"of various colors, variegated, checkered; various, diverse, manifold, Mt. 4:24"
Definition and meaning
of various colors, variegated, checkered; various, diverse, manifold, Mt. 4:24
In the original Greek the word is written: ποικίλος
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of poikilos (G4164) across the King James Bible.
And his fame went throughout all Syria: and they brought unto him all sick people that were taken with divers diseases and torments, and those which were possessed with devils, and those which were lunatick, and those that had the palsy; and he healed them.
And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
God also bearing them witness, both with signs and wonders, and with divers miracles, and gifts of the Holy Ghost, according to his own will?
Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
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Common questions
Strong's G4164 (poikilos) is a Greek word that means: of various colors, variegated, checkered; various, diverse, manifold, Mt. 4:24 It appears 10 times in the King James Bible.
The word poikilos (G4164) appears 10 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4164 is poikilos, a Greek word defined as: of various colors, variegated, checkered; various, diverse, manifold, Mt. 4:24. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
poikilos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.