Greek word · G4166

ποιμήν

poimēn

shepherd

A herdsman of sheep and goats. Used figuratively in both the Greek and Jewish worlds for a ruler or leader who feeds, guides and protects a people (Homer calls kings "shepherds of the people").

Appears 18 times in 17 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ποιμήν, -ίνος, ὁ

[in LXX for רָעָה ;]

a shepherd: Matthew 9:36 25:32 26:31" (LXX), Mark 6:34 14:27, Luke 2:8, 15 2:18, 20 John 10:2, 12 Metaphorical, of Christ; John 10:11, 14 10:16 Hebrews 13:20, 1 Peter 2:25; of Christian pastors, Ephesians 4:11 (cf. Hom., Il, i, 263, ποιμένα λαῶν).†

(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 Luke 2:8

Range of meaning

A herdsman of sheep and goats. Used figuratively in both the Greek and Jewish worlds for a ruler or leader who feeds, guides and protects a people (Homer calls kings "shepherds of the people"). In the Greek Old Testament (the Septuagint, or LXX) God himself is Israel's shepherd (Ps 23; 80:1; Ezek 34), and failed kings and leaders are condemned as bad shepherds (Ezek 34; Jer 23).

Against the English

The English "shepherd" is accurate for the literal job. What modern readers usually miss is how heavily the word was loaded with royal and divine meaning in Israel's Scriptures, especially around Bethlehem.

Used elsewhere in the period

David was "keeping the sheep" at Bethlehem when he was anointed (1 Sam 16:11). God took him "from the sheepfolds" to shepherd Israel (2 Sam 5:2; Ps 78:70–72). Micah 5:2–4 promises a ruler from Bethlehem who will "shepherd his flock in the strength of the LORD". Ezekiel 34:23 promises "one shepherd, my servant David". In Psalms of Solomon 17:40 (1st century BC) the coming Davidic king is "shepherding the flock of the Lord faithfully". Later rabbinic texts are more ambivalent about real shepherds as a trade (m. Qiddushin 4:14 lists herdsman among trades a father should not teach his son, "for their craft is the craft of robbers").

From the study of John 10:14

Range of meaning

A herdsman, especially of sheep and goats. Figuratively, a ruler, guardian or leader responsible for a people's safety, food and direction. Later it was used of leaders of the Christian community (Ephesians 4:11, the source of "pastor", from Latin for shepherd).

Against the English

"Shepherd" is the right word. A modern reader, though, mostly hears either a gentle rural figure or the church office of "pastor", and misses the royal and political meaning ancient hearers would have caught at once.

How it drifted

As societies became urban, the word lost its link to kingship. Church use of "pastor" for a local minister then turned the image toward personal care and away from rule and protection of a whole people.

Used elsewhere in the period

Mesopotamian kings called themselves shepherds; the prologue to Hammurabi's laws presents the king as "the shepherd" called by the gods. Homer calls Agamemnon "shepherd of the people" (poimēn laōn). In Israel, David is taken from the sheepfolds to shepherd Israel (2 Sam 5:2; Ps 78:70–72). The prophets accuse Israel's rulers of being bad shepherds (Jer 23:1–4; Zech 11). In Ezekiel 34, God condemns the shepherds who feed themselves, says "I myself will shepherd my sheep" (34:15), and promises "one shepherd, my servant David" (34:23). The Psalms of Solomon (17:40, 1st century BC) picture the coming Messiah "shepherding the flock of the Lord faithfully and righteously". Philo uses God-as-shepherd language built on Psalm 23.

From the study of Hebrews 13:20

Range of meaning

A herdsman of sheep or goats. Across the ancient Near East and in Greek literature it was also a standard title for a ruler or leader responsible for a people. In Israel's scriptures God is the shepherd of Israel (Genesis 49:24; Psalm 23; 80:1), and so are leaders under him: Moses, David and the promised king (2 Samuel 5:2; Ezekiel 34:23; Micah 5:4).

Against the English

Modern English hears "shepherd" as a gentle, rural caretaker, and "pastor" (Latin for shepherd) as a church job. The ancient word carried authority and responsibility: the shepherd leads, protects, rules and answers for the flock.

How it drifted

Later devotional art and hymns, and the use of "pastor" for local ministers, made the image soft and domestic. For an ancient hearer it was royal as well as caring.

Used elsewhere in the period

Hammurabi calls himself "the shepherd" of his people. Homer's kings are "shepherds of the people" (poimēn laōn). Philo says shepherding is training for kingship (On Joseph 2). Psalms of Solomon 17:40 pictures the Messiah "shepherding the Lord's flock faithfully". Isaiah 63:11 LXX speaks of God bringing up from the sea "the shepherd of the sheep" (Moses). The phrase in Hebrews matches it word for word: ton poimena tōn probatōn.

Where it appears

Matthew · 3

  1. Matthew 9:36 ποιμένα.¶ a shepherd.

    When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

    Here: In the biblical and ancient Near Eastern world 'shepherd' was standard language for a king or leader. The flock has no one to guard, guide and feed it, and that is a charge against Israel's leadership as well as a description of need.

  2. Matthew 25:32 ποιμὴν shepherd

    All the nations will be gathered before Him, and He will separate the people one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

    Here: An ordinary herdsman in the comparison. But for Jewish hearers 'shepherd' was also royal language for Israel's king and for God (Ezek 34; Matt 2:6), and the Son of Man here is a shepherd-king.

  3. Matthew 26:31 ποιμένα, shepherd,

    Then Jesus said to them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of Me. For it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’

    Here: In Israel's scriptures 'shepherd' was a standard picture of a king or leader of God's people (Ezekiel 34; 2 Samuel 5:2). Here it is Jesus.

Mark · 2

  1. Mark 6:34 ποιμένα. a shepherd.

    When Jesus stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And He began to teach them many things.

    Here: A shepherd. In biblical and ancient Near Eastern language this was a regular title for a king or leader of the people. Missing such a figure means having no true leadership.

  2. Mark 14:27 ποιμένα, shepherd,

    Then Jesus said to them, “You will all fall away, for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’

    Here: Across the ancient Near East a shepherd stood for a king or leader of a people, and in Israel especially for God and his chosen ruler (Ezek 34). Jesus applies it to himself.

Luke · 4

  1. Luke 2:8 ποιμένες shepherds

    And there were shepherds residing in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks by night.

    Here: Men who herd and guard sheep and goats. It comes first in the Greek clause, so the shepherds are the new characters on stage. Near Bethlehem, the town of David, the word already carries the memory of David the shepherd-king.

  2. Luke 2:15 ποιμένες shepherds

    When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.”

  3. Luke 2:18 ποιμένων shepherds

    And all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.

  4. Luke 2:20 ποιμένες shepherds

    The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, which was just as the angel had told them.

    Here: Herdsmen working the fields near Bethlehem, David's town. David was a Bethlehem shepherd, so the image carries a royal echo.

John · 6

  1. John 10:2 ποιμήν shepherd

    But the one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.

    Here: "Shepherd", with no article in Greek. Placed early for emphasis: entering by the door is what marks a man as shepherd, as opposed to thief. In Israel's Scriptures the word also stood for the people's leaders.

  2. John 10:11 ποιμὴν ποιμὴν shepherd

    I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.

    Here: A literal herdsman, and also an old title for kings, leaders and God himself as guardian of a people. Both meanings are in play here.

  3. John 10:12 ποιμήν, [the] shepherd,

    The hired hand is not the shepherd, and the sheep are not his own. When he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf pounces on them and scatters the flock.

    Here: There is no 'the' in Greek, so the sense is 'not a shepherd' in kind. He may do shepherd's work, but he is not the one the flock belongs to and depends on. The verse sets him against 'the good shepherd' of 10:11.

  4. John 10:14 ποιμὴν shepherd

    I am the good shepherd. I know My sheep and My sheep know Me,

    Here: Literally a herdsman of sheep. In Israel's Scriptures and across the ancient world it was also the standard word picture for a king or leader of a people.

  5. John 10:16 ποιμήν. shepherd.

    I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them in as well, and they will listen to My voice. Then there will be one flock and one shepherd.

    Here: The 'good shepherd' of 10:11, 14. In the Scriptures this is a royal and divine title. The flock is one because the shepherd is one. There is no 'and' or 'with': 'one flock, one shepherd' stands bare, like a motto.

Ephesians · 1

  1. Ephesians 4:11 ποιμένας shepherds

    And it was He who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers,

    Here: Shepherds of God's flock who feed, protect, gather and guide. This is the only place in the NT where the noun is used of church leaders. Elsewhere it belongs to Jesus, the 'chief' or 'great' Shepherd.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 13:20 ποιμένα Shepherd

    Now may the God of peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep,

    Here: Shepherd, and in the ancient world also the standard picture of a king or leader of a people. Here it echoes Isaiah 63:11, where God "brought up from the sea the shepherd of the sheep" (Moses). Jesus is the leader who goes in front of God's people and brings them through death.

1 Peter · 1

  1. 1 Peter 2:25 ποιμένα Shepherd

    For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

    Here: The one who leads, feeds, protects and gathers the flock. In the ancient Near East and in Israel's Scriptures it was a title for kings and above all for God (Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34). Here it refers to the Christ who suffered (2:21–24).

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