ψωμίζω (psōmizō)
psōmizō
to feed/dole out
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 2 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The verb psōmizō describes the specific act of feeding someone with small pieces or morsels of food. Derived from the word for a "crumb" or "bit," it originally referred to the gentle care given to infants, young animals, or the sick who require food placed directly into their mouths. This imagery conveys intimacy and attentive provision rather than mere sustenance.
In the New Testament, this rare word appears only twice, yet each instance carries significant weight. In Romans 12:20, Paul quotes Proverbs to urge believers to heap "burning coals of fire" on an enemy’s head by feeding him. The use of psōmizō here suggests a profound, personal act of kindness that disarms hostility through tender care. Similarly, in 1 Corinthians 13:3, it describes the futility of giving away one’s body to be burned if love is absent; the physical act of feeding holds no value without the relational heart behind it.
Translators often render psōmizō simply as "feed," but this misses the nuance of small, deliberate portions. The word emphasizes the method of nourishment—hand-feeding or dole-ing out bits—which highlights the giver’s involvement and the receiver’s dependence. It transforms the abstract concept of charity into a tangible, close-contact gesture of provision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word psōmizō describes a very specific kind of feeding: giving small morsels or crumbs directly into someone’s mouth. This image evokes the tender care a parent gives an infant, or the gentle attention shown to someone who is too weak to eat for themselves. It is not about bulk charity, but intimate, hands-on provision that meets immediate need.
In Romans 12:20, Paul uses this word when instructing us to feed an enemy. This transforms a simple act of kindness into a profound spiritual strategy. By offering personal care to those who oppose us, we disarm hostility with unexpected grace. It reminds us that true love often looks like small, deliberate acts of service rather than grand gestures.
Yet 1 Corinthians 13:3 warns that even this intimate act is empty without love. Giving away everything to feed others means nothing if the heart is not right. The word challenges us to examine our motives. Are we serving out of obligation, or from a place of genuine care? Let us seek to serve with hearts that mirror Christ’s own tender compassion.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 2 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- do feed1×
- I shall give away1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ψώμιζε1×
- ψωμίσω1×
Key Verses
-
Romans 12:20
Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Paul uses psōmizō here to show that personal, intimate kindness toward an enemy is a powerful way to disarm hostility.
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I Corinthians 13:3
If I give away all my goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body to be burned, but don’t have love, it profits me nothing.
This verse highlights that even the most hands-on act of feeding is worthless if it lacks the essential quality of love.