Original Word: ποίησις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: poiésis
Pronunciation: poy'-ay-sis
Phonetic Spelling: (poy'-ay-sis)
Definition: Making, doing, creation, workmanship
Meaning: a doing, making, performance.

deed.

From poieo; action, i.e. Performance (of the law) -- deed.

see GREEK poieo

Word Origin
from poieó
Definition
a making, a doing
NASB Translation
what...does (1).

STRONGS NT 4162: ποίησις

ποίησις, ποιήσεως, ἡ (ποιέω);

1. a making (Herodotus 3, 22; Thucydides 3, 2; Plato, Demosthenes, others; the Sept. several times for מַעֲשֶׂה).

2. a doing or performing: ἐν τῇ ποιήσει αὐτοῦ (in his doing, i. e.) in the obedience he renders to the law, James 1:25; add Sir. 19:20 (18).

Word Origin: Derived from the Greek verb ποιέω (poieō), meaning "to make" or "to do."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ποίησις, the concept is similar to several Hebrew terms related to action and creation, such as עֲשִׂיָּה (asiyah, Strong's 4639) meaning "work" or "deed," and מַעֲשֶׂה (ma'aseh, Strong's 4639) meaning "work" or "action." These terms similarly emphasize the importance of deeds and actions in the Hebrew Scriptures.

Usage: In the New Testament, ποίησις is used to describe the act of doing or creating, often in the context of deeds or works that reflect one's faith or character.

Context: The Greek noun ποίησις appears in the New Testament to emphasize the concept of action or creation, particularly in the context of moral and spiritual deeds. It is closely related to the verb ποιέω, which is frequently used in the New Testament to describe actions that align with God's will or commandments.

In James 1:25, the term is used to highlight the importance of being a "doer" of the word, rather than merely a hearer. The verse states: "But the one who looks intently into the perfect law of freedom, and continues to do so—not being a forgetful hearer, but an effective doer—he will be blessed in what he does." Here, ποίησις underscores the necessity of active obedience and the transformative power of living out one's faith through concrete actions.

The concept of ποίησις is integral to understanding the biblical perspective on faith and works. It suggests that true faith is evidenced by the actions it produces, aligning with the broader biblical theme that faith without works is dead (James 2:26). This term invites believers to reflect on the authenticity of their faith as demonstrated through their deeds, encouraging a life that mirrors the teachings of Christ.

ποιησει ποιήσει ποιήσεως ποίησιν poiesei poiēsei poiḗseiInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts