Poor, who are "the poor"

When the “poor” are spoken of by Jesus and by others, in the New Testament, the term is not a term of relative wealth. Rather, the term “poor” is a matter of a state of being, and presumably relative to one’s soul. More Specifically, the “poor” are in a threatened, reactive status.

Consider a creature that may have no cognizance of an attacker other than a perception that the attacker is attacking, is overwhelming and is undefeatable [resistance is futile] , such that the creature merely reacts to stimulus, including, mere perceptions of attack. Further, in consideration of the so-called “fight or flight” response, a person in such a defensive condition may react with aggression, even explosively so. Upon realization of being defenseless, however, under the perception that the attacker is undefeatable, one may react with flight. The flight response may come to be engaged under any stimulus with the person becoming skittish, even apprehensively quivering [we may say “edgy”] ; like an animal beaten without a clue as to why and to what is expected or desired. Is this sheepish? Those toward whom Jesus’ ministry was directed are consistently referred to as sheep and as His flock.

The “poor” are the Lord’s lost sheep; they are scattered, frightened, without a shepherd.

[In an aside to the Old Testament, note references to the “chosen people” with such phrases as, “as sheep that have no shepherd” Numbers 27:17, 1 Kings 22:17, 2 Chronicles 18:16, Zechariah 10:02, Matthew 09:36, Mark 06:34.]

All in all, may not, “Blessed are the poor: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven,” also be stated, “blessed are my sheep for my Kingdom is theirs?”

The “poor” are those who are as sheep without a shepherd; those in a state of apprehension, without comfort; those without the Comforter, namely, the Holy Spirit of our Father in Heaven.

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Searching for “poor” in the New Testament identifies the following verses with the indicated original Greek [Strong’s Greek lexicon] term:

Matthew 05:03 Blessed [are] the poor [Greek: ptochos, SG 4434] in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 11:05 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor [Greek: ptochos] have the gospel preached to them.

Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor [Greek: ptochos], and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.

Matthew 26:09 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor [Greek: ptochos].

Matthew 26:11 For ye have the poor [Greek: ptochos] always with you; but me ye have not always.

Mark 10:21 Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor [Greek: ptochos], and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Mark 12:42 And there came a certain poor [Greek: ptochos] widow, and she threw in two mites, which make a farthing. {mites: it is the seventh part of one piece of that brass money} [Luke 21:2 poor [Greek: penichros]; yet, Luke 21:3 poor [Greek: ptochos]]

Mark 12:43 And he called [unto him] his disciples, and saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That this poor [Greek: ptochos] widow hath cast more in, than all they which have cast into the treasury:

Mark 14:05 For it might have been sold for more than three hundred pence, and have been given to the poor [Greek: ptochos]. And they murmured against her.

Mark 14:07 For ye have the poor [Greek: ptochos] with you always, and whensoever ye will ye may do them good: but me ye have not always.

Luke 04:18 The Spirit of the Lord [is] upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor [Greek: ptochos]; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

Luke 06:20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said, Blessed [be ye] poor [Greek: ptochos]: for yours is the kingdom of God.

Luke 07:22 Then Jesus answering said unto them, Go your way, and tell John what things ye have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor [Greek: ptochos] the gospel is preached.

Luke 14:13 But when thou makest a feast, call the poor [Greek: ptochos], the maimed, the lame, the blind:

Luke 14:21 So that servant came, and shewed his lord these things. Then the master of the house being angry said to his servant, Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor [Greek: ptochos], and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind.

Luke 18:22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor [Greek: ptochos], and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

Luke 19:08 And Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor [Greek: ptochos]; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore [him] fourfold.

Luke 21:02 And he saw also a certain poor [Greek: penichros, SG 3998] widow casting in thither two mites.

Luke 21:03 And he said, Of a truth I say unto you, that this poor [Greek: ptochos] widow hath cast in more than they all: [Luke 21:2 poor [Greek: penichros]; yet, Luke 21:3 poor [Greek: ptochos]]

John 12:05 Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor [Greek: ptochos] ?

John 12:06 This he said, not that he cared for the poor [Greek: ptochos]; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

John 12:08 For the poor [Greek: ptochos] always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

John 13:29 For some [of them] thought, because Judas had the bag, that Jesus had said unto him, Buy [those things] that we have need of against the feast; or, that he should give something to the poor [Greek: ptochos].

Romans 15:26 For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor [Greek: ptochos] saints which are at Jerusalem.

1Corinthians 11:22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise [you] not. {have not: or, are poor?}

1Corinthians 13:03 And though I bestow all my goods to feed [the poor], and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

2Corinthians 06:10 As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor [Greek: ptochos], yet making many rich; as having nothing, and [yet] possessing all things.

2Corinthians 08:09 For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor [Greek: ptocheuo, SG 4433] , that ye through his poverty might be rich.

2Corinthians 09:09 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor [Greek: penes, SG 3993] : his righteousness remaineth for ever.

Galatians 02:10 Only [they would] that we should remember the poor [Greek: ptochos]; the same which I also was forward to do.

James 02:02 For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man [Greek: ptochos] in vile raiment; {assembly: Gr. synagogue}

James 02:03 And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor [Greek: ptochos], Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool: {in...: or, well, or, seemly}

James 02:05 Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor [Greek: ptochos] of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him? {of the: or, of that}

James 02:06 But ye have despised the poor [Greek: ptochos]. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats?

Revelation 03:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor [Greek: ptochos], and blind, and naked:

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor [Greek: ptochos], free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: {to receive: Gr. to give them}

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The Greek terms which are translated to “poor,” as found in Strong’s Greek lexicography.

poor = SG 4434 - ptochos [pto-khos'] - from ptosso (to crouch); akin to 4422 and the alternate of 4098); a beggar (as cringing), i.e. pauper (strictly denoting absolute or public mendicancy, although also used in a qualified or relative sense; whereas 3993 properly means only straitened circumstances in private), literally (often as noun) or figuratively (distressed):--beggar(-ly), poor.

See Greek 4422 (ptoeo) [pto-eh'-o] - probably akin to the alternate of 4098 (through the idea of causing to fall) or to 4072 (through that of causing to fly away); to scare:--frighten

See Greek 4098 (pipto)

See Greek 4072 (petomai) [pet'-om-ahee] - middle voice of a primary verb; to fly:--fly(-ing).

See Greek 4098 (pipto) [pip'-to] - probably akin to 4072 through the idea of alighting; to fall (literally or figuratively):--fail, fall (down), light on

See Greek 4072 (petomai)

See Greek 3993 (penes) [pen'-ace] - from a primary peno (to toil for daily subsistence); starving, i.e. indigent:--poor. Compare 4434.

See Greek 4434 (ptochos)

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poor = SG 3998 - penichros [pen-ikh-ros'] - prolongation from the base of 3993; necessitous:--poor.

See Greek 3993 (penes) [above]

(Merriam-Webster) : ne•ces•si•tous - adjective (1611)
1 : NEEDY, IMPOVERISHED
2 : URGENT, PRESSING
3 : NECESSARY

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poor = SG 4433 - ptocheuo [pto-khyoo'-o] - from 4434; to be a beggar, i.e. (by implication) to become indigent (figuratively):--become poor.

See Greek 4434 (ptochos) [above]

(Merriam-Webster) : in•di•gent - adjective [ME, fr. MF, fr. L indigent-, indigens, prp. of indigÈre to need, fr. OL indu + L egÈre to need; perh. akin to OHG ekrÖdi thin] (15c)
1 : suffering from indigence : IMPOVERISHED
2 a archaic : DEFICIENT
b archaic : totally lacking in something specified

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Searching for SG 4434 - ptochos in the New Testament identifies the following additional verses with the indicated original Greek [Strong’s Greek lexicon] term:

Luke 16:20 and a certain beggar [Greek: ptochos] named Lazarus was laid at his gate, full of sores,

Luke 16:22 And it came to pass, that the beggar [Greek: ptochos] died, and that he was carried away by the angels into Abraham's bosom: and the rich man also died, and was buried.

Galatians 04:09 but now that ye have come to know God, or rather to be known by God, how turn ye back again to the weak and beggarly [Greek: ptochos] rudiments, whereunto ye desire to be in bondage over again?

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Searching for SG 3998 - penichros in the New Testament identifies no additional verses

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Searching for SG 4433 - ptocheuo in the New Testament identifies no additional verses

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