Original Word: πεινάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: peinaó
Pronunciation: pay-nah'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (pi-nah'-o)
Definition: I am hungry, needy, desire earnestly.
Meaning: To hunger, to be hungry, to suffer want of food.

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek root word πένης (penēs), meaning "poor" or "needy."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • 7457 רָעֵב (ra'ev): To be hungry, famished.
• 7456 רָעֵב (ra'av): Hunger, famine.

These Hebrew terms parallel the Greek πεινάω in expressing the condition of hunger, whether physical or metaphorical, and are used in the Old Testament to describe both literal famines and spiritual longing for God.

Usage: The verb πεινάω is used in the New Testament to describe both physical hunger and a metaphorical longing or desire for spiritual sustenance. It appears in various contexts, including literal hunger and spiritual yearning.

Context: The Greek verb πεινάω (peinaō) is frequently encountered in the New Testament, where it is used to convey both physical and spiritual hunger. In its literal sense, πεινάω describes the basic human need for food, as seen in passages where individuals experience physical hunger. For example, in Matthew 4:2, after fasting for forty days and forty nights, Jesus "was hungry" (BSB). This usage underscores the genuine human experience of Jesus, emphasizing His identification with human needs.

Beyond its literal application, πεινάω is also employed metaphorically to express a deep spiritual longing or desire. In the Beatitudes, Jesus declares, "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled" (Matthew 5:6, BSB). Here, πεινάω signifies a profound yearning for spiritual fulfillment and righteousness, highlighting the blessedness of those who earnestly seek God's kingdom and His righteousness.

The dual usage of πεινάω in the New Testament reflects the broader biblical theme of God's provision for both physical and spiritual needs. In John 6:35, Jesus proclaims, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst" (BSB). This statement encapsulates the promise of spiritual satisfaction and eternal sustenance found in Christ, who meets the deepest needs of the human soul.

The concept of hunger, both physical and spiritual, serves as a powerful metaphor throughout Scripture, illustrating the human condition and the divine provision. The use of πεινάω in the New Testament invites believers to recognize their dependence on God for all needs and to seek fulfillment in Him alone.

Word Origin
from peina (hunger)
Definition
to hunger, be hungry
NASB Translation
going hungry (1), hunger (4), hungry (18).

STRONGS NT 3983: πεινάω

πεινάω, πείνω, infinitive πεινᾶν (Philippians 4:12); future πεινάσω (Luke 6:25; Revelation 7:16); 1 aorist ἐπείνασα — for the earlier forms πεινην, πεινήσω, ἐπείνησα; cf. Lob. ad Phryn., pp. 61 and 204; Winers Grammar, § 13, 3 b.; (Buttmann, 37 (32); 44 (38)); see also διψάω; (from πεινᾷ hunger; (see πένης)); from Homer down; the Sept. for רָעֵב; to hunger, be hungry;

a. properly: Matthew 4:2; Matthew 12:1, 3; Matthew 21:18; Matthew 25:35, 37, 42, 44; Mark 2:25; Mark 11:12; Luke 4:2; Luke 6:3, 25; equivalent to to suffer want, Romans 12:20; 1 Corinthians 11:21, 34; to be needy, Luke 1:53; Luke 6:21; Philippians 4:12; in this same sense it is joined with δίψαν, 1 Corinthians 4:11; in figurative discourse, οὐ πεινᾶν καί οὐ δίψαν is used to describe the condition of one who is in need of nothing requisite for his real (spiritual) life and salvation, John 6:35; Revelation 7:16.

b. metaphorically, to crave ardently, to seek with eager desire: with the accusative of the thing, τήν δικαιοσύνην, Matthew 5:6 (in the better Greek authors with a genitive as χρημάτων, Xenophon, Cyril 8, 3, 39; συμμαχων, 7, 5, 50; ἐπαινου, oec. 13, 9; cf. Winers Grammar, § 30, 10, b. at the end; (Buttmann, § 131, 4); Kuinoel on Matthew 5:6, and see διψάω, 2).

be hungry

From the same as penes (through the idea of pinching toil; "pine"); to famish (absolutely or comparatively); figuratively, to crave -- be an hungered.

see GREEK penes

επείνας επεινασα επείνασα ἐπείνασα επεινασαν επείνασαν ἐπείνασαν επείνασε επεινασεν επείνασεν ἐπείνασεν πεινα πεινά πεινᾷ πειναν πεινάν πεινᾷν πεινᾶν πεινάσει πεινασετε πεινάσετε πειναση πεινάση πεινάσῃ πεινάσητε πεινάσουσι πεινασουσιν πεινάσουσιν πεινάσω πεινάσωμεν πεινωμεν πεινώμεν πεινῶμεν πεινών πεινωντα πεινώντα πεινῶντα πεινωντας πεινώντας πεινῶντας πεινωντες πεινώντες πεινῶντες πεινώντι πεινώντων πεινώσαν πεινώσας πεινώσι πεινώσιν epeinasa epeínasa epeinasan epeínasan epeinasen epeínasen peina peinā̂i peinā̂in peinan peinase peinasē peinásei peinásēi peinasete peinásete peinasousin peinásousin peinomen peinômen peinōmen peinō̂men peinonta peinônta peinōnta peinō̂nta peinontas peinôntas peinōntas peinō̂ntas peinontes peinôntes peinōntes peinō̂ntesInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts