Greek word · G2213

ζήτημα

zētēma

a question/dispute

From ζητέω, 'to seek, inquire'. It means something that is inquired into: a question, a point under debate, a controversial issue. In the New Testament it occurs only in Acts.

Appears 5 times in 5 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ζήτημα, -τος, τό

(ζητέω), [in LXX: ζ. τίθεσθαι (דָּרַשׁ ni.), Ezekiel 36:37 A * ;]

an inquiry, question: Acts 15:2 18:15 23:29 25:19 26:3.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of Acts 18:15

Range of meaning

From ζητέω, 'to seek, inquire'. It means something that is inquired into: a question, a point under debate, a controversial issue. In the New Testament it occurs only in Acts.

Against the English

'Question' (KJV, WEB, YLT) sounds neutral and academic. 'Dispute' (BSB) brings out the conflict. Neither quite carries the legal sense: a debate about doctrine rather than an accusation of wrongdoing.

Used elsewhere in the period

In classical and Hellenistic Greek it is used for philosophical or legal questions under investigation. In Acts it is a recurring term for intra-Jewish controversy that Roman or other outside officials find irrelevant to their courts. It appears at the Jerusalem dispute over circumcision (15:2), in Claudius Lysias's letter ('questions about their law', 23:29), in Festus's words to Agrippa ('questions about their own religion and about a certain Jesus', 25:19) and in Paul's speech to Agrippa ('customs and questions', 26:3).

From the study of Acts 23:29

Range of meaning

Something sought or inquired into; a question under investigation; a disputed point; a controversy or debate. In the plural it often means matters of dispute between parties or schools.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'questions', which a modern reader may hear as neutral queries. The Greek means contested questions, points people were arguing over. 'Disputes' or 'points of controversy' is closer.

How it drifted

In older English 'questions' could mean disputes ('a question between them'). In everyday English today it mostly means a request for information.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in Greek philosophy and law for problems under debate. In Acts it is always an outsider's dismissive word for intra-Jewish arguments: 15:2 (the circumcision dispute), 18:15 (Gallio: 'questions about words and names and your own law, see to it yourselves'), 25:19 (Festus: 'certain points of dispute about their own religion and about a certain Jesus'), 26:3 (Agrippa as an expert in Jewish 'customs and questions').

From the study of Acts 25:19

Range of meaning

Something sought or inquired into: a question, a point for investigation, a matter in dispute. It comes from zēteō, to seek. It belongs to the world of debate and inquiry, and it could be used of the point at issue in an argument.

Against the English

KJV, WEB and YLT have 'questions', which can sound too mild, as if someone were merely curious. BSB's 'contentions' captures the conflict but sounds somewhat more heated than the word itself. 'Points of dispute' comes closest.

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it occurs only in Acts, and it forms a pattern. At 15:2 it is the question taken to Jerusalem. At 18:15 the governor Gallio dismisses zētēmata about words, names and 'your own law'. At 23:29 the commander Lysias reports zētēmata of 'their law'. At 26:3 Paul credits Agrippa with knowing the Jewish customs and zētēmata. Verse 20 here picks up the related word zētēsis, 'investigation'.

Where it appears

Acts · 5

  1. Acts 15:2 ζητήματος question

    And after engaging these men in sharp debate, Paul and Barnabas were appointed, along with some other believers, to go up to Jerusalem to see the apostles and elders about this question.

    Here: The disputed point itself. In Acts this word always means a contested question of Jewish law or belief (18:15; 23:29; 25:19; 26:3).

  2. Acts 18:15 ζητήματά questions

    But since it is a dispute about words and names and your own law, settle it yourselves. I refuse to be a judge of such things.”

    Here: Disputed points, things argued over in debate. In a legal setting this means an argument about doctrine, not a charge that something was done. The plural suggests a heap of quibbles.

  3. Acts 23:29 ζητημάτων questions

    I found that the accusation involved questions about their own law, but there was no charge worthy of death or imprisonment.

    Here: 'Disputed questions', 'points of controversy'. To a Roman officer this meant arguments over interpretation, the kind of thing a Roman court does not rule on.

  4. Acts 25:19 ζητήματα Questions

    They only had some contentions with him regarding their own religion and a certain Jesus who had died, but whom Paul affirmed to be alive.

    Here: Points for debate, not criminal charges. It stands first in the sentence, set directly against the 'crimes' Festus expected in verse 18.

  5. Acts 26:3 ζητημάτων. controversies.

    especially since you are acquainted with all the Jewish customs and controversies. I beg you, therefore, to listen to me patiently.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.