The meaning of “πυνθάνομαι”
Understanding pynthánomai reveals the original theological depth often simplified in translation.
middle voice prolonged from a primary (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses) ask, demand, enquire, unders...
πυνθάνομαι
middle voice prolonged from a primary (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses) ask, demand, enquire, understand. - to question, i.e. ascertain by inquiry (as a matter of information merely - and thus differing from ἐρωτάω, which properly means a request as a favor - and from αἰτέω, which is strictly a demand for something due - as well as from ζητέω, which implies a search for something hidden - and from δέομαι, which involves the idea of urgent need) - by implication, to learn (by casual intelligence)
Occurrences in the Bible
| Reference | Text | |
|---|---|---|
| Matthew 2:4 | “And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.” Word: πυνθάνομαι (pynthánomai) | |
| Luke 18:36 | “And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant.” Word: πυνθάνομαι (pynthánomai) | |
| John 13:24 | “Simon Peter therefore beckoned to him, that he should ask who it should be of whom he spake.” Word: πυνθάνομαι (pynthánomai) | |
| Acts 21:33 | “Then the chief captain came near, and took him, and commanded him to be bound with two chains; and demanded who he was, and what he had done.” Word: πυνθάνομαι (pynthánomai) |