), tending sheep (1), tends (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4165: ποιμαίνω

ποιμαίνω; future ποιμανῶ; 1 aorist imperative 2 person plural ποιμάνατε (1 Peter 5:2); (ποιμήν, which see); from Homer down; the Sept. for רָעָה; to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep;

a. properly: Luke 17:7; ποίμνην, 1 Corinthians 9:7.

b. tropically, α. to rule, govern: of rulers, τινα, Matthew 2:6; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15 (2 Samuel 5:2; Micah 5:6 (); , etc.; (cf. Winers Grammar, 17)) (see ποιμήν, b. at the end); of the overseers (pastors) of the church, John 21:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2. β. to furnish pasturage or food; to nourish: ἑαυτόν, to cherish one's body, to serve the body, Jude 1:12; to supply the requisites for the soul's needs (R. V. shall be their shepherd), Revelation 7:17. (Synonym: see βόσκω, at the end.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

to shepherd, rule

From poimen; to tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, superviser) -- feed (cattle), rule.

see GREEK poimen

Forms and Transliterations

εποίμαινε εποίμαινόν εποίμανεν Ποιμαινε Ποίμαινε ποιμαινει ποιμαινεί ποιμαίνει ποιμαινειν ποιμαινείν ποιμαίνειν ποιμαίνεις ποιμαινοντα ποιμαίνοντα ποιμαίνοντας ποιμαινοντες ποιμαίνοντες ποιμαινόντων ποιμαίνουσαι ποιμαίνουσιν ποιμαίνων ποιμανατε ποιμάνατε ποιμανει ποιμανεί ποιμανεῖ ποιμανείς ποιμανθήση ποίμανον ποιμανούσι ποιμανούσιν ποιμανώ ποιμενικά ποιμένικω Poimaine Poímaine poimainei poimaínei poimainein poimaínein poimainonta poimaínonta poimainontes poimaínontes poimanate poimánate poimanei poimaneî

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 2:6 V-FIA-3S
GRK: ἡγούμενος ὅστις ποιμανεῖ τὸν λαόν
NAS: WHO WILL SHEPHERD MY PEOPLE
KJV: a Governor, that shall rule my people
INT: a leader who will shepherd the people

Luke 17:7 V-PPA-AMS
GRK: ἀροτριῶντα ἢ ποιμαίνοντα ὃς εἰσελθόντι
NAS: or tending sheep, will say
KJV: or feeding cattle, will say
INT: plowing or shepherding the [one] having come in

John 21:16 V-PMA-2S
GRK: λέγει αὐτῷ Ποίμαινε τὰ πρόβατά
NAS: You. He said to him, Shepherd My sheep.
KJV: He saith unto him, Feed my sheep.
INT: He says to him Shepherd the sheep

Acts 20:28 V-PNA
GRK: ἔθετο ἐπισκόπους ποιμαίνειν τὴν ἐκκλησίαν
NAS: you overseers, to shepherd the church
KJV: overseers, to feed the church
INT: did set overseers to shepherd the church

1 Corinthians 9:7 V-PIA-3S
GRK: ἢ τίς ποιμαίνει ποίμνην καὶ
NAS: who tends a flock
KJV: or who feedeth a flock, and
INT: or who shepherds a flock and

1 Peter 5:2 V-AMA-2P
GRK: ποιμάνατε τὸ ἐν
NAS: shepherd the flock of God
KJV: Feed the flock of God
INT: shepherd the among

Jude 1:12 V-PPA-NMP
GRK: ἀφόβως ἑαυτοὺς ποιμαίνοντες νεφέλαι ἄνυδροι
NAS: with you without fear, caring for themselves;
KJV: with you, feeding themselves
INT: fearlessly themselves shepherding clouds without water

Revelation 2:27 V-FIA-3S
GRK: καὶ ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν
NAS: AND HE SHALL RULE THEM WITH A ROD
KJV: And he shall rule them with
INT: and he will shepherd them with

Revelation 7:17 V-FIA-3S
GRK: τοῦ θρόνου ποιμανεῖ αὐτούς καὶ
NAS: of the throne will be their shepherd, and will guide
KJV: of the throne shall feed them,
INT: of the throne will shepherd them and

Revelation 12:5 V-PNA
GRK: ὃς μέλλει ποιμαίνειν πάντα τὰ
NAS: [child], who is to rule all
KJV: who was to rule all nations
INT: who is about to shepherd all the

Revelation 19:15 V-FIA-3S
GRK: καὶ αὐτὸς ποιμανεῖ αὐτοὺς ἐν
NAS: the nations, and He will rule them with a rod
KJV: and he shall rule them with
INT: and he will shepherd them with

Strong's Greek 4165
11 Occurrences

Ποίμαινε — 1 Occ.
ποιμαίνει — 1 Occ.
ποιμαίνειν — 2 Occ.
ποιμαίνοντα — 1 Occ.
ποιμαίνοντες — 1 Occ.
ποιμάνατε — 1 Occ.
ποιμανεῖ — 4 Occ.