Word Study for G4453 (πωλέω) | Strong's Concordance

pōléō /po-leh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootprobably ultimately from (to be busy, to trade)

Meaningto barter (as a pedlar), i.e. to sell

KJV usagesell, whatever is sold.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of pōléō — 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 pōléō, represented by G4453, means to sell. It appears 24 times across 20 unique verses. The term's base definition is to barter (as a pedlar), i.e. to sell, indicating a commercial transaction. In scripture, its usage ranges from everyday commerce to profound spiritual commands.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In biblical narratives, G4453 is used in several key contexts. Jesus uses the term to challenge the wealthy, instructing them to sell their possessions and give to the poor to gain treasure in heaven (Matthew 19:21, Mark 10:21). It is also central to the cleansing of the temple, where Jesus drove out those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, condemning the transformation of his Father's house into a house of merchandise (Matthew 21:12, John 2:16). The word appears in descriptions of common life, such as the selling of sparrows for a farthing Matthew 10:29 and in the daily activities of buying and selling in the days of Lot Luke 17:28. In the early church, believers sold their lands and houses to support the community Acts 4:34.

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words help illuminate the concept of selling and commerce:

G59 agorázō (to purchase; buy, redeem): As the direct counterpart to selling, this word often appears alongside G4453. A man selleth all that he hath and buyeth a field with treasure Matthew 13:44. In Revelation, it is prophesied that no man might buy or sell without the mark of the beast Revelation 13:17.
G5224 hypárchonta (goods, that which one has, things which (one) possesseth, substance, that hast): This word describes the possessions that Jesus commands his followers to sell. For example, "Sell that ye have, and give alms" Luke 12:33.
G1712 empórion (a mart ("emporium")): This term describes a place of commerce. Jesus rebuked those who sold doves in the temple, saying, "make not my Father's house an house of merchandise" John 2:16.

Theological Significance

The theological weight of G4453 is significant, often illustrating the demands of discipleship and divine priorities.

Cost of Discipleship: The command to sell all possessions is a recurring theme that tests a person's willingness to prioritize the kingdom of God above earthly wealth (Matthew 19:21, Luke 18:22).
Sacred vs. Secular: Jesus's forceful expulsion of those who sold goods in the temple underscores a sharp distinction between holy worship and profane commerce Mark 11:15.
Communal Provision: The practice of the early believers, who sold their possessions to provide for those in need, demonstrates a radical commitment to communal generosity and mutual support Acts 4:34.
Eschatological Control: In Revelation, the ability to buy or sell becomes a tool of systemic control, with allegiance to the beast being a prerequisite for participating in the economy Revelation 13:17.

Summary

In summary, G4453 pōléō transcends its simple definition of a commercial transaction. It is a pivotal word used by Jesus to teach about sacrifice, by the gospel writers to describe the sanctity of worship, and by the apostles to record the selfless generosity of the early church. From the sale of sparrows to the command to sell everything one owns, the word consistently forces a choice between worldly possessions and heavenly treasure.

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 22 occurrences, inflected in 15 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Present Active Participle Accusative Plural Masculine 5×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Singular 3×
Present Active Participle Genitive Plural Masculine 2×
Aorist Active Imperative 2nd Plural 1×
Aorist Active Imperative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
Aorist Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine 1×
Imperfect Active Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Present Active Indicative 3rd Singular 1×
Present Active Participle Dative Plural Masculine 1×
Present Active Participle Nominative Plural Masculine 1×

+ 3 rarer forms

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
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.
2nd: Second person — the one addressed ("you").
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Present: Action in progress or repeated — happening now or continually.
Imperfect: Ongoing or repeated action in the past — "was doing".
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Imperative: A command or entreaty.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
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 20 verses across 7 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Luke (6 verses); never once in the other 20.

Matthew

Mark

Luke

John

Acts

1 Corinthians

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.