Original Word: ποίμνιον
Part of Speech: Noun, Neuter
Transliteration: poimnion
Pronunciation: poym'-nee-on
Phonetic Spelling: (poym'-nee-on)
Definition: a little flock.
Meaning: A flock, particularly of sheep; metaphorically used to refer to a group of believers or a congregation.

Word Origin: Diminutive form of ποιμήν (poimēn), meaning "shepherd."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • Strong's Hebrew 6629: צֹאן (tso'n) • Refers to a flock, particularly of sheep or goats, often used metaphorically for the people of Israel.
• Strong's Hebrew 5739: עֵדֶר (eder) • Another term for a flock, used in various contexts to describe groups of animals or people.

This entry provides a comprehensive understanding of the term ποίμνιον, illustrating its significance in the New Testament and its roots in biblical tradition. The metaphor of the flock continues to be a powerful image of community and leadership within the Christian faith.

Usage: The term ποίμνιον is used in the New Testament to describe a group of believers under the care of spiritual leaders, akin to a flock under the guidance of a shepherd.

Context: • The term ποίμνιον appears in the New Testament as a metaphor for the church or a congregation of believers. It emphasizes the relationship between the shepherd (often representing Christ or church leaders) and the flock (the believers).
• In Acts 20:28, Paul exhorts the Ephesian elders to "Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood." Here, ποίμνιον underscores the responsibility of church leaders to care for and protect the congregation.
• 1 Peter 5:2-3 further illustrates this concept: "Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them—not out of compulsion, but because it is God’s will; not out of greed, but out of eagerness; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock." This passage highlights the pastoral duty to lead with humility and dedication.
• The imagery of a flock is deeply rooted in biblical tradition, drawing from Old Testament depictions of God as the Shepherd of Israel (e.g., Psalm 23). This metaphor conveys care, guidance, and the intimate relationship between God and His people.
• The use of ποίμνιον in the New Testament reflects the early Christian understanding of community and leadership, emphasizing the protective and nurturing role of spiritual leaders.

Word Origin
from poimné
Definition
a flock
NASB Translation
flock (5).

STRONGS NT 4168: ποίμνιον

ποίμνιον, ποιμνίου, τό (contracted from ποιμενιον, equivalent to ποίμνη, see ποιμήν; (on the accent cf. Winers Grammar, 52; Chandler § 313 b.)), a flock (especially) of sheep: so of a group of Christ's disciples, Luke 12:32; of bodies of Christians (churches) presided over by elders (cf. references under the word ποιμήν, b.), Acts 20:28, 29; 1 Peter 5:3; with a possessive genitive added, τοῦ Θεοῦ, 1 Peter 5:2, as in Jeremiah 13:17; τοῦ Χριστοῦ, Clement of Rome, 1 Cor. 16, 1 [ET]; 44, 3 [ET]; 54, 2 [ET]; 57, 2 [ET]. (Herodotus, Sophicles, Euripides, Plato, Lucian, others; the Sept. chiefly for עֵדֶר and צֹאן.)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

flock.

Neuter of a presumed derivative of poimne; a flock, i.e. (figuratively) group (of believers) -- flock.

see GREEK poimne

Forms and Transliterations

ποιμνια ποίμνια ποιμνίοις ποιμνιον ποιμνίον ποίμνιον ποιμνιου ποιμνίου ποιμνιω ποιμνίω ποιμνίῳ ποιμνίων poimnio poimniō poimníoi poimníōi poimnion poímnion poimniou poimníou

Links

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