τρέφω (trephō)
trephō
to feed
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 9 verses
- Root
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Word Overview
The Greek verb trephō describes the act of nourishing or bringing up, encompassing both physical feeding and broader nurturing care. In the New Testament, it appears in contexts ranging from God’s provision for birds in Matthew 6:26 to the practical acts of mercy shown to strangers in Matthew 25:37. It is also used literally for a mother giving suck, as seen in Luke 23:29, highlighting its intimate connection to sustaining life.
Its range extends beyond simple sustenance to include rearing and development, often implying a sustained effort to help something grow strong. This depth of meaning connects it to the idea of fostering life rather than just maintaining it, as seen in Revelation 12:6 where the woman is nourished in the wilderness. The word captures the essential, ongoing work of care that allows life to flourish.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word trephō reminds us that God’s care is active and ongoing. In Matthew 6:26, Jesus points to the birds, noting that your heavenly Father feeds them. This simple observation grounds our faith in a God who attends to the smallest needs of creation. If He provides for creatures that do not sow or reap, we can trust that He watches over us with equal attentiveness.
This nurturing extends beyond mere survival into the realm of relationship and growth. When Jesus speaks of being brought up in Nazareth in Luke 4:16, He reflects on a life shaped by consistent care. Similarly, in Revelation 12:6, God prepares a place to nourish His people during difficult times. This suggests that spiritual sustenance is not just about immediate relief but about long-term flourishing and strength.
Our calling mirrors this divine pattern. In Matthew 25:37, the righteous are praised for feeding the hungry among them. To trephō is to participate in God’s work of sustaining life. Whether through physical acts of mercy or emotional support, we become channels of His provision. This invites us to look around with eyes of compassion, seeing opportunities to nurture others as God has nurtured us.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- feeds2×
- they may feed1×
- they feed.1×
- she is nourished1×
- raised,1×
- fed [You]1×
- being nourished1×
- You have fattened1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τρέφει2×
- ἔθρεψαν.1×
- ἐθρέψατε1×
- ἐθρέψαμεν1×
- τρέφωσιν1×
- τρέφεται1×
- τρέφεσθαι1×
- τεθραμμένος,1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 6:26
See the birds of the sky, that they don’t sow, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns. Your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you of much more value than they?
This verse establishes God’s faithful provision for creation, grounding the concept of feeding in divine care rather than human effort.
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Luke 4:16
He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up. He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.
Here the word describes Jesus’ upbringing, showing that nurturing is a foundational part of human development and identity.
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Matthew 25:37
“Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink?
This occurrence links feeding directly to acts of mercy, defining righteous behavior as practical care for those in need.
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Revelation of John 12:6
The woman fled into the wilderness, where she has a place prepared by God, that there they may nourish her one thousand two hundred sixty days.
The word illustrates God’s protective sustenance during periods of trial, emphasizing long-term spiritual preservation.