ἐρωτᾷ
erōtáō
asks
To ask, inquire, or request (of someone); to pose a question for information or clarification, or to make an earnest request. In Koine and classical usage, commonly denotes personal interaction—either seeking information or expressing a gentle or polite request. The word may also carry the sense of entreating or a courteous appeal, especially in contexts involving social hierarchy or deference.
John 16:5 · Word #12
Lexicon G2065
| Lemma | ἐρωτάω |
| Transliteration | erōtáō |
| Strong's | G2065 |
| Definition | To ask, inquire, or request (of someone); to pose a question for information or clarification, or to make an earnest request. In Koine and classical usage, commonly denotes personal interaction—either seeking information or expressing a gentle or polite request. The word may also carry the sense of entreating or a courteous appeal, especially in contexts involving social hierarchy or deference. |
Morphology V PRS ACT IND 3P SG
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | V — Verb — An action or state of being |
| Tense | PRS — Present — Ongoing or repeated action |
| Voice | ACT — Active — The subject performs the action |
| Mood | IND — Indicative — States a fact or reality |
| Person | 3P — 3rd person — The one spoken about ("he/she/it/they") |
| Number | SG — Singular — One |
Common Translation
| Phrase | asks |
| Literal | asks |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | ἐρωτάω |
| Strong's | G2065 |
SIBI-P1 Translation G2065-01
was asking
| Morphological Notes | Verb; imperfect tense (past ongoing), active voice, indicative mood, 3rd person singular. |
| Rendering Rationale | The imperfect active indicative, third person singular, denotes ongoing or repeated action in past time; "was asking" preserves both the durative aspect and the root sense of personal inquiry or request. |
View full lexicon entry for G2065 →
SILEX v2
SIBI-P2 (Context-Aware)
asks
| Same as P1 | No — adjusted for context |
| Rationale | P1 had 'was asking,' but the verb form here is present indicative, so 'asks' is contextually correct. |