Word Study for G4154 (πνέω) | Strong's Concordance

pnéō /pneh'-o/ Ask about this word

Meaninga primary word; to breathe hard, i.e. breeze

KJV usageblow. Compare ψύχω.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pnéō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word pnéō, represented by G4154, is a primary word defined as to breathe hard, i.e. breeze:--blow. It appears 8 times across 7 unique verses in the Bible. Its use in scripture is focused on the literal and metaphorical action of the wind.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In its biblical usage, G4154 most often describes the physical act of wind blowing. It appears twice in the parable of the wise and foolish builders, where the "winds blew" against the houses (Matthew 7:25, Matthew 7:27). It is also used to describe the "great wind that blew" causing the sea to rise John 6:18. In a significant analogy, Jesus uses the word to compare the work of the Spirit to the wind that "bloweth where it listeth" John 3:8. The word also appears in a context of divine control, where angels prevent the wind from blowing on the earth Revelation 7:1.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help define the context in which G4154 is used:

G417 ánemos (wind): This noun is the direct subject of the verb G4154 in several passages. For instance, the texts describe how "the winds blew" (Matthew 7:25, Matthew 7:27), connecting the substance with its action.
G4151 pneûma (a current of air, i.e. breath... or a breeze... a spirit): This word is derived from G4154 and its connection is most clear in John 3:8, where the blowing (pnéō) of the wind (pneûma) is used to illustrate the unseen work of the Spirit (pneûma).
G3558 nótos (the south(-west) wind): This term specifies a particular type of wind. Its relationship with G4154 is seen in Luke 12:55, where people observe the "south wind blow" and know that heat is coming.

Theological Significance

The use of G4154 illustrates several key concepts in scripture.

Natural Phenomenon: G4154 is used to depict wind as a powerful and observable force of nature, capable of causing storms on the sea John 6:18 and testing the foundations of a house (Matthew 7:25, Matthew 7:27).
Navigational Tool: The wind's action is shown as a practical force that can be harnessed, as when sailors "hoised up the mainsail to the wind" to make for shore Acts 27:40.
Metaphor for the Spirit: Its most profound use is as a metaphor in John 3:8. The invisible, unpredictable, yet perceivable action of the wind blowing serves as an earthly illustration for the divine and sovereign work of the Spirit in the new birth.

Summary

In summary, G4154 is a direct and descriptive verb for the action of blowing. While it primarily refers to the literal movement of wind in events like storms and sea voyages, its significance is elevated through its use as a key analogy. By illustrating the unseen work of the Spirit (pneûma) through the common experience of the wind (pneûma) blowing, scripture uses G4154 to connect the physical world to a deep spiritual truth.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 7 occurrences, inflected in 6 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Plural 2×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Accusative Singular Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Dative Singular Feminine 1×
Present Active Participle Genitive Singular Masculine 1×
Present Active Subjunctive 3rd Singular 1×

Genitive: Possession or source — often "of".
Dative: The indirect object — often "to" or "for".
Accusative: The direct object of the verb.
Singular: One.
Plural: More than one.
Masculine: Masculine grammatical gender.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Subjunctive: Possibility or purpose — "might", "should".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 7 verses across 5 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew and John (2 verses each); never once in the other 22.

Matthew

Luke

John

Acts

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.