ποίησις (G4162) — Greek Lexicon

ποίησις

poíēsis

G4162 noun

SILEX Entry

Root ποιη- to do, to make, to produce

Definition

Action; the process or act of doing, making, or producing. In various contexts, especially written or legal, often refers to an accomplished deed, act, or work—sometimes specifically a deed prescribed by law or by custom. In philosophical or literary contexts, can refer to creation, composition, or making (e.g., of poetry). Primary NT usage focuses on the concrete act or deed, especially with reference to the performance of commands or laws.

Semantic Range

action, deed, doing, performance (especially of law/commands), creative activity, making, literary composition, production

Root / Etymology

From the verb ποιέω (to make, to do, to produce). ποιέω itself is of uncertain Indo-European origin, but widely attested in Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ποίησις occurs infrequently in the New Testament (Romans 2:15), where it refers to the actual doing or fulfillment of the law, i.e., concrete deeds or actions in accordance with legal norms. In classical Greek, ποίησις had a broader usage, signifying the act of making or creating, commonly used for literary creation (especially poetry). In the Hellenistic and Second Temple periods, as well as in philosophical Greek (e.g., Aristotle), it denoted the process of production or creation in general, sometimes in contrast to πρᾶξις ('practice, action'). In the LXX and in contemporary Jewish-Hellenistic writing, ποίησις can indicate observance of commandments or fulfillment of ritual and ethical acts. English translations often render it 'deed' or 'doing,' particularly when linked to law observance, but this sometimes obscures its wider sense as 'making' or 'creation' in other contexts.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from ποιέω; action, i.e. performance (of the law):--deed.

Root Family

ποιέω (poiéō) — to make, to do, to produce, to perform

Strong's	Lemma	SIBI-P1
G4160	ποιέω	he was doing
G4169	ποῖος	I make

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4162-01`	ποιήσει	poiesei	`N DAT F SG`	doing	he/she/it will do	doing	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4162-01`	James 1:25	ποιήσει	poiesei	`N DAT F SG`	doing	he/she/it will do	doing

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