Greek word · G4432

πτωχεία

ptōcheia

poverty

Destitution or beggary: the condition of the ptōchos, who lacks the means to live and depends on others. It is distinct from penia, the modest poverty of the person who must work for a living.

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πτωχεία, -ας, ἡ

(πτωχεύω), [in LXX chiefly for עֳנִי ;]

beggary, destitution: 2 Corinthians 8:2 8:9, Revelation 2:9.†

(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 2 Corinthians 8:2

Range of meaning

Destitution or beggary: the condition of the ptōchos, who lacks the means to live and depends on others. It is distinct from penia, the modest poverty of the person who must work for a living.

Against the English

"Deep poverty" (KJV, BSB, WEB) is accurate. Translations that say "extreme poverty" capture kata bathous ("down to the depth") well.

Used elsewhere in the period

Paul uses the same word in 8:9: "though he was rich, for your sake he became poor, so that you by his ptōcheia might become rich." In the LXX it is used of the afflicted poor (e.g. Ps 44:24 LXX [44:25 Eng.]). Roman Macedonia was economically burdened. Rome kept control of its mines after 167 BC (Livy 45.29), and Tacitus (Annals 1.76) records Macedonia and Achaia petitioning for relief from their tax burdens in AD 15.

From the study of Revelation 2:9

Range of meaning

Poverty, especially destitution. Its root word πτωχός describes a person who has to beg or depend on others, unlike the πένης who works hard but gets by. The Greek Old Testament uses the related words for the poor and oppressed whom God defends.

Against the English

"Poverty" is correct, but the Greek word is stronger than an ordinary modest income. It suggests real need.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in the Greek Old Testament for affliction and want (e.g. Psalm 44:24 [43:25]; Lamentations 1:7, 9). Paul uses it for Christ's self-emptying and the Macedonians' "deep poverty" (2 Corinthians 8:2, 9).

Similar words

Where it appears

2 Corinthians · 2

  1. 2 Corinthians 8:2 πτωχεία poverty

    In the terrible ordeal they suffered, their abundant joy and deep poverty overflowed into rich generosity.

    Here: This is the poverty of the ptōchos, the person who has nothing and may have to beg. It is harsher than ordinary working-class lack (penia). The same word comes back in 8:9 for Christ's self-impoverishment.

  2. 2 Corinthians 8:9 πτωχείᾳ poverty

    For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.

    Here: "Poverty": the same word Paul used in 8:2 for the Macedonians' "deep poverty" that overflowed in generosity. Christ's poverty is the means by which others are made rich.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 2:9 πτωχείαν, poverty —

    I know your affliction and your poverty—though you are rich! And I am aware of the slander of those who falsely claim to be Jews, but are in fact a synagogue of Satan.

    Here: The word for being destitute, the poverty of a beggar, not just having a modest income. It is real material want, in one of the richest cities in Asia.

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