ποιέω (poieō)
poieō
to do/make: do
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 522 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek verb poieō covers a remarkably wide range of actions, translating to both "to make" and "to do." In the New Testament, it appears over five hundred times, serving as the primary equivalent for the Hebrew word ‘āsâ in the Septuagint. Its meaning shifts with context: it can describe physical creation, such as God making humanity (Matthew 19:4), or the execution of an action, like performing a deed or fulfilling a promise.
A distinctive feature of its usage is the "cognate accusative," where poieō combines with a noun derived from the same root to intensify the verb. For instance, Jesus speaks of doing judgment (John 5:27) or making signs (John 2:23). This construction emphasizes the reality and completeness of the act. It also applies to daily life, describing how one spends time (Matthew 20:12) or prepares a meal (Mark 6:21).
Translators often choose between "make" and "do" based on whether the focus is on production or behavior. When applied to moral conduct, it implies carrying out what is right, as seen in the command to do well (Mark 7:37). The word’s flexibility allows it to bridge the gap between creative power and practical obedience, covering everything from building a tent to keeping a feast.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word poieō bridges the gap between intention and action. It does not merely describe a thought or a wish; it points to something actually carried out. In your daily life, this means that faith is measured by what you do, not just what you say. When Jesus speaks of doing the will of the Father, He invites us into a practical obedience that shapes our character and our relationships.
This verb also carries the weight of creation and production. Just as a tree produces fruit, your actions reveal what is growing inside you. The command to love enemies or give secretly is not about earning favor, but about aligning your life with the reality of God’s kingdom. It is an invitation to let your inner convictions take visible form in the world around you.
There is comfort in knowing that God uses our ordinary actions for His purposes. Whether it is a small act of mercy or a difficult decision to follow a command, these moments matter. They are the building blocks of a life rooted in truth, offering stability when circumstances feel uncertain.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 522 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- to do29×
- did26×
- doing16×
- having done14×
- do make14×
- making12×
- to make11×
- made11×
- do perform11×
- having made10×
- to do.8×
- do8×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐποίησεν60×
- ποιῆσαι36×
- ποιῶν26×
- ποιεῖτε25×
- ποιήσας20×
- ποιεῖν17×
- ποιήσω15×
- ποιεῖ15×
- ποιήσει14×
- ἐποίησαν12×
- ἐποίει10×
- ποιῶ10×
Key Verses
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Matthew 7:24
“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
This verse links hearing Jesus' words with doing them, using the word to illustrate how practical obedience creates a stable foundation for life.
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Matthew 5:44
But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,
Here the word commands active love toward enemies, showing that Christian conduct requires deliberate action rather than passive feeling.
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Matthew 7:21
“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.
Jesus uses this term to define entry into the Kingdom not by title or claim, but by the actual practice of God's will.
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Matthew 3:8
Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
The word is paired with 'fruit' to emphasize that repentance must result in visible, tangible changes in behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word poieō mean?
How is poieō different from other words for work?
Why does Jesus use this word so often?
Every Occurrence (522 verses across 26 books)
Matthew 72 verses
Joseph arose from his sleep, and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took his wife to himself;
Matthew 3:3For this is he who was spoken of by Isaiah the prophet, saying, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make the…
Matthew 3:8Therefore produce fruit worthy of repentance!
Matthew 3:10Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees. Therefore every tree that doesn’t produce good fruit is cut down, and…
Matthew 4:19He said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers for men.”
Matthew 5:19Therefore, whoever shall break one of these least commandments and teach others to do so, shall be called least in the…
Matthew 5:32but I tell you that whoever puts away his wife, except for the cause of sexual immorality, makes her an adulteress; and…
Matthew 5:36Neither shall you swear by your head, for you can’t make one hair white or black.
Matthew 5:44But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who…
Matthew 5:46For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 5:47If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?
Matthew 6:1“Be careful that you don’t do your charitable giving before men, to be seen by them, or else you have no reward from…
Matthew 6:2Therefore, when you do merciful deeds, don’t sound a trumpet before yourself, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues…
Matthew 6:3But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,
Matthew 7:12Therefore, whatever you desire for men to do to you, you shall also do to them; for this is the law and the prophets.
Matthew 7:17Even so, every good tree produces good fruit, but the corrupt tree produces evil fruit.
Matthew 7:18A good tree can’t produce evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree produce good fruit.
Matthew 7:19Every tree that doesn’t grow good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
Matthew 7:21“Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter into the Kingdom of Heaven, but he who does the will of my…
Matthew 7:22Many will tell me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, in your name cast out demons, and in your…
Matthew 7:24“Everyone therefore who hears these words of mine and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on…
Matthew 7:26Everyone who hears these words of mine and doesn’t do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.
Matthew 8:9For I am also a man under authority, having under myself soldiers. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and tell…
Matthew 9:28When he had come into the house, the blind men came to him. Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do…
Matthew 12:2But the Pharisees, when they saw it, said to him, “Behold, your disciples do what is not lawful to do on the Sabbath.”
Matthew 12:3But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:
Matthew 12:12Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.”
Matthew 12:16and commanded them that they should not make him known,
Matthew 12:33“Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by…
Matthew 12:50For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Matthew 13:23What was sown on the good ground, this is he who hears the word and understands it, who most certainly bears fruit and…
Matthew 13:26But when the blade sprang up and produced grain, then the darnel weeds appeared also.
Matthew 13:28“He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ “The servants asked him, ‘Do you want us to go and gather them up?’
Matthew 13:41The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will gather out of his Kingdom all things that cause stumbling and…
Matthew 13:58He didn’t do many mighty works there because of their unbelief.
Matthew 17:4Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let’s make three tents here: one…
Matthew 17:12but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to.…
Matthew 18:35So my heavenly Father will also do to you, if you don’t each forgive your brother from your hearts for his misdeeds.”
Matthew 19:4He answered, “Haven’t you read that he who made them from the beginning made them male and female,
Matthew 19:16Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”
Matthew 20:5Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise.
Matthew 20:12saying, ‘These last have spent one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and…
Matthew 20:15Isn’t it lawful for me to do what I want to with what I own? Or is your eye evil, because I am good?’
Matthew 20:32Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”
Matthew 21:6The disciples went and did just as Jesus commanded them,
Matthew 21:13He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”
Matthew 21:15But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children who were crying in…
Matthew 21:21Jesus answered them, “Most certainly I tell you, if you have faith and don’t doubt, you will not only do what was done…
Matthew 21:23When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and…
Matthew 21:24Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, which if you tell me, I likewise will tell you by what…
Matthew 21:27They answered Jesus, and said, “We don’t know.” He also said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do…
Matthew 21:31Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell…
Matthew 21:36Again, he sent other servants more than the first; and they treated them the same way.
Matthew 21:40When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”
Matthew 21:43“Therefore I tell you, God’s Kingdom will be taken away from you and will be given to a nation producing its fruit.
Matthew 22:2“The Kingdom of Heaven is like a certain king, who made a wedding feast for his son,
Matthew 23:3All things therefore whatever they tell you to observe, observe and do, but don’t do their works; for they say, and…
Matthew 23:5But they do all their works to be seen by men. They make their phylacteries broad and enlarge the fringes of their…
Matthew 23:15Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you travel around by sea and land to make one proselyte; and when he…
Matthew 23:23“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint, dill, and cumin, and have left undone the weightier…
Matthew 24:46Blessed is that servant whom his lord finds doing so when he comes.
Matthew 25:40“The King will answer them, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of these my brothers,…
Matthew 25:45“Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Most certainly I tell you, because you didn’t do it to one of the least of these,…
Matthew 26:12For in pouring this ointment on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.
Matthew 26:13Most certainly I tell you, wherever this Good News is preached in the whole world, what this woman has done will also…
Matthew 26:18He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the…
Matthew 26:19The disciples did as Jesus commanded them, and they prepared the Passover.
Matthew 26:73After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes…
Matthew 27:22Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”
Matthew 27:23But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”
Matthew 28:14If this comes to the governor’s ears, we will persuade him and make you free of worry.”
Matthew 28:15So they took the money and did as they were told. This saying was spread abroad among the Jews, and continues until…