Lexical Summary poikilos: Various, manifold, diverse Original Word: ποικίλος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance diverse, manifold. Of uncertain derivation; motley, i.e. Various in character -- divers, manifold. HELPS Word-studies 4164 poikílos – properly, of various kinds, diversified ("manifold"). [This is the same meaning 4164 (poikílos) has in Pindar, Josephus, Philo, etc. cf. BAGD.] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition many colored NASB Translation manifold (1), varied (1), various (8). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4164: ποικίλοςποικίλος, ποικίλη, ποικίλον, from Homer down, various, i. e. a. of divers colors, variegated: the Sept. b. equivalent to of divers sorts: Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40; 2 Timothy 3:6; Titus 3:3; Hebrews 2:4; Hebrews 13:9; James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10 ((A. V. in the last two examples manifold)). The adjective translated “various,” “all kinds,” or “manifold” appears ten times across six New Testament authors. In every case the word highlights multiplicity—whether of sicknesses, passions, miracles, teachings, gifts, or trials—underscoring the breadth of human need and the corresponding sufficiency of God’s power and grace. Occurrences in the Ministry of Jesus (Matthew 4:24; Mark 1:34; Luke 4:40) The Synoptic Gospels cluster the term around Christ’s Galilean ministry. Crowds bring to Him those afflicted with “various diseases” (Matthew 4:24). The repetition across the three Gospels stresses that no category of illness lay beyond His authority. The early Church drew comfort from this record: the Savior who conquered every variety of disease remains adequate for every variety of human brokenness today. Pastoral Letters and Sin’s Multiform Bondage (2 Timothy 3:6; Titus 3:3) Paul applies the word to moral captivity rather than physical sickness. False teachers exploit women “led astray by various passions” (2 Timothy 3:6), and believers once were “enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures” (Titus 3:3). Here the vocabulary of diversity exposes sin’s many-colored appeal, warning that unchecked desire manifests differently in each life while sharing a common root of rebellion. The gospel, therefore, must address the whole range of human lusts, not merely the most obvious or socially unacceptable. Hebrews: Varied Miracles and Teachings (Hebrews 2:4; Hebrews 13:9) Hebrews 2:4 celebrates “signs, wonders, and various miracles” that authenticated the apostolic proclamation. Diversity of supernatural acts testifies to the unity of the one divine message and validates the believer’s trust in the apostolic witness. Conversely, Hebrews 13:9 cautions, “Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings.” The adjective now depicts the spiritual marketplace of heterodoxy. The antidote is not to suppress inquiry but to anchor hearts in “grace,” the unchanging core of the gospel. The Manifold Grace of God (1 Peter 4:10) Peter exhorts saints to serve as stewards “of the manifold grace of God.” The same term that earlier catalogued diseases and lusts now magnifies grace. Divine favor is as multicolored as human need, equipping every believer with a unique stewardship for the good of the body. Ministry, therefore, is not uniform replication but a harmonious diversity grounded in the one Spirit. Trials of Many Kinds and the Call to Joy (James 1:2; 1 Peter 1:6) James urges, “Consider it pure joy…when you encounter trials of many kinds,” while Peter echoes, “though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in various trials.” Both writers unite diversity with purpose: God refines faith through a spectrum of pressures. The range of afflictions cannot outstrip His design; therefore hope and joy remain rational responses for the believer. Theological Reflections 1. Universality of Christ’s Lordship: The word’s earliest Gospel settings proclaim that Jesus heals every species of malady, prefiguring His ultimate conquest of sin and death. Practical Ministry Application • Pastoral Care: Recognize the individualized contours of sin and suffering; apply Scripture with precision, trusting its sufficiency for every case. Historical Witness Early Christian writers echoed this theme. Ignatius of Antioch celebrated the “manifold medicine” of the Eucharist; Irenaeus spoke of Christ’s “variegated” salvific economy across redemptive history. The Patristic use of the adjective sustained the biblical insight that divine provision ever outruns human need. In Scripture and history alike, Strong’s Greek 4164 invites believers to behold the rich tapestry of God’s works—mercy broad enough for every sin, power strong enough for every sickness, truth firm against every falsehood, and grace sufficient for every trial. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 4:24 Adj-DFPGRK: κακῶς ἔχοντας ποικίλαις νόσοις καὶ NAS: those suffering with various diseases KJV: that were taken with divers diseases INT: sick who were by various diseases and Mark 1:34 Adj-DFP Luke 4:40 Adj-DFP 2 Timothy 3:6 Adj-DFP Titus 3:3 Adj-DFP Hebrews 2:4 Adj-DFP Hebrews 13:9 Adj-DFP James 1:2 Adj-DMP 1 Peter 1:6 Adj-DMP 1 Peter 4:10 Adj-GFS Strong's Greek 4164 |
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