Quick Definition
πτωχεύω v. I am in poverty
Strong's Definition
from 4434; to be a beggar, i.e. (by implication) to become indigent (figuratively)
KJV Usage: become poor
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
verb | πτωχεία · πτωχός
57.54 · Possess, Transfer, Exchange · Be Poor, Be Needy, Poverty
to become poor to change to a state of poverty In some languages it may be inappropriate to translate literally ‘rich’ and ‘poor,’ since these may have highly specific meanings and inappropriate connotations for the context of 2CO 8:9. Therefore, it may be necessary to translate ‘although Christ had previously possessed very much, he became one who possessed nothing and he did this for your sake.’
1 Outside of NT usage πτωχεύω means simply to be poor, but in the NT πτωχεύω is used only figuratively in referring to Christ’s incarnation.
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
πτωχεύω: 1 aor. ἐπτώχευσα; (πτωχός, q. V.); prop. to be a beggar, to beg; so in class. Grk. fr. Hom. down; in the N. T. once, to be poor: 2 Co. viii. 9, on which see πλούσιος, b. fin. (Tob. iv. 21; Sept. for 927 to be weak, afflicted, Judg. vi. 6; Ps. lxxviii. (Ixxix.) 8; for 1) to be reduced to want, Prov. xxiii. 21; wi to be needy, Ps. xxxiii. (xxxiv.) 11.)* ;
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πτωχεύω ptōcheuō 1x
to be a beggar; to be or become poor, be in poverty, 2 Cor. 8:9*
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
πτωχεύω
(< πτωχός), [in LXX: Jg 6:6, Ps 78 (79):8 (דּלל); Jg 14:15 A, Pr 23:21 (ירשׁ); Ps 33 (34):10 (רוּשׁ), To 4:21*;]
to be a beggar, to beg (so chiefly in cl.).
to be poor as a beggar, to be destitute, poor: opp. to πλούσιος ὤν, II Co 8:9.†
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
πτωχεύω (ptōcheuō) — be poor. πτωχ-εύω, future -σω[Refs 8th c.BC+]: Epic dialect imperfect πτωχεύεσκον [Refs]:—to be a beggar, go begging, [prev. cited]; ἀνὰ δῆμον [Refs 7th c.BC+]
2. to be as poor as a beggar, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
3. metaphorically with genitive, to be badly off for, πραγμάτων, of historians, [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
II. transitive, beg (for), δαῖτα [Refs 8th c.BC+]
II.2. with accusative person, ask an alms of, φίλους [Refs 6th c.BC+]