Lexical Summary poma: Drink, beverage Original Word: πῶμα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance drink. From the alternate of pino; a beverage -- drink. see GREEK pino NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom pinó Definition a drink NASB Translation drink (2). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4188: πόμαπόμα (Attic πῶμα; (cf. Lob. Paralip., p. 425)), πόματος, τό (πίνω, πέπομαι), drink: 1 Corinthians 10:4; Hebrews 9:10. Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope Strong’s Greek 4188 designates a liquid taken in by drinking, whether ordinary or ceremonial. In the New Testament it appears twice, both times with theological weight: 1 Corinthians 10:4 and Hebrews 9:10. Old Testament Background Israel’s wilderness experience supplies the foundational imagery. Twice the LORD brought water from a rock (Exodus 17:1-7; Numbers 20:1-13). The drink preserved life, testified to divine faithfulness, and foreshadowed fuller spiritual provision. Later, prophetic language cast salvation itself as satisfying thirst (Isaiah 55:1; Zechariah 14:8). New Testament Usage “and drank the same spiritual drink; for they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and that rock was Christ.” Paul treats the wilderness drink as “spiritual,” not because it lacked physical reality, but because its ultimate source and meaning were bound up with Christ. The apostle warns the Corinthians that even those who shared in miraculous provision could still fall through unbelief (10:5-12). Thus 4188 functions as a bridge between tangible blessing and enduring responsibility. 2. Hebrews 9:10 “They consist only in food and drink and various ceremonial washings—external regulations imposed until the time of reformation.” Here the plural form places 4188 among temporary rites of the old covenant. Such ordinances, though ordained by God, were provisional and incomplete until Christ’s atoning work brought “reformation”—the eschatological setting right of worship (Hebrews 9:11-14). Christological Significance The rock-water episode culminates in Jesus Christ, the source of living water (John 4:10-14; John 7:37-39). Paul’s identification of the rock with Christ lifts 4188 from mere sustenance to sacrament. The same Son who quenched Israel’s need still meets the church’s deepest thirst through His Spirit. Ecclesial and Liturgical Implications Early Christian writers linked Israel’s drink with baptism and the Lord’s Supper: baptism as passage through the sea (1 Corinthians 10:2), the cup as participation “in the blood of Christ” (1 Corinthians 10:16). Though 4188 never names the Eucharistic cup directly, the shared metaphor of drinking highlights communion, dependence, and covenant renewal. Ethical and Pastoral Applications • Spiritual privilege does not guarantee perseverance; vigilance and faith are required (1 Corinthians 10:12). Historical Notes Second-century apologists such as Justin Martyr viewed the rock-water typology as prophetic evidence for Christ’s deity. Reformation commentators emphasized the contrast in Hebrews between outward rites and the inward cleansing achieved by Christ, reinforcing sola fide while retaining respect for Old Testament revelation. Further Study Compare other Greek terms for “drink” (potos, poterion) to see how authors vary nuance; trace “living water” across Scripture; examine rabbinic discussion on water-from-the-rock to appreciate Paul’s interpretive boldness. Forms and Transliterations επόνεσα επόνεσαν επονέσατε επόνεσε επόνεσεν επονηρεύοντο επονήρευσαν επονηρεύσαντο επονηρεύσασθε επονηρεύσατο επονηρεύσω πεπονηρεύσθαι πομα πόμα πόμασι πομασιν πόμασιν πόματος πονεί πονείν πονέσουσι πονηρεύεσθαι πονηρεύεσθε πονηρευόμενοι πονηρευομένοις πονηρευόμενος πονηρευομένων πονηρεύσεταί πονηρεύσηται πονών poma póma pomasin pómasinLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 1 Corinthians 10:4 N-ANSGRK: πνευματικὸν ἔπιον πόμα ἔπινον γὰρ NAS: spiritual drink, for they were drinking KJV: spiritual drink: for INT: spiritual drank drink they drank indeed Hebrews 9:10 N-DNP Strong's Greek 4188 |
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