πίνω
pínō
G4095 verb
SILEX Entry
Definition
To consume liquid by drinking; to take in or absorb a fluid, most commonly water or wine, but also used figuratively to mean absorbing, partaking, or experiencing something (such as suffering, teaching, or an event). Primary sense involves the physical act of drinking; extended metaphorical uses include to take in (information, experience), to endure (a fate or portion, e.g., 'drink the cup'), or to participate in something (often with the sense of involvement to the point of internalizing).
Semantic Range
to drink (liquid), to absorb by drinking, to partake (figuratively), to experience or endure (metaphorically: as in drinking suffering or fate), to participate (in ritual or collective action involving drinking)
Root / Etymology
The verb πίνω derives from the root πιν- (pin-) and is a prolonged form associated with the more archaic verb πίω (píō) or πῖν (pin), which are found in various tenses (notably, πίνω is used in the present, imperfect, and future forms, while πίω is used as the aorist form). The root is Indo-European: *po(i)-, seen also in Latin 'poto' (to drink) and related terms in other Indo-European languages. It is not derived from another Greek noun but rather is primary and ancient within the language family.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, πίνω is the standard verb for drinking and generally refers to all kinds of liquids, though commonly water or wine. In the Septuagint and New Testament, it can retain a literal sense (to drink water, wine, etc.) or adopt figurative meanings, including the consumption of a share of destiny or suffering (e.g., 'drink the cup' of suffering or wrath). The metaphorical extension is frequent in Jewish and Hellenistic texts: to 'drink the cup' (πίνειν τὸ ποτήριον) signifies accepting a fate appointed by God or the gods. In cultic or ritual language, it may refer to shared participation (e.g., in symposia or in the Eucharistic cup in Christian contexts), but always retains the underlying sense of internalization through consumption. Occasional figurative uses appear in Greek literature and papyri, such as 'drinking' knowledge or words. Standard English translations usually render πίνω as 'drink' but may miss the nuance in metaphorical or ritual passages. Usage is consistent across classical, Hellenistic, and Koine periods, though some figurative senses become more prominent in later religious writings. The distinction between πίνω and more specialized verbs for drinking (e.g., καταπίνω, 'to gulp down' or 'to swallow') should be noted; πίνω denotes the standard act, not a violent or excessive one.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
a prolonged form of ; which (together with another form) ; occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses; to imbibe (literally or figuratively):--drink.
Root Family
πίνω (pinō) — to drink, to imbibe, to take in fluid
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2261 | ἤπιος | they drank |
Word Forms
25 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4095-18 |
πίνων | pinon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
drinks | drinking | 8 |
G4095-07 |
πιεῖν | piein | V AOR ACT INF |
to drink | to drink | 8 |
G4095-21 |
πίω | pio | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
I drink | that I may drink | 6 |
G4095-05 |
πεῖν | pein | V AOR ACT INF |
to drink | to drink | 5 |
G4095-15 |
πίνετε | pinete | V PRS ACT IND 2P PL |
you drink | you (plural) are drinking | 5 |
G4095-14 |
πίνειν | pinein | V PRS ACT INF |
to drink | to drink | 4 |
G4095-11 |
πίητε | piete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
drink | you may drink | 4 |
G4095-17 |
πίνω | pino | V PRS ACT SUBJ 1P SG |
drink | I may drink | 4 |
G4095-06 |
πίῃ | pie | V AOR ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
drink | may drink | 3 |
G4095-02 |
ἔπινον | epinon | V IMPF ACT IND 3P PL |
they were drinking | they were drinking | 3 |
Occurrences in Scripture
72 total occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G4095-11 |
Matthew 6:25 | πίητε | piete | V AOR ACT SUBJ 2P PL |
you may drink | |
G4095-22 |
Matthew 6:31 | πίωμεν | piomen | V AOR ACT SUBJ 1P PL |
let us drink | |
G4095-18 |
Matthew 11:18 | πίνων | pinon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
drinking | |
G4095-18 |
Matthew 11:19 | πίνων | pinon | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M SG |
drinking | |
G4095-07 |
Matthew 20:22 | πιεῖν | piein | V AOR ACT INF |
to drink | |
G4095-14 |
Matthew 20:22 | πίνειν | pinein | V PRS ACT INF |
to drink | |
G4095-09 |
Matthew 20:23 | πίεσθε | piesthe | V FUT MID IND 2P PL |
you yourselves will drink | |
G4095-19 |
Matthew 24:38 | πίνοντες | pinontes | V PRS ACT PTCP NOM M PL |
those drinking | |
G4095-12 |
Matthew 24:49 | πίνῃ | pine | V PRS ACT SUBJ 3P SG |
may drink | |
G4095-11 |
Matthew 26:27 | πίετε | piete | V AOR ACT IMP 2P PL |
you may drink |