πτωχεύω (ptōcheuō)
ptōcheuō
be poor
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb ptocheuō describes the state of being destitute or living as a beggar. It goes beyond simple financial lack to depict a condition of absolute poverty where one has no resources and must rely entirely on others for survival. In classical usage, it often carries the specific sense of begging, but in the New Testament, it emphasizes the depth of that poverty.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in 2 Corinthians 8:9. Paul uses it to describe how Jesus, though rich, became poor so that others might become rich through him. The contrast here is stark: the divine wealth of Christ entering into the ultimate human condition of need. This single instance highlights the word’s theological weight, showing a voluntary descent into poverty for the sake of others.
Its root relates to ptochos, the common noun for a beggar or pauper. While other words might describe general low income, ptocheuō points to a life defined by lack and dependence. The sources note its use in the Septuagint to translate Hebrew terms for the afflicted or needy, linking it to a broader biblical theme of God’s care for those who have nothing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ptocheuō describes a state of absolute destitution, where one has no resources and must rely entirely on others for survival. It goes beyond simple financial lack to depict a life defined by need and dependence. In the New Testament, this term carries significant theological weight, highlighting the depth of Christ’s voluntary descent into human poverty.
Paul uses this powerful verb in 2 Corinthians 8:9 to describe how Jesus, though rich, became poor for our sakes. This act of grace invites us to see our own needs not as failures, but as places where divine provision meets human vulnerability. It reminds us that true richness comes through His sacrifice, offering hope and sustenance to those who feel empty or overwhelmed.
When we face seasons of lack, this word assures us that God understands the depth of need. We are invited to rest in the grace that transforms our poverty into spiritual wealth, finding comfort in the knowledge that Christ entered our condition to lift us up.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- He became poor1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἐπτώχευσεν1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 8:9
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich.
This verse uniquely uses ptocheuō to describe Christ's voluntary descent from divine riches into absolute human need, establishing the basis for believers' spiritual wealth.