What does βόσκω · χοῖρος mean in the Bible?
βόσκω · χοῖρος is a Greek phrase meaning "to feed pigs".
Greek · G1006, G5519
βόσκειν χοίρους
To pasture; by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze · a hog
Reading a lexicon entry
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Words in this compound — expand to study each participant
βόσκωG1006to pasture; by extension to, fodder; reflexively, to graze
Pronunciationbóskō
Feeding livestock; metaphorically, pastoral care of believers—a narrower sense than "shepherd" which includes oversight.
Open lexicon entry →χοῖροςG5519a hog
Pronunciationchoîros
Unclean animal in Jewish law, symbolizing spiritual worthlessness or moral degradation in NT teaching.
Open lexicon entry →What does βόσκειν χοίρους (boskein choirous) mean in the Bible?
βόσκω · χοῖρος is a Greek phrase meaning "to feed pigs".
Full entry for βόσκειν χοίρους (G1006, G5519) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How many biblical occurrences are listed for G1006, G5519?
G1006, G5519 is connected to 9 lexical occurrence verses in the lexicon data.
Evidence Summary
Greek phrase. to feed pigs
Source Gloss
to feed pigs
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups3Aligned forms9TensesPresentVoicesPassive, Active
Tenses
Voices
Participleverbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality6×
Present PassiveMatt 8:30 · Mark 5:11 · Luke 8:323×
Present ActiveMatt 8:33 · Mark 5:14 · Luke 8:343×
Imperativecommand or strong request2×
Present ActiveJohn 21:15 · John 21:172×
Infinitiveverbal noun — the action in abstract1×
Present ActiveLuke 15:151×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 9 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present9
Voice
active6passive3
Mood
participle6imperative2infinitive1
NT Occurrences
Matthew 8:30βοσκομένηpresent passive participleparticipleMatthew 8:33βόσκοντεςpresent active participleparticipleMark 5:11βοσκομένηpresent passive participleparticipleMark 5:14βόσκοντεςpresent active participleparticipleLuke 8:32βοσκομένηpresent passive participleparticipleLuke 8:34βόσκοντεςpresent active participleparticipleLuke 15:15βόσκεινpresent active infinitiveinfinitiveJohn 21:15Βόσκεpresent active imperativeimperativeJohn 21:17Βόσκεpresent active imperativeimperative
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
βόσκειν χοίρους is built from these roots: