Original Word: ποιμαίνω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: poimainó
Pronunciation: poy-MY-no
Phonetic Spelling: (poy-mah'-ee-no)
KJV: feed (cattle), rule
NASB: shepherd, rule, caring, tending sheep, tends
Word Origin: [from G4166 (ποιμήν - shepherd)]

1. to tend as a shepherd of
2. (figuratively) supervisor

to shepherd, rule

From poimen; to tend as a shepherd of (figuratively, superviser) -- feed (cattle), rule.

see GREEK poimen

Cognate: 4165 poimaínō – properly, to shepherd, caring for (protecting) the flock.

4165 /poimaínō ("shepherding, pastoring") is distinct from "feeding" (1006 /bóskō). 4165 (poimaínō) focuses on "tending" ("shepherding") (WS, 274), which includes guarding, guiding, and folding the flock and is only provided (ultimately) by Jesus Christ – the Shepherd, who calls under-shepherds (such as elder-overseers) to guard and guide His people by His direction (1 Pet 5:1-5). See 4166 (poimēn).

[4165 /poimaínō ("to shepherd, tend") occurs 11 times in the NT, usually with a figurative sense of "shepherding (tending) God's flock." This provides Spirit-directed guidance (care) conjunction with feeding His people (teaching them Scripture).]

Word Origin
from poimén
Definition
to act as a shepherd
NASB Translation
caring (1), rule (3), shepherd (5), tending sheep (1), tends (1).

STRONGS NT 4165: ποιμαίνω

ποιμαίνω; future ποιμανῶ; 1 aorist imperative 2 person plural ποιμάνατε (1 Peter 5:2); (ποιμήν, which see); from Homer down; the Sept. for רָעָה; to feed, to tend a flock, keep sheep;

a. properly: Luke 17:7; ποίμνην, 1 Corinthians 9:7.

b. tropically, α. to rule, govern: of rulers, τινα, Matthew 2:6; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15 (2 Samuel 5:2; Micah 5:6 (); , etc.; (cf. Winers Grammar, 17)) (see ποιμήν, b. at the end); of the overseers (pastors) of the church, John 21:16; Acts 20:28; 1 Peter 5:2. β. to furnish pasturage or food; to nourish: ἑαυτόν, to cherish one's body, to serve the body, Jude 1:12; to supply the requisites for the soul's needs (R. V. shall be their shepherd), Revelation 7:17. (Synonym: see βόσκω, at the end.)

Overview of New Testament Usage

The verb translated “to shepherd, tend, care for” appears eleven times and forms a coherent thread from the first coming of Christ to His future reign. In narrative, parable, apostolic admonition, and prophetic vision, the word depicts personal care, spiritual oversight, protective authority, and final judgment. The contexts cluster around three spheres: Christ’s own ministry, the calling of church leaders, and the Messianic rule over the nations.

Shepherd Imagery in the Ancient Near East

Well before the New Testament era, “shepherd” had become a stock title for kings in Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Israel. Monarchs styled themselves protectors and providers of their people. Scripture adopts the picture yet radically re-centers it: Yahweh is the Shepherd of Israel (Psalm 23; Ezekiel 34). The New Testament continues this trajectory, presenting Jesus as the divine Shepherd-King who embodies all earlier foreshadowings.

The Lord as the Ultimate Shepherd

Revelation 7:17 proclaims, “For the Lamb in the center of the throne will be their Shepherd. He will lead them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes”. Here the crucified yet exalted Lamb both comforts and guides, fulfilling Ezekiel’s promise that God Himself would seek and feed His flock. The same term is employed in passages that announce His irresistible authority: “He will rule them with an iron scepter” (Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15). In Johannine and prophetic theology, gentleness toward His own and severity toward rebels coexist without contradiction.

Jesus Christ: Shepherd, Overseer, and Ruler

Matthew 2:6 cites Micah, “a ruler who will shepherd My people Israel”, affirming that Messiah’s kingship is fundamentally pastoral. After the resurrection, Jesus turns this royal vocation into a personal commission: “Shepherd My sheep” (John 21:16). Peter, restored from failure, learns that loving Christ necessarily issues in caring for Christ’s flock. The Shepherd’s staff is ultimately His, loaned to those who love Him.

Commissioned Undershepherds: Apostles, Elders, and Ministers

Acts 20:28 records Paul’s plea to the Ephesian elders: “Be shepherds of the church of God, which He purchased with His own blood”. Oversight is grounded in the atoning worth of the flock and empowered by the Holy Spirit who appoints overseers. Peter echoes the charge: “Be shepherds of God’s flock that is among you, watching over them” (1 Peter 5:2). The verb demands more than teaching; it includes guarding, guiding, and willingly sacrificing for the welfare of believers.

Paul also uses common-sense rhetoric: “Who tends a flock and does not drink of its milk?” (1 Corinthians 9:7). Material support for ministry is likened to a shepherd receiving ordinary benefit from his labor, legitimizing the livelihood of gospel workers without encouraging greed.

False Shepherds and Self-Serving Leaders

Jude exposes ungodly intruders as “shepherds who feed only themselves” (Jude 1:12). These counterfeit leaders invert the shepherd paradigm: instead of laying down their lives, they exploit the flock. Luke 17:7 soberly reminds disciples that even faithful servants do not expect applause; their duty is humble, continuous care. Scripture thus contrasts true and false shepherds by motive: self-giving love versus self-promotion.

Shepherding Beyond This Age: Eschatological Dominion

Eschatological texts transfer the verb from pastoral fields to global governance. Messiah’s “iron scepter” evokes Psalm 2, portraying decisive, righteous rule over hostile nations. The same word used for feeding lambs (John 21:16) describes judging rebels (Revelation 19:15). The kingdom consummation will therefore bring perfect provision for the redeemed and firm justice upon the unrepentant—two facets of one Shepherd-King.

Practical Implications for Contemporary Ministry

1. Love for Christ manifests as sacrificial care for His people; pastoral work is fundamentally relational (John 21:16).
2. Oversight is entrusted, not owned. Leaders shepherd God’s church, purchased with divine blood, under the Spirit’s appointment (Acts 20:28).
3. Material support is warranted but never to eclipse the flock’s welfare (1 Corinthians 9:7).
4. Vigilance against self-serving impostors remains essential (Jude 1:12).
5. Hope in the coming reign of Christ motivates present faithfulness and assures ultimate vindication of righteousness (Revelation 19:15).

Summary

Across Gospel narrative, apostolic instruction, and apocalyptic vision, the New Testament employs this vivid verb to unite themes of nurture, oversight, and royal authority. The Good Shepherd who laid down His life now calls His undershepherds to guard His blood-bought flock, even as He prepares to extend His pastoral rule to the ends of the earth.

εποίμαινε εποίμαινόν εποίμανεν Ποιμαινε Ποίμαινε ποιμαινει ποιμαινεί ποιμαίνει ποιμαινειν ποιμαινείν ποιμαίνειν ποιμαίνεις ποιμαινοντα ποιμαίνοντα ποιμαίνοντας ποιμαινοντες ποιμαίνοντες ποιμαινόντων ποιμαίνουσαι ποιμαίνουσιν ποιμαίνων ποιμανατε ποιμάνατε ποιμανει ποιμανεί ποιμανεῖ ποιμανείς ποιμανθήση ποίμανον ποιμανούσι ποιμανούσιν ποιμανώ ποιμενικά ποιμένικω Poimaine Poímaine poimainei poimaínei poimainein poimaínein poimainonta poimaínonta poimainontes poimaínontes poimanate poimánate poimanei poimaneîInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts