ποίμνιον (poimnion)
poimnion
flock
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun poimnion refers to a flock, specifically describing a group of sheep under the care of a shepherd. In the New Testament, this term is applied metaphorically to believers, identifying Christians as the sheep belonging to Jesus. The sources highlight its use in Luke 12:32, where Jesus addresses his followers as "a little flock," emphasizing their intimate relationship with him rather than their size or power.
This imagery extends beyond individual salvation to describe the community itself. In Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2-3, church leaders are instructed to care for the poimnion of God. The phrase "flock of God" (1 Peter 5:2) underscores that these believers are not merely a social group but a possession of the divine Shepherd, requiring protection and guidance from those appointed to lead them.
The word derives from the root for shepherd, linking the identity of the people directly to the character of their leader. By calling his disciples a flock, Jesus invites them into a posture of trust and dependence. The term appears only five times in Scripture, concentrating its theological weight on the mutual responsibility between the Shepherd and those who follow him.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When Jesus calls his followers a poimnion, or little flock, He is offering comfort rather than a challenge to power. In Luke 12:32, this image reassures believers that their value does not come from size or influence, but from the Father’s good pleasure. It invites us into a posture of trust, knowing we are known and held by the Shepherd who purchased us with His own blood.
This word also shapes how we view community and leadership. In Acts 20:28 and 1 Peter 5:2-3, church leaders are reminded that they do not own the flock but serve it. The responsibility is to guide and protect, mirroring the care of God Himself. For those being led, it means resting in the assurance that you belong to a divine family under His watchful eye.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- flock,2×
- flock2×
- flock;1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ποίμνιον,1×
- ποίμνιον1×
- ποιμνίῳ,1×
- ποιμνίου·1×
- ποιμνίου,1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 12:32
“Don’t be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.
Jesus uses this term to replace fear with the assurance of the Father’s pleasure in giving them the Kingdom.
-
Acts 20:28
Take heed, therefore, to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the assembly of the Lord and God which he purchased with his own blood.
Paul links the identity of the flock directly to its costly purchase by God, establishing the basis for pastoral oversight.