ποιμαίνω
To tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, superviser)
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Canonical witness: The witness passages show where this word is used in context. Click any to open the study page for that passage.
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What does ποιμαίνω (poimaínō) mean in the Bible?
ποιμαίνω (poimaínō) is a Greek word meaning "to tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, superviser)". ποιμαίνω (ποιμήν), [in LXX chiefly for רָעָה ;] to act as shepherd, tend flocks: Luk. Pastoral leadership entrusted by Christ. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah.
Full entry for ποιμαίνω (G4165) · Browse the biblical lexicon
Meaning
Shepherd's care involves active governance and protection, not merely passive oversight or provision.
(ποιμήν), [in LXX chiefly for רָעָה ;] to act as shepherd, tend flocks: Luk.17:7; with accusative, ποιμνην, 1Co.9:7. Metaphorical, to tend, shepherd, govern: with accusative, Mat.2:6 (LXX), Jhn.21:16, Act.20:28, 1Pe.5:2, Ju 12, Rev.2:27 7:17 12:5 19:15.
Why This Word Matters
Pastoral leadership entrusted by Christ. 1 Peter 5:1-4
Defines pastoral leadership entrusted by Christ. Acts 20:25-38
Defines the pastoral task of caring for God’s people. John 21:15–25
Defines pastoral ministry as nurturing, guiding, and protecting rather than controlling.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
Indicative states a fact or reality 5×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 2×
Imperative command or strong request 2×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 11 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Canonical Themes
Biblical Occurrences
Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.
New Testament Witnesses
Additional Occurrences
Appears In
Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.
Word Pictures (Robertson)
A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.
A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain