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ποίμνιον

poímnion

G4168 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A group or assembly of animals, specifically a flock of sheep or goats; in extended or figurative use, a group of people under leadership or care, especially a group of followers or adherents. The primary sense is a collection of sheep or goats managed as a unit; secondarily, by metaphor, refers to a cohesive group governed, protected, or guided by an authority, commonly found in contexts addressing communities under guidance, such as disciples or congregations.

Semantic Range

flock (of sheep or goats), group of animals managed together, by extension a group of people under care or leadership, figurative community or congregation

Root / Etymology

Diminutive of ποίμνη ('flock of sheep/goats'), itself from the root ποίμ- related to shepherding and pasturing; ποίμνιον is formed with the diminutive suffix -ιον, indicating a smaller or more collective sense. No direct Semitic origin is evident.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, ποίμνιον typically referred to an actual flock of sheep or goats. Its diminutive form, compared to ποίμνη, could suggest either a smaller group or a particular emphasis on the collectivity. In the Septuagint and especially the New Testament, ποίμνιον is frequently used metaphorically for groups of people considered under guidance, such as the assembly of disciples or a community led by a shepherd figure. This metaphor utilizes established Greek literary traditions in which animal herding parallels human leadership and care. Later English translations often use 'flock' when referring to groups of believers, but this can obscure the broader metaphorical potential of the Greek, which does not exclusively denote religious communities. The term does not necessarily imply any theological attribute to the group, but emphasizes relationship to a leader or protector. The use of ποίμνιον is distinct from other kinship or civic group terms and is shaped by the pastoral imagery common in both Hellenistic and Israelite traditions.

Translation Consistency

primary "flock" 5 occurrences

Primary literal meaning is a flock of sheep or goats, and English ‘flock’ is the natural, common word used both for the animal group and figuratively for a congregation or group under care. It matches typical usage in the Greek and keeps translations consistent and idiomatic across forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a presumed derivative of ποίμνη; a flock, i.e. (figuratively) group (of believers):--flock.

Root Family

ποιμν- (poímnē) — flock (of sheep), group of animals under care

Root ποιμν- flock, group of animals, assemble
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4167 ποίμνη a flock of sheep

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4168-02 ποίμνιον poimnion N VOC N SG flock O flock flock 2
G4168-03 ποιμνίου poimniou N GEN N SG flock of a flock flock 2
G4168-01 ποιμνίῳ poimnio N DAT N SG flock to the flock flock 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4168-02 Luke 12:32 ποίμνιον poimnion N VOC N SG flock O flock flock
G4168-01 Acts 20:28 ποιμνίῳ poimnio N DAT N SG flock to the flock flock
G4168-03 Acts 20:29 ποιμνίου poimniou N GEN N SG flock of a flock flock
G4168-02 1 Peter 5:2 ποίμνιον poimnion N ACC N SG flock O flock flock
G4168-03 1 Peter 5:3 ποιμνίου poimniou N GEN N SG flock of a flock flock
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