πόσις (posis)
posis
drink
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun posis refers simply to the act of drinking or the liquid consumed. It appears only three times in the New Testament, marking it as a rare term compared to more common words for wine or water. In Romans 14:17 and Colossians 2:16, Paul uses it to describe dietary practices that should not divide believers, treating food and drink as secondary matters of conscience rather than core spiritual requirements.
Its single other occurrence is in John 6:55, where Jesus contrasts physical sustenance with spiritual reality. He notes that his flesh is true food and his blood is true drink, using posis to anchor the metaphor in a basic human need. The word derives from the verb for drinking, keeping its meaning concrete and literal without adding abstract theological layers.
Translators typically render posis as "drink" or "drinking," preserving its straightforward nature. Unlike terms that might imply ritual or celebration, this word focuses on the physical act of consumption. Its scarcity in Scripture suggests it was not a primary tool for theological argument, but rather a practical descriptor for daily life and bodily needs.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word posis simply means drink. It appears only three times in the New Testament, which shows how specific and grounded this term is. When Paul writes about eating and drinking in Romans and Colossians, he reminds us that these daily acts are not the core of our faith. They are matters of conscience, not measures of spiritual maturity.
In John 6, Jesus uses this same concrete language to point us deeper. He calls his blood true drink, linking a basic human need to spiritual life. This connection helps us see that while physical sustenance is real and good, it points to something greater. We find our true satisfaction in him, not just in what we consume.
Let this rare word encourage you today. Your daily routines matter, but they do not define your standing with God. You are secure in Christ alone, who satisfies the deepest thirst of your soul. Rest in that truth and let it bring peace to your heart.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- drinking1×
- drink.1×
- drink1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πόσις.1×
- πόσις1×
- πόσει1×
Key Verses
-
John 6:55
For my flesh is food indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
Jesus uses posis here to anchor his metaphor, identifying his blood as true drink to contrast physical sustenance with spiritual reality.
-
Romans 14:17
for God’s Kingdom is not eating and drinking, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Paul pairs eating and drinking together to show that these external practices are secondary to the internal realities of righteousness and peace.
-
Colossians 2:16
Let no one therefore judge you in eating or drinking, or with respect to a feast day or a new moon or a Sabbath day,
The term appears in a list of dietary and calendar observances that Paul instructs believers not to let others judge them over.