ποίημα (G4161) — Greek Lexicon

ποίημα

poíēma

G4161 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A thing that has been made, a product or creation brought into existence by someone, typically emphasizing the result of an act of making or doing. In contextual usage, can refer to any manufactured object, artifact, created work, or even an artistic composition (such as a poem), though in Koine period, primarily denotes a result or work of any kind.

Semantic Range

that which is made, product, creation, thing produced, act, deed, artifact, work (of creation), artistic composition (in later usage)

Root / Etymology

From ποιέω (to make, to do) with the suffix -μα, indicating the result of an action; hence, 'that which is made.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

ποίημα appears in early Greek literature (e.g., Homer, Herodotus) broadly as anything made or produced, whether material object, artifact, or artistic work. In later periods, it can be used for literary or poetic works, though by the Koine period the term more generally expresses the result or outcome of creative or productive activity (the result of 'making'). In the Greek Bible (Septuagint, New Testament), ποίημα typically refers not to artistic compositions but to God's works or deeds (e.g., creation, acts of power). In Ephesians 2:10, for instance, humanity is described as God's workmanship or creation, conveying dependence on the creative action of God rather than the artistic sense prominent in modern uses of 'poem.' English translations such as 'workmanship' or 'thing made' generally represent the intended sense in biblical contexts, but the artistic nuance (e.g., 'poem') arises more in later or secular Hellenistic sources. The term is related to ποιήτης ('maker,' 'poet') but should not be confused as specifically literary in biblical uses.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ποιέω; a product, i.e. fabric (literally or figuratively):--thing that is made, workmanship.

Root Family

ποιη- (poíēma) — to make, to do, to create

Root ποιη- to make, to do, to create

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G4162	ποίησις	he/she/it will do
G4163	ποιητής	makers

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4161-01`	ποίημα	poiema	`N NOM N SG`	workmanship	created thing	created thing	1
`G4161-02`	ποιήμασιν	poiemasin	`N DAT N PL`	things that are made	to the creations	to the creations	1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4161-02`	Romans 1:20	ποιήμασιν	poiemasin	`N DAT N PL`	things that are made	to the creations	to the creations
`G4161-01`	Ephesians 2:10	ποίημα	poiema	`N NOM N SG`	workmanship	created thing	created thing

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