Quick Definition
ποιμήν, ένος, ὁ n.m. a shepherd
Strong's Definition
of uncertain affinity; a shepherd (literally or figuratively)
KJV Usage: shepherd, pastor
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
noun, m. | -ένος | ποιμαίνω
44.4 · Animal Husbandry, Fishing
shepherd (derivative of ποιμαίνω[a] ‘to take care of sheep or goats,’ 44.3) one who takes care of sheep or goats
MAT 9:36 · MAT 25:32 · MAT 26:31 · MRK 6:34 · MRK 14:27 · LUK 2:8 · LUK 2:15 · LUK 2:18 · LUK 2:20 · JHN 10:2 · HEB 13:20 · 1PE 2:25
53.72 · Religious Activities · Roles and Functions
pastor, minister (a figurative extension of meaning of ποιμήν[a] ‘shepherd,’ 44.4) one who is responsible for the care and guidance of a Christian congregation Note that in EPH 4:11 there are four classes of persons, not five, for the last class involves two complementary roles, that of pastor and teacher, in other words, to guide and help a congregation as well as to teach.
JHN 10:11 · JHN 10:11 · JHN 10:12 · JHN 10:14 · JHN 10:16 · EPH 4:11
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ποιμήν, -ένος, 6, (akin to the noun ποία, q. v.; [or fr. r. meaning ‘to protect’; cf. Curtius §372; Fick i. 1827), fr. Hom. down; Sept. for Ay4, a herdsman, esp. a shepherd; a. prop.: Mt. ix. 36; xxv. 32; xxvi. 31; Mk. vi: 34; xiv. 27; Lk. ii. 8,15, 18, 20; Jn. x. 2,12; in the parable, he to whose care and control others have committed themselves, and whose precepts they follow, Jn. x. 11, 14. b. metaph. the presiding officer, manager, director, of any assembly: so of Christ the Head of the church, Jn. x. 16; 1 Pet. ii. 25; Heb. xiii. 20, (of the Jewish Messiah, Ezek. xxxiv. 23); of the overseers of the Christian assemblies [A. V. pastors], Eph.iv.11; ef. Ritschl, Entstehung der altkathol. Kirche, ed. 2, p. 350 sq-; [Hatch, Bampton Lects. for 1880, p.123 sq.]. (Of kings and princes we find ποιμένες λαῶν in Hom. and Hes.)
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ποιμήν poimēn 18x
one who tends flocks or herds, a shepherd, herdsman, Mt. 9:36; 25:32; met. a pastor, superintendent, guardian, Jn. 10:11, 14, 16
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
ποιμήν, -ένος, ὁ,
[in LXX for רֹעֶה;]
a shepherd: Mt 9:36 25:32 26:31(LXX), Mk 6:34 14:27, Lk 2:8, 15, 18, 20, Jo 10:2, 12. Metaph., of Christ; Jo 10:11, 14, 16, He 13:20, I Pe 2:25; of Christian pastors, Eph 4:11 (cf. Hom., Il., i, 263, ποιμένα λαῶν).†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ποιμήν, “shepherd,” is naturally common, and does not always occur in a very favourable light: cf. P Magd 611 (5,6. 221) προστάξαι Aropaver . . μὴ περιιδεῖμ με ἀνόμως ὑβριζόμενον ὑπὸ τῶν ποιμένων, P Ryl II. 152° (a.p. 42) érradévte(s) οἱ ποιμένες... ἃ ἔχουσι πρόβατα εἰς ds ἔχωι νομὰς ἐν ἐλαιῶ(νι) Θερμουθαρίου, ‘the shepherds let their flocks into the pasturage which I have in the olive-yard of Thermoutharion.” The word is also used of a lessee of sheep (μισθωτὴς προβάτων), cf. P Lond 851 (A.D. 216-219) (= IIL. Ρ- 48), and the introd. to P Strass I. 24 (A.D. 118), also Archiv iv. Ρ. 533-
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
ποιμήν (poimēn) — shepherd. ποιμήν, ένος, ὁ, vocative ποιμήν (not -μέν) Hdn.Gr. 2.717:— herdsman, whether of sheep or oxen, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; opposed to lord or owner (ἄναξ), [Refs]
2. after [Refs 8th c.BC+] always shepherd, βουκόλοι καὶ π. [LXX+5th c.BC+]
II. metaphorically, shepherd of the people, regularly of Agamemnon, Ἀγαμέμνονα π. λαῶν [Refs 8th c.BC+]: generally, captain, chief, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποιμένες δώρων Κυπρίας, of the Loves, [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, master, lord, πλοῦτος ὁ λαχὼν ποιμένα [Refs 4th c.BC+]
II.2. in [LXX+NT] (Cf.Lithuanian piemuõ, genitive singular piemeñs 'shepherd'.)