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πτωχεύω

ptōcheúō

G4433 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

To become poor, to fall into poverty or destitution; to come to lack material resources, especially to such a degree that one is compelled to beg or rely on the charity of others. Also used figuratively of losing status, spiritual resources, or privilege.

Semantic Range

to fall into poverty, to become poor, to lose one's means, to be reduced to begging, to suffer destitution, to be rendered needy (literally or figuratively)

Root / Etymology

Formed from πτωχός ('poor, destitute, beggar') with the verb-forming suffix -εύω, which typically indicates engaging in the activity or condition denoted by the base word. Thus, πτωχεύω denotes the action or process of becoming poor; etymologically, 'to act the pauper' or 'to come to be as a beggar.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Attested primarily in post-classical and Koine Greek, πτωχεύω is rare in earlier periods but becomes more common in writings concerned with economic status or moral exhortation. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it refers both to literal poverty and to figurative states (such as spiritual impoverishment; cf. 2 Corinthians 8:9). The nuance often centers on the process or change of state into poverty, rather than enduring poverty itself (the state expressed by πτωχός). Standard English translations typically render as 'become poor', but this sometimes does not capture the experiential and social descent implied by the verb. Rarely, it is used for voluntary abandonment of resources for ethical or spiritual reasons. Contrasts with πλουτέω ('to become rich').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from πτωχός; to be a beggar, i.e. (by implication) to become indigent (figuratively):--become poor.

Root Family

πτωχ- (ptōcheía) — to be destitute, to beg, to lack basic means

Root πτωχ- to be poor, to become indigent, to beg
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4432 πτωχεία destitution

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4433-01 ἐπτώχευσεν eptocheusen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he became poor he became poor he became poor 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4433-01 2 Corinthians 8:9 ἐπτώχευσεν eptocheusen V AOR ACT IND 3P SG he became poor he became poor he became poor
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