ποιέω (G4160) — Greek Lexicon

ποιέω

poiéō

G4160 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To make, produce, or bring about; to perform or carry out an activity. The semantic range includes to create or manufacture (as of objects or circumstances), to do (as in accomplishing actions or tasks), to cause (to bring about a state or result), and by extension, to observe or celebrate (regarding rituals or customs). In legal and ethical contexts, can denote fulfilling obligations or acting in accordance with commands or laws. Frequently functions as a general verb of action in a wide variety of constructions. In some contexts, can be more specific: e.g., 'to keep' a command, 'to observe' a festival, or 'to produce' fruit (literal or figurative outcomes).

Semantic Range

to make, to do, to perform, to accomplish, to bring about, to produce, to act, to cause, to observe (customs or commandments), to celebrate (festivals), to fulfill, to manufacture, to keep (commands or obligations), to commit (an act), to practice, to carry out

Root / Etymology

From the root ποι-, related to the idea of making or doing. Possibly connected with classical Greek ποιέω, which continued into Koine with broadening application. Cognate with terms in other Indo-European languages (e.g. Sanskrit cinoti), but precise Indo-European origin is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ποιέω is already a common verb in classical Greek, typically meaning 'to make' (as in artistic creation or manufacture) and 'to do, accomplish.' In Koine Greek (including the New Testament, Septuagint, and contemporaneous non-literary papyri), the word's semantic range is even broader, effectively covering nearly any type of action. It appears thousands of times with a multitude of direct and indirect objects. The verb can be used alone (with the sense of 'do' or 'make') or with a supplementary object (to specify what is done or made). The term can function in idiomatic phrases, e.g., ποιεῖν δικαιοσύνην ('to do justice'), ποιεῖν νόμον ('to keep/observe the law'), or ποιεῖν ἁμαρτίαν ('to sin,' literally 'to do sin'). In the context of ritual or religious action, ποιέω often refers to observance or performance of rites—e.g., making a sacrifice, keeping a festival (ποιεῖν τὸ πάσχα, 'to celebrate the Passover'). Septuagintal and New Testament usage occasionally shifts meaning by context, so English translations variously render as 'do,' 'make,' 'perform,' 'keep,' 'produce,' etc. In contrast to πράσσω (G4238), which more often connotes the performance of an action or engagement in a practice (especially one ongoing or habitual), ποιέω leans toward creative, productive, or result-oriented aspects.

Translation Consistency

primary "do" 32 occurrences

'Do' is the most natural, versatile rendering for ποιέω across its wide semantic range. It is the most frequent P2 rendering and covers actions such as performing, carrying out, fulfilling, causing, and observing (e.g., doing a command or festival). While ποιέω can sometimes mean 'make' or 'produce,' 'do' naturally handles both general and idiomatic uses and ensures consistent, readable English across all forms.

Alternatives (18 occurrences):

"make" (6x) "produces" (3x) "producing" (2x) "produce" (2x) "do, all of" (1x) "makes" (1x) "might make" (1x) "produced" (1x) "having made" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary; to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct):--abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield. Compare πράσσω.

Root Family

ποι- (eupoiḯa) — to do, to make, to accomplish

Root ποι- to make, to do, to produce, to perform

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G2140	εὐποιΐα	of beneficence
G3697	ὁποῖος	what kind of
G4169	ποῖος	to what sort of

Word Forms

69 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4160-08`	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	did	he made	he did	75
`G4160-31`	ποιῆσαι	poiesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to do	to make	to do	46
`G4160-28`	ποιεῖτε	poieite	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	do	be doing	be doing	34
`G4160-22`	ποιεῖ	poiei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	does	he/she/it does	he/she/it does	31
`G4160-56`	ποιῶν	poion	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	doing	one making	one doing	27
`G4160-23`	ποιεῖν	poiein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to do	to make or do	to do	25
`G4160-47`	ποιήσω	poieso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	shall I do	I will do	I will do	25
`G4160-54`	ποιῶ	poio	`V PRS ACT IND 1P SG`	I do	I make / I do	I do	23
`G4160-37`	ποιήσας	poiesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	made	having done	having done	22
`G4160-43`	ποιήσει	poiesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will do	he/she/it will make	he/she/it will do	17
`G4160-05`	ἐποίησαν	epoiesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they did	they made	they did	15
`G4160-01`	ἐποίει	epoiei	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P SG`	he was doing	he was doing	he was doing	13
`G4160-24`	ποιεῖς	poieis	`V PRS ACT IND 2P SG`	you do	you are doing	you are doing	13
`G4160-48`	ποιήσομεν	poiesomen	`V FUT ACT IND 1P PL`	shall we do	we will do	we will do	12
`G4160-40`	ποιήσατε	poiesate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	make	do; carry out	do, all of you	11
`G4160-69`	ποιοῦσιν	poiousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	do	they are doing	they are doing	11
`G4160-03`	ἐποίησα	epoiesa	`V AOR ACT IND 1P SG`	I did	I did	I did	10
`G4160-50`	ποίησον	poieson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	do	Make!	Do!	10
`G4160-07`	ἐποιήσατε	epoiesate	`V AOR ACT IND 2P PL`	you did	you did	you did	9
`G4160-42`	ποιήσῃ	poiese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	does	may make	may do	9
`G4160-35`	ποιήσαντες	poiesantes	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having done	having performed	having done	7
`G4160-53`	ποιῆτε	poiete	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 2P PL`	you do	you may do	you may do	7
`G4160-66`	ποιοῦντες	poiountes	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	doing	making, doing	doing	7
`G4160-06`	ἐποίησας	epoiesas	`V AOR ACT IND 2P SG`	have you done	you did	you did	6
`G4160-62`	ποιοῦν	poioun	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG`	producing	making	producing	6
`G4160-14`	πεποίηκεν	pepoieken	`V PRF ACT IND 3P SG`	has done	he/she/it has made	he/she/it has done	5
`G4160-30`	ποιῇς	poies	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you do	you may do	you may do	5
`G4160-52`	ποιήσουσιν	poiesousin	`V FUT ACT IND 3P PL`	they will make	they will make	they will make	5
`G4160-61`	ποιούμενος	poioumenos	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M SG`	making	the one making for himself	making	5
`G4160-63`	ποιοῦντα	poiounta	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M SG`	doing	making	doing	5
`G4160-09`	ἐποίουν	epoioun	`V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL`	did	they were doing	they were doing	4
`G4160-51`	ποιήσωσιν	poiesosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they should make	that they might do	they might make	4
`G4160-57`	ποιῶσιν	poiosin	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they should do	they may do	they may do	4
`G4160-59`	ποιοῦμεν	poioumen	`V PRS ACT IND 1P PL`	we do	we are doing	we are doing	4
`G4160-04`	ἐποιήσαμεν	epoiesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	I made	we did	we did	3
`G4160-21`	ποιῇ	poie	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	does	may make	may do	3
`G4160-25`	ποιεῖσθαι	poieisthai	`V PRS PASS INF`	to make	to be done	to be done	3
`G4160-36`	ποιήσαντι	poiesanti	`V AOR ACT PTCP DAT M SG`	having shown	to the one having done	to the one having done	3
`G4160-44`	ποιήσεις	poieseis	`V FUT ACT IND 2P SG`	you will do	you will do	you will do	3
`G4160-46`	ποιήσετε	poiesete	`V FUT ACT IND 2P PL`	will do	you will do	you will do	3
`G4160-65`	ποιοῦντας	poiountas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	cause	those doing	those doing	3
`G4160-11`	πεποίηκα	pepoieka	`V PRF ACT IND 1P SG`	I have done	I have made	I have done	2
`G4160-16`	πεποιηκώς	pepoiekos	`V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	committed	having made	having done	2
`G4160-29`	ποιείτω	poieito	`V PRS ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him do	let him do	let him do	2
`G4160-34`	ποιησάμενος	poiesamenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	having made	having done for himself	having accomplished	2
`G4160-41`	ποιησάτω	poiesato	`V AOR ACT IMP 3P SG`	let him do	Let him perform	Let him do	2
`G4160-58`	ποιοῦμαι	poioumai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	consider	I am doing for myself	I am doing for myself	2
`G4160-67`	ποιοῦντι	poiounti	`V PRS ACT PTCP DAT N SG`	doing	to the one doing	doing	2
`G4160-02`	ἐποιεῖτε	epoieite	`V IMPF ACT IND 2P PL`	you would do	you were doing	you would do	1
`G4160-10`	ἐποιοῦντο	epoiounto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they were making	they were doing for themselves	they were doing	1
`G4160-12`	πεποιήκαμεν	pepoiekamen	`V PRF ACT IND 1P PL`	we have done	we have performed	we have performed	1
`G4160-13`	πεποιήκεισαν	pepoiekeisan	`V PLPF ACT IND 3P PL`	had committed	they had made	they had committed	1
`G4160-15`	πεποιηκέναι	pepoiekenai	`V PRF ACT INF`	had performed	to have made	to have done	1
`G4160-17`	πεποιηκόσιν	pepoiekosin	`V PRF ACT PTCP DAT M PL`	having-done	to those having done	having done	1
`G4160-18`	πεποιηκότες	pepoiekotes	`V PRF ACT PTCP NOM M PL`	having made	having made	having made	1
`G4160-19`	πεποιηκότος	pepoiekotos	`V PRF ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	had done	of the one having done	having done	1
`G4160-20`	πεποιημένων	pepoiemenon	`V PRF PASS PTCP GEN N PL`	things that are made	of things having been made	of things having been made	1
`G4160-26`	ποιεῖσθε	poieisthe	`V PRS MID IMP 2P PL`	make	be doing for yourselves	be doing for yourselves	1
`G4160-27`	ποιεῖται	poieitai	`V PRS MID IND 3P SG`	makes	does for himself	is produced	1
`G4160-32`	ποιήσαιεν	poiesaien	`V AOR ACT OPT 3P PL`	they might do	they might perform	they might do	1
`G4160-33`	ποιησάμενοι	poiesamenoi	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M PL`	having formed	having made for themselves	having made for themselves	1
`G4160-38`	ποιήσασαν	poiesasan	`V AOR ACT PTCP ACC F SG`	who had done	having done	having done	1
`G4160-39`	ποιήσασθαι	poiesasthai	`V AOR MID INF`	to make	to make for oneself	to make for oneself	1
`G4160-45`	ποιήσῃς	poieses	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you do	you may do	you may do	1
`G4160-49`	ποιησόμεθα	poiesometha	`V FUT MID IND 1P PL`	make	we will do for ourselves	we will make	1
`G4160-55`	ποιῶμεν	poiomen	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P PL`	shall we do	let us do	shall we do	1
`G4160-60`	ποιούμενοι	poioumenoi	`V PRS MID PTCP NOM M PL`	making	those making for themselves	making	1
`G4160-64`	ποιοῦνται	poiountai	`V PRS MID IND 3P PL`	make	they carry out for themselves	they carry out for themselves	1
`G4160-68`	ποιοῦντος	poiountos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	doing	of the one doing	of the one doing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

568 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4160-08`	Matthew 1:24	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	did	he made	he did
`G4160-28`	Matthew 3:3	ποιεῖτε	poieite	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	make	be doing	make
`G4160-40`	Matthew 3:8	ποιήσατε	poiesate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	bear	do; carry out	do, all of you
`G4160-62`	Matthew 3:10	ποιοῦν	poioun	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG`	producing	making	producing
`G4160-47`	Matthew 4:19	ποιήσω	poieso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will make	I will do	I will make
`G4160-42`	Matthew 5:19	ποιήσῃ	poiese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	does	may make	may do
`G4160-22`	Matthew 5:32	ποιεῖ	poiei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	makes	he/she/it does	makes
`G4160-31`	Matthew 5:36	ποιῆσαι	poiesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	make	to make	to do
`G4160-69`	Matthew 5:46	ποιοῦσιν	poiousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	do	they are doing	they are doing
`G4160-28`	Matthew 5:47	ποιεῖτε	poieite	`V PRS ACT IND 2P PL`	do you do	be doing	be doing
`G4160-69`	Matthew 5:47	ποιοῦσιν	poiousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	do	they are doing	they are doing
`G4160-23`	Matthew 6:1	ποιεῖν	poiein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to do	to make or do	to do
`G4160-30`	Matthew 6:2	ποιῇς	poies	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 2P SG`	you do	you may do	you may do
`G4160-69`	Matthew 6:2	ποιοῦσιν	poiousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	do	they are doing	they are doing
`G4160-68`	Matthew 6:3	ποιοῦντος	poiountos	`V PRS ACT PTCP GEN M SG`	doing	of the one doing	of the one doing
`G4160-22`	Matthew 6:3	ποιεῖ	poiei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	does	he/she/it does	he/she/it does
`G4160-57`	Matthew 7:12	ποιῶσιν	poiosin	`V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they should do	they may do	they may do
`G4160-28`	Matthew 7:12	ποιεῖτε	poieite	`V PRS ACT IMP 2P PL`	do	be doing	be doing
`G4160-22`	Matthew 7:17	ποιεῖ	poiei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	bears	he/she/it does	produces
`G4160-22`	Matthew 7:17	ποιεῖ	poiei-2	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	bears	he/she/it does	produces
`G4160-23`	Matthew 7:18	ποιεῖν	poiein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to produce	to make or do	to produce
`G4160-23`	Matthew 7:18	ποιεῖν	poiein-2	`V PRS ACT INF`	to produce	to make or do	to produce
`G4160-62`	Matthew 7:19	ποιοῦν	poioun	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM N SG`	bearing	making	producing
`G4160-56`	Matthew 7:21	ποιῶν	poion	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	doing	one making	one doing
`G4160-04`	Matthew 7:22	ἐποιήσαμεν	epoiesamen	`V AOR ACT IND 1P PL`	perform	we did	we did
`G4160-22`	Matthew 7:24	ποιεῖ	poiei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	does	he/she/it does	he/she/it does
`G4160-56`	Matthew 7:26	ποιῶν	poion	`V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	does	one making	one doing
`G4160-50`	Matthew 8:9	ποίησον	poieson	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P SG`	'Do'	Make!	Make
`G4160-22`	Matthew 8:9	ποιεῖ	poiei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	he does it	he/she/it does	he/she/it does
`G4160-31`	Matthew 9:28	ποιῆσαι	poiesai	`V AOR ACT INF`	to do	to make	to do
`G4160-69`	Matthew 12:2	ποιοῦσιν	poiousin	`V PRS ACT IND 3P PL`	do	they are doing	they are doing
`G4160-23`	Matthew 12:2	ποιεῖν	poiein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to do	to make or do	to do
`G4160-08`	Matthew 12:3	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	did	he made	he did
`G4160-23`	Matthew 12:12	ποιεῖν	poiein	`V PRS ACT INF`	to do	to make or do	to do
`G4160-51`	Matthew 12:16	ποιήσωσιν	poiesosin	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P PL`	they should make	that they might do	they might make
`G4160-40`	Matthew 12:33	ποιήσατε	poiesate	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	make	do; carry out	make
`G4160-40`	Matthew 12:33	ποιήσατε	poiesate-2	`V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL`	make	do; carry out	make
`G4160-42`	Matthew 12:50	ποιήσῃ	poiese	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG`	does	may make	may do
`G4160-22`	Matthew 13:23	ποιεῖ	poiei	`V PRS ACT IND 3P SG`	produces	he/she/it does	produces
`G4160-08`	Matthew 13:26	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	bore	he made	it produced
`G4160-08`	Matthew 13:28	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	has done	he made	he did
`G4160-65`	Matthew 13:41	ποιοῦντας	poiountas	`V PRS ACT PTCP ACC M PL`	who do	those doing	those doing
`G4160-08`	Matthew 13:58	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	he did	he made	he did
`G4160-47`	Matthew 17:4	ποιήσω	poieso	`V FUT ACT IND 1P SG`	I will make	I will do	I will make
`G4160-05`	Matthew 17:12	ἐποίησαν	epoiesan	`V AOR ACT IND 3P PL`	they did	they made	they did
`G4160-43`	Matthew 18:35	ποιήσει	poiesei	`V FUT ACT IND 3P SG`	will do	he/she/it will make	he/she/it will do
`G4160-37`	Matthew 19:4	ποιήσας	poiesas	`V AOR ACT PTCP NOM M SG`	made	having done	having made
`G4160-08`	Matthew 19:4	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	made	he made	he did
`G4160-47`	Matthew 19:16	ποιήσω	poieso	`V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG`	shall I do	I will do	I will do
`G4160-08`	Matthew 20:5	ἐποίησεν	epoiesen	`V AOR ACT IND 3P SG`	did	he made	he did

← G4159 Greek Lexicon G4161 →