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πότε

póte

G4219 adverb

SILEX Entry

Definition

Interrogative adverb indicating a question about time: when? (at which moment or occasion?). Used to inquire about the specific point in time an event occurred or will occur. In narrative or reported speech, can also mark indirect questions asking about timing.

Semantic Range

when?, at what time?, at which occasion?, how long (expressing impatience or duration), indirect questions regarding time

Root / Etymology

Formed from the base of ποῦ (where?) and τέ (enclitic particle, often adding connective nuance), yielding an adverb with temporal sense. Common formation pattern for Greek interrogative adverbs (compare πότερον, ποῦ, πῶς, τίς).

Historical & Contextual Notes

πότε occurs both in direct questions (e.g., 'πότε ἔρχεσαι;'—'When are you coming?') and indirect questions ('οὐκ οἶδα πότε ἥξει'—'I do not know when he will come'). In classical Greek literature, this temporal interrogative adverb is standard and remains unaltered in meaning in Koine, the Septuagint, and the New Testament. Unlike πότερον (which introduces alternative questions: 'whether'), πότε is strictly about asking for the timing of an event or state. English translations ('when?') are generally adequate, though the adverb may carry nuances in literary or colloquial contexts, including expressing impatience or wonder at an expected event ('how long?'). The form is distinct from πότε (with a grave accent), which may sometimes appear in differing accentual tradition, but the meaning remains the same.

Translation Consistency

primary "when" 17 occurrences

πότε is primarily an interrogative adverb asking about time. The vast majority of occurrences render it as “when,” and this form naturally covers direct and indirect timing questions as well as occasions of impatience or duration in context. Choosing “when” preserves the common, natural English usage and ensures consistent translation across all forms.

Alternatives (2 occurrences):
"long" (2x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of ποῦ and τέ; interrogative adverb, at what time:--+ how long, when.

Root Family

πο- (pósis) — to drink, to consume (liquid)

Root πο- when?, at what time?
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G4213 πόσις in drinking
G4226 ποῦ where?

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4219-01 πότε pote ADV when when? when? 19

Occurrences in Scripture

19 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4219-01 Matthew 17:17 πότε pote ADV how long when? when?
G4219-01 Matthew 17:17 πότε pote-2 ADV how long when? when?
G4219-01 Matthew 24:3 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Matthew 25:37 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Matthew 25:38 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Matthew 25:39 πότε pote ADV When when? when?
G4219-01 Matthew 25:44 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Mark 9:19 πότε pote ADV long when? long
G4219-01 Mark 9:19 πότε pote-2 ADV long when? long
G4219-01 Mark 13:4 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Mark 13:33 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Mark 13:35 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Luke 9:41 πότε pote ADV long when? when?
G4219-01 Luke 12:36 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Luke 17:20 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 Luke 21:7 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 John 6:25 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
G4219-01 John 10:24 πότε pote ADV will when? when?
G4219-01 Revelation 6:10 πότε pote ADV when when? when?
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