πυνθάνομαι (G4441) — Greek Lexicon

πυνθάνομαι

pynthánomai

G4441 verb

SILEX Entry

Definition

to inquire, ask for information, learn by inquiry; denotes the act of seeking to obtain information through questioning, often in the context of investigation or learning from another. The word does not primarily express a request for material aid or favor, but is focused on gaining knowledge or clarification through questioning or indirect gathering of information.

Semantic Range

to ask information, to inquire, to learn by inquiry, to investigate, to seek to know, to ascertain facts

Root / Etymology

Rooted in the Greek verb πυνθάνομαι, deponent in form, with the root πυνθ-; etymology uncertain, though some connect with the idea of 'acquiring information.' The verb appears in the middle/passive form only, with no corresponding active form in classical or Koine Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πυνθάνομαι was commonly used for 'to learn' or 'to ascertain' information, often through inquiry (Herodotus, Plato). It emphasized the process of obtaining information rather than requesting aid or material goods, distinguishing it from verbs like ἐρωτάω (to ask, often with a nuance of requesting a response or favor) or αἰτέω (to ask, with implication of requesting or petitioning, usually for something concrete). In the New Testament and Septuagint, it retains this sense of 'to inquire' or 'to ask' about some fact, situation, or person, for example, in Acts 4:7 (inquiring into a matter) or Mark 15:44 (asking information about a situation). Septuagint usage often follows the Hebrew שָׁאַל (sha'al, to ask) or דָּרַשׁ (darash, to seek, inquire), but πυνθάνομαι consistently conveys the information-seeking nuance. English translations sometimes use 'ask' or 'inquire' for πυνθάνομαι, but in older translations, 'demand' may be used, which overstates the force of the Greek term and fails to reflect its focus on investigation or learning rather than insistence or petition. The lexical nuance is best understood as questioning to ascertain information, not as asking for an object or favor.

Translation Consistency

primary "ask" 5 occurrences

'Ask' is the most natural, commonly used English verb that captures the primary sense of πυνθάνομαι — seeking information or inquiring. It fits typical NT usage and covers related senses (inquire, ask about, learn by asking) while remaining simple and easily inflected for all forms, satisfying the requirement for consistent rendering.

Alternatives (7 occurrences):

"inquiring" (4x) "inquired for" (1x) "inquire for oneself" (1x) "having inquired for" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

middle voice prolonged from a primary (which occurs only as an alternate in certain tenses); 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):--ask, demand, enquire, understand.

Root Family

πυνθάνομαι (pynthanomai) — to inquire, to learn by inquiry, to question, to investigate

Root πυνθ- to inquire, to learn by inquiry, to question

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G4441-01`	ἐπυνθάνετο	epunthaneto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	asked	was inquiring	he was asking	5
`G4441-02`	ἐπυνθάνοντο	epunthanonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they asked	they were inquiring	they were inquiring	2
`G4441-06`	πυθέσθαι	puthesthai	`V AOR MID INF`	to ask	to inquire for oneself	to inquire for oneself	1
`G4441-03`	ἐπύθετο	eputheto	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	he inquired	he inquired for himself	he inquired for himself	1
`G4441-04`	πυνθάνεσθαι	punthanesthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to inquire	to be inquiring	to be inquiring	1
`G4441-07`	πυθόμενος	puthomenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	learned	having inquired for himself	having inquired for himself	1
`G4441-05`	πυνθάνομαι	punthanomai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I ask	I am inquiring	I am inquiring	1

Occurrences in Scripture

12 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G4441-01`	Matthew 2:4	ἐπυνθάνετο	epunthaneto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	he inquired	was inquiring	he was asking
`G4441-01`	Luke 15:26	ἐπυνθάνετο	epunthaneto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	asked	was inquiring	he was asking
`G4441-01`	Luke 18:36	ἐπυνθάνετο	epunthaneto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	he inquired	was inquiring	he was asking
`G4441-03`	John 4:52	ἐπύθετο	eputheto	`V AOR MID IND 3P SG`	he inquired	he inquired for himself	he inquired for himself
`G4441-06`	John 13:24	πυθέσθαι	puthesthai	`V AOR MID INF`	to ask	to inquire for oneself	to inquire for oneself
`G4441-02`	Acts 4:7	ἐπυνθάνοντο	epunthanonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they asked	they were inquiring	they were inquiring
`G4441-02`	Acts 10:18	ἐπυνθάνοντο	epunthanonto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P PL`	they inquired	they were inquiring	they were inquiring
`G4441-05`	Acts 10:29	πυνθάνομαι	punthanomai	`V PRS MID IND 1P SG`	I ask	I am inquiring	I am inquiring
`G4441-01`	Acts 21:33	ἐπυνθάνετο	epunthaneto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	asked	was inquiring	he was asking
`G4441-01`	Acts 23:19	ἐπυνθάνετο	epunthaneto	`V IMPF MID IND 3P SG`	asked	was inquiring	he was asking
`G4441-04`	Acts 23:20	πυνθάνεσθαι	punthanesthai	`V PRS MID INF`	to inquire	to be inquiring	to be inquiring
`G4441-07`	Acts 23:34	πυθόμενος	puthomenos	`V AOR MID PTCP NOM M SG`	learned	having inquired for himself	having inquired for himself

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