verb
potizamō
Strong’sG4222
I cause to drink, give to drink
stem potiz-15 times in the New Testamentin 6 of 27 books11 forms occur
What it means
A plain-English reading of the word, with the lexicons it draws on — Abbott-Smith, Strong's, and Liddell-Scott-Jones — right below it, in full.
AI Summary
ποτίζω means to give someone a drink, to cause to drink 1234. It is used with a person as the object of the giving, and can also take two objects – the person given drink and the thing given to drink, such as water or wine 13. Beyond the literal act of giving water or wine to drink, it is used figuratively for giving spiritual nourishment, such as feeding someone "milk," or for the drink offered from the wine of God's wrath, and for the Spirit being given to drink 1.
A second, related sense is to water or irrigate, said of plants, crops, or land, and also of watering cattle 123. This sense too is extended figuratively, of causing something to grow, as one person plants and another waters 1.
Sources: 1 Abbott-Smith 2 Strong's 3 LSJ 4 Dodson. Condensed by anthropic/claude-sonnet-5 on 2026-09-23 — it may still misstate what these say; check them yourself if it matters to you.
The lexicons it was drawn from, in full:
Abbott-Smith — the 1922 lexicon entry, in full
ποτίζω
(< πότος), [in LXX chiefly for שׁקה hi.;]
G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament, 1922 — public domain. References open in the reader.
Strong’s G4222 — the 1890 definition, and where the word comes from
Saidpot-id'-zo
to furnish drink, irrigate
Fromfrom a derivative of the alternate of G4095;
King Jamesgive (make) to drink, feed, water.
James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, 1890 — public domain. The numbers in it link to the entries here.
Liddell-Scott-Jones — the classical dictionary this word appears in
Attic dialect future ιῶ Refs: (πότος):— give to drink, ἄκρητον ποτίσας Refs 5th c.BC+:—passive, Refs 1st c.AD+
2 with double accusative, τοὺς ἵππους νέκταρ ἐπότισε gave them nectar to drink, NT+5th c.BC+
3 water, [τὰ φυόμενα] LXX+5th c.BC+; irrigate, φυτά Refs 3rd c.BC+; also water cattle, ταύρως καὶ πόρτιας Refs 3rd c.BC+:—passive, of land, to be watered, to be irrigated, Refs 1st c.AD+
4 π. οἴνῳ Refs 4th c.AD+; οἴνου Refs 3rd c.AD+; οἴνῳ codices Refs 3rd c.AD+
5 moisten, μετά τινος Zos.Alch.p.167 Refs 5th c.BC+; τινι Refs 5th c.BC+
H. G. Liddell, R. Scott, H. S. Jones, A Greek-English Lexicon (9th ed., 1925–1940) — digitised by the Perseus Digital Library and corrected and expanded by Tyndale House, Cambridge, via STEPBible-Data's TFLSJ table, CC BY 4.0. Covers all of Greek literature, not just the Bible.
Translated as
Every occurrence, sorted by the English it was actually given — the evidence for what the word means, not a gloss of it.
Berean Standard Bible (BSB), dedicated to the public domain — berean.bible.
Biblang forms
What the New Testament actually uses, first — the whole system this verb is built from is one click further down.
| Form and the Greek behind it | What it is | Usually | Times |
|---|---|---|---|
| potizatōποτίζει | happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular | water | 1× |
| potizateἐπότιζεν | was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | gave … todrink | 2× |
| potizamaἐπότισα | happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular | gave … todrink | 1× |
| potizataἐπότισεν | happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular | watered | 1× |
| potizanaἐποτίσαμεν | happened · weaorist active indicative 1st person plural | give … todrink | 1× |
| potizavaἐποτίσατέ | happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural | gave … drink | 2× |
| potizinaἐποτίσθημεν | happened · weaorist passive indicative 1st person plural | made to drink | 1× |
| potizatēπεπότικεν | has happened · he/she/itperfect active indicative 3rd person singular | made … drink | 1× |
| potizateiaποτίσῃ | happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular | gives | 2× |
| potizasōrπότιζε | happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular | give … todrink | 1× |
| potizarōntosποτίζων | happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine | waters | 2× |
Every form the New Testament uses, in paradigm order. What the system can build beyond them — the whole of this verb, whether the text happens to use it or not — is in the tables below.
Every form the system can build — all 172, by mood, including the ones the New Testament never uses
Statements — indicative mood, 10 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizamō | potizame | potizami | potizama1×ἐπότισα | potizamē | potizamelē |
| you 2nd person singular | potizasō | potizase | potizasi | potizasa | potizasē | potizaselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizatō1×ποτίζει | potizate2×ἐπότιζεν | potizati | potizata1×ἐπότισεν | potizatē1×πεπότικεν | potizatelē |
| we 1st person plural | potizanō | potizane | potizani | potizana1×ἐποτίσαμεν | potizanē | potizanelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizavō | potizave | potizavi | potizava2×ἐποτίσατέ | potizavē | potizavelē |
| they 3rd person plural | potizalō | potizale | potizali | potizala | potizalē | potizalelē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | was happening imperfect | has happened perfect | had happened pluperfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizomō | potizome | potizomē | potizomelē |
| you 2nd person singular | potizosō | potizose | potizosē | potizoselē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizotō | potizote | potizotē | potizotelē |
| we 1st person plural | potizonō | potizone | potizonē | potizonelē |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizovō | potizove | potizovē | potizovelē |
| they 3rd person plural | potizolō | potizole | potizolē | potizolelē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | will happen future | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizimi | potizima |
| you 2nd person singular | potizisi | potizisa |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potiziti | potizita |
| we 1st person plural | potizini | potizina1×ἐποτίσθημεν |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizivi | potiziva |
| they 3rd person plural | potizili | potizila |
May, might — subjunctive mood, 2 occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizameiō | potizameia | potizameiē |
| you 2nd person singular | potizaseiō | potizaseia | potizaseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizateiō | potizateia2×ποτίσῃ | potizateiē |
| we 1st person plural | potizaneiō | potizaneia | potizaneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizaveiō | potizaveia | potizaveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | potizaleiō | potizaleia | potizaleiē |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizomeiō | potizomeiē |
| you 2nd person singular | potizoseiō | potizoseiē |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizoteiō | potizoteiē |
| we 1st person plural | potizoneiō | potizoneiē |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizoveiō | potizoveiē |
| they 3rd person plural | potizoleiō | potizoleiē |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizimeia |
| you 2nd person singular | potiziseia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potiziteia |
| we 1st person plural | potizineia |
| ye 2nd person plural | potiziveia |
| they 3rd person plural | potizileia |
Commands — imperative mood, 1 occurrence
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | potizasōr1×πότιζε | potizasar | potizasēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizatōr | potizatar | potizatēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizavōr | potizavar | potizavēr |
| they 3rd person plural | potizalōr | potizalar | potizalēr |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | potizosōr | potizosēr |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizotōr | potizotēr |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizovōr | potizovēr |
| they 3rd person plural | potizolōr | potizolēr |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| you 2nd person singular | potizisar |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizitar |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizivar |
| they 3rd person plural | potizilar |
Wishes — optative mood, no occurrences
the subject acts active voice
| Who person | happening now present | happened aorist |
|---|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizamoiō | potizamoia |
| you 2nd person singular | potizasoiō | potizasoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizatoiō | potizatoia |
| we 1st person plural | potizanoiō | potizanoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizavoiō | potizavoia |
| they 3rd person plural | potizaloiō | potizaloia |
acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice
| Who person | happening now present |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizomoiō |
| you 2nd person singular | potizosoiō |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizotoiō |
| we 1st person plural | potizonoiō |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizovoiō |
| they 3rd person plural | potizoloiō |
acted on passive voice
| Who person | happened aorist |
|---|---|
| I 1st person singular | potizimoia |
| you 2nd person singular | potizisoia |
| he/she/it 3rd person singular | potizitoia |
| we 1st person plural | potizinoia |
| ye 2nd person plural | potizivoia |
| they 3rd person plural | potiziloia |
The “to …” form — infinitive, no occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | potizarō | potizari | potizara | potizarē |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | potizorō | potizorē | ||
| acted on passive voice | potiziri | potizira |
Used as an adjective — participle, 2 occurrences
| Who is acting voice | happening now present | will happen future | happened aorist | has happened perfect |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| the subject acts active voice | potizarōntos2×ποτίζων | potizarintos | potizarantos | potizarēntos |
| acts on itself, or is acted on middle or passive voice | potizorōntos | potizorēntos | ||
| acted on passive voice | potizirintos | potizirantos |
Each is given in the form it takes as a subject. From there a participle carries the ordinary noun endings, in every case, number and gender — so these four columns are the whole of what the verb contributes.
How every form is built — the slots that make them
potiz is this word in every one of its forms. The slots after it make all the rest.
same in every form varies — every value shown
Where it appears
Every verse the word appears in, filed under the form it takes there.
15 occurrences, every one of them listed
potizatō“water”happening now · he/she/itpresent active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Luke 13:15… onon apo tau fatnau kai apagarantos potizatō?… the stall and lead it to water?
potizate“gave … todrink”was happening · he/she/itimperfect active indicative 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 27:48“gave … todrink”… pimplēarantos tē oxeu kai perititharantos kalamo potizate auton.… sponge. He filled it with sour wine, put it on a reed, and held …
Mark 15:36“gave … todrink”… kai gemizarantos spongon oxeu perititharantos kalamo potizate auton, legarōntos; Afiēkavar horaneia ei erchotō …… someone ran and filled a sponge with sour wine. He put it on a reed and held it up for Jesus to drink, saying, “Leave Him alone. Let us see if Elijah comes …
potizama“gave … todrink”happened · Iaorist active indicative 1st person singular1×
1 Corinthians 3:2galaktem vin potizama, ouk brōmem, oupō gar dunove. alla …I gave you milk, not solid food, for …
potizata“watered”happened · he/she/itaorist active indicative 3rd person singular1×
1 Corinthians 3:6mis futeuama, Apollos potizata, alla tos theos auxanate;I planted the seed and Apollos watered it, but God made it grow.
potizana“give … todrink”happened · weaorist active indicative 1st person plural1×
Matthew 25:37… peinarōnton kai trefana, ē dipsarōnton kai potizana?… and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink?
potizava“gave … drink”happened · yeaorist active indicative 2nd person plural2×
Matthew 25:35… kai dōava mi esthiara, dipsama kai potizava min, xenos ome kai sunagava min,… eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me something to drink, I was …
Matthew 25:42… dōava mi esthiara, dipsama kai ouk potizava min,… eat, I was thirsty and you gave Me nothing to drink,
potizina“made to drink”happened · weaorist passive indicative 1st person plural1×
1 Corinthians 12:13“made to drink”… eite eleutherois, kai pantois henem pneumem potizina.… Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink.
potizatē“made … drink”has happened · he/she/itperfect active indicative 3rd person singular1×
Revelation 14:8… oinou tou thumou tau porneiau autau potizatē panteim teim ethneim.… is Babylon the great, who has made all the nations drink the wine of the passion of …
potizateia“gives”happened · he/she/itaorist active subjunctive 3rd person singular2×
Matthew 10:42kai hos an potizateia henon toiu mikroiu houtoiu potēriem psuchreu …And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water …
Mark 9:41Hos gar an potizateia vin potēriem hudeu en onome hoti …Indeed, if anyone gives you even a cup of water …
potizasōr“give … todrink”happening now · youpresent active imperative 2nd person singular1×
Romans 12:20… echthros su, psōmizasōr auton; ean dipsateiō, potizasōr auton; houtem gar poiarōntos anthrakoin pureu …… feed him; if he is thirsty, give him a drink. For in so …
potizarōntos“waters”happening now · subjectpresent active participle nominative singular masculine2×
1 Corinthians 3:7… tos futeuarōntos atō tinem oute tos potizarōntos, alla tos auxanarōntos theos.… he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who …
1 Corinthians 3:8tos futeuarōntos de kai tos potizarōntos henem alō, hekastos de ton idion …He who plants and he who waters are one in purpose, and each …