Lexical Definition

‎ποιέω‎ poiéō (poy-eh'-o) to do/make: do ^G:V
apparently a prolonged form of an obsolete primary

abide, + agree, appoint, X avenge, + band together, be, bear, + bewray, bring (forth), cast out, cause, commit, + content, continue, deal, + without any delay, (would) do(-ing), execute, exercise, fulfil, gain, give, have, hold, X journeying, keep, + lay wait, + lighten the ship, make, X mean, + none of these things move me, observe, ordain, perform, provide, + have purged, purpose, put, + raising up, X secure, shew, X shoot out, spend, take, tarry, + transgress the law, work, yield.

• to make or do (in a very wide application, more or less direct)

Abbott-Smith

ποιέω, -ῶ, [in LXX for a great variety of words, but chiefly for עשׂה;]
1. to make, produce, create, cause: c. acc. rei, Mt 17:4, Mk 9:5, Jo 9:11, Ac 9:39, Ro 9:20, al.; of God as Creator (c. acc. pers. also), Mt 19:4, Mk 10:6, Lk 11:40, Ac 4:24, He 1:2, al.; like Heb. עשׂה, absol. = ἐργάζομαι, to work, Mt 20:12 (cf. Ru 2:19; so AV, but v. infr.), Re 13:5, R, mg. (but v. infr.); σκάνδαλα, Ro 16:17; εἰρήνην, Eph 2:15, Ja 3:18; ἐπίστασιν, Ac 24:12; συστροφήν, Ac 23:12; c. acc. rei et dat. pers., Lk 1:68, Ac 15:3; with nouns expressing action or its accomplishment, forming a periphr. for the cogn. verb: ὁδόν π. (cl. ὁ ποιεῖσθαι), to go on, advance, Mk 2:23; πόλεμον, Re 11:7, al.; ἐκδίκησιν, Lk 18:7, 8; ἐνέδραν, Ac 25:3; κρίσιν, Jo 5:27, Ju 15; ἔργα, Jo 5:36, al.; σημεῖα (τέρατα καὶ σ.), Jo 2:23 and freq., Ac 2:22, al.; so also mid. ποιεῖσθαι: μονήν, Jo 14:23; πορείαν, Lk 13:22; κοινωνίαν, Ro 15:26; of food, to make ready, prepare: δεῖπνον, Mk 6:21, al.; δοχήν, Lk 5:29 14:13; γάμους, Mt 22:2; of time, to spend (cl.): ὥραν, Mt 20:12, RV (but v. supr. and cf. McN, in l.); μῆνας, Re 13:5, R, txt. (cf. Swete, in l.; but v. supr.); ἐνιαυτόν, Ja 4:13; c. acc. seq. ἐκ, Jo 2:15, al.; c. acc. et acc. pred., Mt 3:3 12:16, Mk 1:3 3:12, Jo 5:11, al.; c. adv., καλῶς, Mk 7:37; ἑορτὴν π. (Dem., Ex 23:16, al.), Ac 18:21, Rec.; πάσχα, Mt 26:18; to make or offer a sacrifice (Plat., Xen., al.; Jb 42:8, III Ki 11:33; so some understand τοῦτο ποιεῖτε, Lk 22:19, but v. Abbott, Essays, 110 ff.); seq. ἵνα (WM, 422 f.; M, Pr., 228), Jo 11:37, Col 4:16, Re 3:9.
2. to do, perform, carry out, execute: absol., c. adv., καλῶς π., Mt 12:12, I Co 7:37, 38, Ja 2:19; id. seq. ptcp. (cl.; v. M, Pr., 228), Ac 10:33, Phl 4:14, II Pe 1:19, III Jo 6; οὕτως, Mt 24:46, Lk 9:15, al.; ὡς (καθώς), Mt 1:24 21:6, al.; ὁμοίως, Lk 3:11; ὡσαύτως, Mt 20:5; c. ptcp., ἀγνοῶν ἐποίησα, I Ti 1:13; c. acc. rei: τί interrog., Mt 12:3, Mk 2:25, Lk 6:2, al.; τοῦτο, Mt 13:28, Mk 5:32, Lk 22:19 (WH om.; v. supr., ref. to Abbott, Essays), Ro 7:20, al.; with nouns expressing command or regulation: τ. νόμον (not as in cl., to make a law), Jo 7:19, Ga 5:3 (cf. in LXX, Jos 22:5, I Ch 22:12, al.); τ. ἐντολάς, Mt 5:19; similarly with other nouns expressing conduct: τ. δικαιοσύνην, Mt 6:1, al.; τ. ἀλήθειαν, Jo 3:21, al., etc.; c. dupl. acc., Mt 27:22, Mk 15:12; c. acc. rei et dat. pers. (commod., incomm.; rare in cl.), Mt 7:12, Mk 5:19, 20, Lk 1:49, Jo 9:26, al.
SYN.: πράσσω, q.v. The general distinction between the two words is that between particular action and its habitual performance (cf. Tr., Syn., § xcvi; Westc. on Jo 3:21; ICC on Ro 1:32).

Abbott-Smith References

Liddell-Scott-Jones

ποιέω,

Doric dialect ποιϝέω [Refs], etc.: Epic dialect imperfect ποίεον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; contraction ποίει [Refs]; Ionic dialect ποιέεσκον [Refs 5th c.BC+]future ποιήσω: aorist ἐποίησα, Epic dialect ποίησα [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect πεποίηκα:—middle, Ionic dialect imperfect ποιεέσκετο [Refs 5th c.BC+]: future ποιήσομαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]aorist ἐποιησάμην, Epic dialect ποι- [Refs 8th c.BC+]perfect πεποίημαι in middle sense, [Refs 5th c.BC+] —passive, future ποιηθήσομαι (μετα-) [Refs 4th c.BC+], see above; πεποιήσομαι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: aorist ἐποιήθην [Refs 5th c.BC+]: perfect πεποίημαι [Refs 8th c.BC+]:—Attic dialect ποῶ [Refs], etc., is guaranteed by metre in Trag. and Comedy texts, as ποῶ [Refs 5th c.BC+], and found in codex Laur. of [Refs 5th c.BC+] (ποήσω), 82.9 (ποεῖ), 154.7 (ἐποησάτην), etc.; but ποι- is always written before -οι, -ου, -ω in Inscrr.: πο- also in Aeolic dialect πόημι πόης πόει [Refs 7th c.BC+]; compare ποιητής. Used in two general senses, make and do.

__A make, produce, first of something material, as manufactures, works of art, etc. (opposed to πράττειν, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. πύλας ἐν [πύργοις] [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of smith's work, π. σάκος[Refs]h' (= ἐποίησε) Ἀργεῖος [Refs 6th c.BC+]; τίς.. τὴν λίθον ταύτην τέκτων ἐποίε; [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; εἵματα ἀπὸ ξύλων πεποιημένα made from trees, i.e. of cotton, [Refs 5th c.BC+]to be made with.., [Refs 3rd c.AD+]; also τῶν τὰ κέρεα.. οἱ πήχεες ποιεῦνται the horns of which are made into the sides of the lyre, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also δέρμα εἰς περικεφαλαίας πεποίηται [Refs]:—middle, make for oneself, as of bees, οἰκία ποιήσωνται build them houses, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; [ῥεῖθρον] π., of a river, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; also, have a thing made, get it made, ὀβελούς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὸν Ἀπόλλω, i.e. a statue of [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.2 create, bring into existence, γένος ἀνθρώπων χρύσεον [Refs 8th c.BC+]the creator, [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—middle, beget, υἱόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; παῖδας ποιεῖσθαι, ={παιδοποιεῖσθαι}, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; conceive, παιδίον π. ἔκ τινος [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—active in this sense only in later Gr., [Refs 1st c.AD+]; of the woman, παιδίον ποιῆσαι [Refs]
__A.3 generally, produce, ὕδωρ π., of Zeus, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. γάλα, of certain kinds of food, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; ἄρρεν π., of an egg, [Refs 2nd c.AD+]; μέλι ἄριστον π., of Hymettus, [Refs 1st c.BC+]; π. καρπόν, of trees, [NT] (metaphorically in religious sense,[Refs]; of men, κριθὰς π. grow barley, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. πενίαν, πλοῦτον, of the stars, [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__A.3.b in Mathematics texts, make, produce, τομήν, σχῆμα, ὀρθὰς γωνίας, [Refs 3rd c.BC+] —passive, πεποιήσθω ὡς.. let it be contrived that.., [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__A.3.c postulate, imply, ἡ προσθήκη ἀφαίρεσιν καὶ ἔλλειψιν ποιεῖ [Refs 3rd c.AD+]
__A.3.d π. τὸ πρόβλημα effect a solution of the problem, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; π. τὸ ἐπίταγμα fulfil, satisfy the required condition, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]
__A.4 after [Refs 8th c.BC+], of Poets, compose, write, π. διθύραμβον, ἔπεα, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. Φαίδραν, Σατύρους, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. κωμῳδίαν, τραγῳδίαν, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: absolutely, write poetry, write as a poet, ὀρθῶς π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]: followed by a quotation, ἐπόησάς ποτε.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.4.b represent in poetry, Ὅμηρον Ἀχιλλέα πεποιηκέναι ἀμείνω Ὀδυσσέως [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποιήσας τὸν Ἀχιλλέα λέγοντα having represented Achilles saying, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.4.c describe in verse, θεὸν ἐν ἔπεσιν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐποίησα μύθους τοὺς Αἰσώπου put them into verse, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__A.4.d invent, καινοὺς θεούς [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ὑπὸ ποιητέω τινὸς ποιηθὲν [τοὔνομα] [Refs 5th c.BC+]; opposed to αὐτοφυῆ, κύρια, [Refs 1st c.BC+]
__A.II bring about, cause, τελευτήν [Refs 8th c.BC+]; also of things, ἄνεμοι αὐτοὶ μὲν οὐχ ὁρῶνται· ἃ δὲ ποιοῦσι φανερά [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II.b with accusative et infinitive, cause or bring about that.., σε θεοὶ ποίησαν ἱκέσθαι [ἐς] οἶκον [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. τινὰ αἰσχύνεσθαι, κλάειν, ἀπορεῖν, etc., [Refs 5th c.BC+]: followed by a relative clause, π. ὅκως ἔσται ἡ Κύπρος ἐλευθέρη [Refs 5th c.BC+] —also middle, ἐποιήσατο ὡς ἐν ἀσφαλεῖ εἶεν[Refs]
__A.II.2 procure, π. ἄδειάν τε καὶ κάθοδόν τινι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; λόγος ἀργύριον τῷ λέγοντι π. gets him money, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—middle, procure for oneself, gain, κλέος αὐτῇ ποιεῖτ᾽ [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__A.II.3 of sacrifices, festivals, etc., celebrate, π. ἱρά [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τὴν θυσίαν τῷ Ποσειδῶνι [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. Ἴσθμια[Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. σάββατα observe the Sabbath, [LXX]; π. ταφάς, of a public funeral, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also of political assemblies, π. ἐκκλησίαν [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ξύλλογον σφῶν αὐτῶν [Refs]:—middle, ἀγορὴν ποιήσατο [Refs 8th c.BC+]
__A.II.4 of war and peace, πόλεμον π. cause or give rise to a war, πόλεμον ἡμῖν ἀντ᾽ εἰρήνης πρὸς Αακεδαιμονίους π. [Refs 4th c.BC+]; but π. ποιησόμενοι about to make war (on one's own part), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; εἰρήνην π. bring about a peace (for others), [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but εἰρήνην ποιεῖσθαι make peace (for oneself), [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, ἐπεποίητο συμμαχίη [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.II.5 frequently in middle with Nouns periphrastic for the Verb derived from the Noun, μύθου ποιήσασθαι ἐπισχεσίην submit a plea, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ποιέεσθαι ὁδοιπορίην, for ὁδοιπορέειν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. πλόον, for πλέειν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. κομιδήν, for κομίζεσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; θῶμα π. τὴν ἐργασίην, for θωμάζειν, [Refs]; ὀργὴν π., for ὀργίζεσθαι, [Refs]; λήθην π. τι, for λανθάνεσθαί τινος, [Refs]; βουλὴν π., for βουλεύεσθαι, [Refs]; συμβολὴν π., for συμβάλλεσθαι, [Refs]; τὰς μάχας π., for μάχεσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καταφυγὴν π., for καταφεύγειν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀγῶνα π., for ἀγωνίζεσθαι, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. λόγον [τινός] make account of.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; but τοὺς λόγους π. hold a conference, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also simply for λέγειν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; also π. δι᾽ ἀγγέλου, π. διὰ χρηστηρίων, communicate by a messenger, an oracle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.III with adjective as predicate, make, render so and so, ποιῆσαί τινα ἄφρονα make one senseless, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; [δῶρα] ὄλβια ποιεῖν make them blest, i.e. prosper them,[Refs 8th c.BC+] substantive, ποιῆσαι ἀθύρματα make into playthings, [Refs 8th c.BC+]: hence, appoint, instal, τὸν Μωϋσῆν καὶ τὸν Ἀαρών [LXX+NT]middle, ποιεῖσθαί τινα ἑταῖρον make him one's friend, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. τινὰ ἄλοχον or ἄκοιτιν take her to oneself as wife, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; π. τινὰ παῖδα make him one's son, i.e. adopt him as son, [Refs 8th c.BC+]; θετὸν παῖδα π. adopt a son, [Refs 5th c.BC+] adopt, ἐπειδὴ οὐκ ἦσαν αὐτῷ παῖδες ἄρρενες, π. Λεωκράτη [Refs 8th c.BC+]; τὰ ἔπεα ἀπόρρητα π. making them a secret, [Refs]; also ἑωυτοῦ ποιέεται τὸ.. ἔργον makes it his own, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.IV put in a certain place or condition, etc., ἐμοὶ Ζεὺς.. ἐνὶ φρεσὶν ὧδε νόημα ποίησ᾽ [Refs 8th c.BC+]; of troops, form them, ὡς ἂν κράτιστα.. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; in politics, ἐς ὀλίγους τὰς ἀρχὰς π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; and in war, π. Γετταλίαν ὑπὸ Φιλίππῳ bring it under his power, [Refs 4th c.BC+]:—middle, ποιέεσθαι ὑπ᾽ ἑωυτῷ [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινὰς ἐς φυλακήν, τὰ τῶν ξυμμάχων ἐς ἀσφάλειαν, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὰ λεπτὰ πλοῖα ἐντὸς π. put the small vessels in the middle, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τινὰ ἐκποδών (see. ἐκποδών); ὄπισθεν π. τὸν ποταμόν [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.IV.2 in Mathematics texts, multiply, π. τὰ ιβ ἐπὶ τὰ έ, τὰ ζ ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτὰ π., [Refs 2nd c.BC+]
__A.V middle, deem, consider, reckon a thing as.., συμφορὴν ποιέεσθαί τι take it for a misfortune, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; δεινὸν π. τι esteem it a grievous thing, take it ill, [Refs] (rarely in active, δεινὰ π. [Refs 5th c.BC+]; μέγα π. with infinitive, deem it a great matter that.., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἑρμαῖον π. τι count it clear gain, [Refs 5th c.BC+] deem of no account, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν ἐλαφρῷ, ἐν ὁμοίῳ π., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν νόμῳ π. consider as lawful, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἐν ἀδείῃ π. consider as safe, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περὶ πολλοῦ π., Latin magni facere, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περὶ πλείονος, περὶ πλείστου π., [Refs 5th c.BC+]; περὶ ὀλίγου, περὶ ἐλάττονος, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸ πολλοῦ π. with infinitive, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__A.VI put the case, assume that.., ποιήσας ἀν᾽ ὀγδώκοντα ἄνδρας ἐνεῖναι [Refs 5th c.BC+]: without infinitive, ἐν ἑκάστῃ ψυχῇ ποιήσωμεν περιστερεῶνά τινα (i.e. εἶναι) [Refs 5th c.BC+]:—passive, πεποιήσθω δή be it assumed then, [Refs]; οἱ φιλοσοφώτατοι ποιούμενοι those who are reputed.., [Refs] read τί οἰώμεθα..;
__A.VII of Time, οὐ π. χρόνον make no long time, i. e. not to delay, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; μακρότερον ποιεῖς you are taking too long, [Refs 3rd c.BC+]; μέσας π. νύκτας let midnight come, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἔξω μέσων νυκτῶν π. τὴν ὥραν put off the time of business to past midnight, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; τὴν νύκτα ἐφ᾽ ὅπλοις ποιεῖσθαι spend it under arms, [LXX+5th c.BC+]; τὰς ἡμέρας ἐν τοῖς ὕδασι π. [Refs 1st c.BC+]; tarry, stay, μῆνας τρεῖς [NT+1st c.AD+]
__A.VIII in later Greek, sacrifice, μοσχάριον [LXX]; καρπώσεις ὑπέρ τινος[LXX] sacrifice to Ashtoreth,[LXX]
__A.IX make ready, prepare, as food, μοσχάριον[LXX]; π. τὸν μύστακα trim it,[LXX]
__A.X ποιεῖν βασιλέα play the king,[LXX]
__B do, much like{πράσσω, οὐδὲν ἂν ὧν νυνὶ πεποίηκεν ἔπραξεν} [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ποιέειν Σπαρτιητικά act like a Spartan, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. τὴν μουσικήν practise it, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πᾶν or πάντα π., see at {πᾶς} [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.2 with double accusative, do something to another, κακά or ἀγαθὰ ποιεῖν τινα, first in [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ἀγαθόν, κακὸν π. τινά, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; τὴν ἐκείνου (i.e. χώραν) κακῶς π. [LXX+5th c.BC+]; also of things, ἀργύριον τωὐτὸ τοῦτο ἐποίεε he did this same thing with silver, [LXX+5th c.BC+]:—in middle, φίλα ποιέεσθαί τισι [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.3 with an adverb, ὧδε ποίησον do thus, [Refs]; πῶς ποιήσει; how will you act? [Refs 5th c.BC+]: frequently with participle, εὖ ἐποίησας ἀπικόμενος [Refs 5th c.BC+]; καλῶς ποιῶν almost Adverbial, καλῶς γ᾽, ἔφη, ποιῶν σύ [Refs 4th c.BC+]fortunately, [Refs]
__B.4 in Prose (rarely in Poetry, [Refs 4th c.BC+] I will do this for you, [Refs 5th c.BC+]
__B.II absolutely, to be doing, act, ποιέειν ἢ παθεῖν πρόκειται ἀγών [Refs 5th c.BC+]; ποιεῖν, as a category, opposed to πάσχειν, [Refs 4th c.BC+]
__B.II.b of medicine, operate, be efficacious, [Refs 5th c.BC+]; πρὸς στραγγουρίαν, πρὸς τοὺς δαιμονιζομένους, [Refs 4th c.BC+]; also of charms, [Refs]
__B.II.2 [Refs 5th c.BC+] good-will made greatly for, on the side of, the L., [Refs]: the former passage is imitated by [Refs 2nd c.AD+]
__C middle, ={προσποιέομαι}, pretend, with infinitive, [Refs 1st c.BC+] 'builder', 'maker', cf. Sanskrit cinóti, cáyati 'arrange in order', 'build'.)

_{LSJ Scripture Refs: Matt.3.10 ☩ LXX.Exod.31.16 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.12.6 ☩ Mark.3.14 ☩ LXX.Prov.13.23 ☩ Acts.20.3 ☩ LXX.Exod.29.36 ☩ LXX.Job.42.8 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.11.33 ☩ LXX.Gen.18.7 ☩ LXX.2Kgs.19.24 ☩ LXX.Gen.26.29 ☩ LXX.1Kgs.5.8}