ποίμν-ιον G4168
Flock, little flock; a small group of sheep or goats, used metaphorically of Christ's community of disciples.
A diminutive of ποίμνη (flock), conveying tenderness and smallness — a 'little flock.' In Luke 12:32, Jesus reassures his disciples with the memorable words 'Fear not, little flock (ποίμνιον), for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.' The remaining uses in Acts 20:28–29 and 1 Peter 5:2–3 address church leaders as shepherds tending God's flock. The Spanish 'rebaño,' French 'petit-troupeau,' and German 'Herde' all converge on the pastoral image, though only the French captures the diminutive nuance with 'petit.'
Senses
1. sense 1 — A flock or little flock — originally of sheep or goats, but in every NT occurrence used metaphorically for the community of believers under pastoral care. The diminutive form (from ποίμνη) adds warmth and intimacy: Jesus' 'little flock' in Luke 12:32 is deliberately small and vulnerable yet destined for the kingdom. In Acts 20:28–29, Paul warns the Ephesian elders to guard the ποίμνιον from savage wolves — false teachers threatening the community. First Peter 5:2–3 urges elders to shepherd God's flock willingly, not for gain. The French 'petit-troupeau' uniquely preserves the diminutive force, while the Spanish 'rebaño' and German 'Herde' default to the standard flock concept. 5×
AR["القَطيعِ", "القَطِيعُ", "الْقَطِيعِ", "قَطيعَ"]·ben["পাল", "পালের"]·DE["Herde", "ποίμνιον", "ποιμνίου", "ποιμνίῳ"]·EN["flock"]·FR["petit-troupeau", "troupeau"]·heb["הָעֵדֶר", "עֵדֶר"]·HI["झुण्ड", "झुण्ड-का", "झुण्ड-की", "झुण्ड-के", "झुण्ड-को"]·ID["kawanan", "kawanan-domba"]·IT["gregge", "poimnion", "poimniou"]·jav["pepanthan", "pepanthan,", "pepanthan-mènda", "pepanthan."]·KO["양-떼를", "양-떼아", "양-떼의"]·PT["rebanho,"]·RU["стада,", "стадо", "стаду,", "стаду."]·ES["rebaño"]·SW["kundi", "kundi-dogo"]·TR["sürü", "sürünün", "sürüsünü", "sürüye", "sürüyü"]·urd["ریوڑ", "ریوڑ-کا۔", "گلہ", "گلہ-کا", "گلہ-کو"]
Related Senses
H6629 1. flock, sheep/goats (small livestock) (274×)H1241 1. cattle, herd (bovine livestock) (183×)H0352a 1. ram (male sheep) (156×)H6499 1. young bull, bullock (130×)H3532 1. lamb, young male sheep (105×)H2543 1. donkey (male ass) (96×)H7794 1. ox, bull (79×)H7462b 1. shepherd (agent noun) (76×)H5795 1. she-goat(s), female goat(s) (68×)H7462b 2. to shepherd, tend, pasture (60×)H1581 1. camel (domestic animal) (54×)H0738b 1. lion (46×)G4263 1. sheep (39×)H5739 1. flock or herd of livestock (38×)H5695 1. calf, young bull (35×)H0738a 1. lion (large predatory feline) (34×)H0860 1. female donkey (34×)H3611 1. dog (animal) (32×)H3715a 1. young lion, lion cub (31×)G0721 1. Lamb (29×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ποίμν-ιον, τό, ={ποίμνη}, especially of sheep, Refs 5th c.BC+; of goats, Refs: plural, head of cattle, π. τρισχίλια LXX __II metaphorically of disciples, NT