Greek word · G1006

βόσκω

boskō

to feed

To feed or graze livestock, to tend animals at pasture. The middle form means 'to graze' (as pigs do in Mark 5:11). It is a herdsman's working word.

Appears 9 times in 9 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

βόσκω,

[in LXX for רעה ;]

prop., of a herdsman, to feed: Matthew 8:33, Mark 5:14, Luke 8:34 15:15; metaphorically, of Christian pastoral care, John 21:15, 17. Pass., of cattle, to feed, graze: Matthew 8:30, Mark 5:11, Luke 8:32.†

SYN.: ποιμαίνειν, to tend, shepherd, a wider term, including oversight as well as feeding (see Tr., Syn., §xxv). (AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of John 21:15

Range of meaning

To feed or graze livestock, to tend animals at pasture. The middle form means 'to graze' (as pigs do in Mark 5:11). It is a herdsman's working word.

Against the English

'Feed' is accurate. In v.16 Jesus switches to poimainō, 'shepherd' (guide, protect, govern), and in v.17 returns to boskō. English versions generally mark this ('Feed'/'Tend' or 'Shepherd'), though some smooth it over.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint, shepherding is the standard image for leading God's people. Ezekiel 34 condemns Israel's leaders as shepherds who fed themselves instead of the flock. Jesus calls himself the Good Shepherd in John 10. Peter later writes, 'shepherd the flock of God… when the Chief Shepherd appears' (1 Pet 5:2–4).

From the study of John 21:17

Range of meaning

To feed or pasture animals: lead them to grazing and see that they eat (Mark 5:11, 14; Luke 15:15, the prodigal feeding pigs). In the active it describes the herdsman's work.

Against the English

'Feed' is accurate in every major version. In verse 16 Jesus uses poimainō, 'shepherd / tend / rule as a shepherd', which covers the whole job of guiding, protecting and governing. Versions that use 'feed' in all three verses (as KJV does for verse 16) lose that variation.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the LXX of Ezekiel 34 God condemns Israel's shepherds who 'fed themselves' and did not feed (boskō) the flock, and promises a shepherd who will feed them (34:2–3, 10, 14–16, 23). 'Shepherd' was a standard image for kings and leaders across the ancient Near East and in Israel (2 Samuel 5:2; Psalm 78:70–72).

From the study of Matthew 8:30

Range of meaning

In the active voice it means 'to feed, tend, pasture' animals, said of the herdsman (Luke 15:15; John 21:15, 17 'feed my lambs'). In the middle or passive voice it means 'to graze, feed,' said of the animals themselves.

Against the English

All the supplied translations have 'feeding,' which is accurate. 'Grazing' or 'foraging' fits pigs rooting on a hillside just as well.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the Septuagint it is used for flocks grazing (Gen 37:12; Isa 5:17) and for shepherds pasturing (Gen 29:7). In Greek writings generally it is the normal verb for herding animals.

Where it appears

Matthew · 2

  1. Matthew 8:30 βοσκομένη. feeding.

    In the distance a large herd of pigs was feeding.

    Here: A present participle meaning 'grazing' or 'being pastured,' an action going on at that moment. The same verb returns in verse 33 for the herdsmen, literally 'the ones pasturing' (οἱ βόσκοντες), who run off to the town.

  2. Matthew 8:33 βόσκοντες feeding [them]

    Those tending the pigs ran off into the town and reported all this, including the account of the demon-possessed men.

    Here: 'Those feeding [them]': the herdsmen who grazed the pigs. The present tense pictures their ongoing job, which ended suddenly when the herd ran into the sea.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 5:11 βοσκομένη· feeding;

    There on the nearby hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding.

  2. Mark 5:14 βόσκοντες feeding

    Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened.

Luke · 3

  1. Luke 8:32 βοσκομένη feeding

    There on the hillside a large herd of pigs was feeding. So the demons begged Jesus to let them enter the pigs, and He gave them permission.

  2. Luke 8:34 βόσκοντες feeding [them]

    When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside.

  3. Luke 15:15 βόσκειν to feed

    So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed the pigs.

John · 2

  1. John 21:15 βόσκε do feed

    When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love Me more than these?” “Yes, Lord,” he answered, “You know I love You.” Jesus replied, “Feed My lambs.”

    Here: A present-tense command, 'keep on feeding', 'graze'. It is a herdsman's word for leading animals to food. Peter's love is to show itself in ongoing care for what belongs to Jesus.

  2. John 21:17 βόσκε do feed

    Jesus asked a third time, “Simon son of John, do you love Me?” Peter was deeply hurt that Jesus had asked him a third time, “Do you love Me?” “Lord, You know all things,” he replied. “You know I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.

    Here: A present command, 'keep feeding / go on grazing', meaning lead them to pasture and see that they are fed. It is ongoing work, not a single task.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.