Greek word · G4441

πυνθάνομαι

pynthanomai

to inquire

To find out by asking, to inquire. In classical Greek it can also mean to learn or hear about something. It is a word for getting information.

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πυνθώ᾽ομαι

[in LXX for דָּרַשׁ ;]

1. to inquire: with accusative of thing(s), John 4:42, Acts 23:20; before quæst. indir., Matthew 2:4, Luke 15:25 18:36, Acts 10:18 21:33; quæst. dir., Acts 4:7 10:20 23:10; before παρά, with genitive of person(s), Matthew 2:4, John 4:52.

2. to learn by inquiry: before ὅτι, Acts 23:34.†

(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 John 13:24

Range of meaning

To find out by asking, to inquire. In classical Greek it can also mean to learn or hear about something. It is a word for getting information.

Against the English

"To ask" (BSB) and "to inquire" (YLT) are both accurate. The word does not carry the sense of prayer or petition that "ask" can have in church language.

Used elsewhere in the period

Common in Herodotus and in the historians for making inquiries. In the New Testament: Matt 2:4 (Herod inquires where the Messiah is to be born), John 4:52 (the official inquires about the hour of healing), and Luke 15:26 and Acts 21:33, both with the same optative question pattern, "inquired what it might be". Luke and Acts use the word most.

From the study of Acts 21:33

Range of meaning

To inquire, ask, or seek information; also to learn by asking. It suggests an investigation, more than a casual question.

Against the English

KJV 'demanded' sounds harsh today. YLT 'was inquiring' and NASB 'began asking' keep the ongoing sense of the verb form. BSB, NIV, ESV and WEB 'asked'/'inquired' are accurate but make it sound like a single question.

How it drifted

In 1611 English, 'demand' (from French demander) often simply meant 'ask.' The modern sense of insisting forcefully is a later narrowing.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke uses it often for officials gathering facts: Herod asking where the Messiah would be born (Matt 2:4), and this same tribune privately questioning Paul's nephew (Acts 23:19) and asking about Paul's case (23:34, the governor).

From the study of Matthew 2:4

Range of meaning

To inquire, ask, seek information, or learn by asking. It is a verb about investigating, used for asking questions to get facts.

Against the English

KJV's "demanded of them" sounds like Herod is insisting forcefully. Modern versions have "asked" or "inquired".

How it drifted

In 1611 English "demand" commonly meant simply "to ask" (compare French demander). The sense of asking peremptorily or as a right later took over, so modern KJV readers picture a harsher scene than the Greek describes.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used for fact-finding inquiry throughout Greek literature (Herodotus onward). In the New Testament: John 4:52 ("he inquired of them the hour"), Acts 4:7; 23:19–20, often of officials gathering information.

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 2:4 ἐπυνθάνετο he was inquiring

    And when he had assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

    Here: "He was inquiring." The verb means seeking information, not giving orders. The imperfect tense pictures the questioning as ongoing, a scene in progress or a repeated pressing for an answer, though it may simply set the scene for their reply in verse 5.

Luke · 2

  1. Luke 15:26 ἐπυνθάνετο he was inquiring

    So he called one of the servants and asked what was going on.

  2. Luke 18:36 ἐπυνθάνετο he was asking

    When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening.

John · 2

  1. John 4:52 ἐπύθετο He inquired

    So he inquired as to the hour when his son had recovered, and they told him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”

    Here: The father asks to find something out: a specific question looking for a specific fact. The aorist tense presents it as one question, asked once.

  2. John 13:24 πυθέσθαι to ask

    So Simon Peter motioned to him to ask Jesus which one He was talking about.

    Here: "To inquire, to find out by asking." This infinitive spells out what the nod means: go and get the information. The word is about getting facts, not about prayer or a formal request.

Acts · 7

  1. Acts 4:7 ἐπυνθάνοντο· they were inquiring;

    They had Peter and John brought in and began to question them: “By what power or what name did you do this?”

  2. Acts 10:18 ἐπυνθάνοντο they were asking

    They called out to ask if Simon called Peter was staying there.

  3. Acts 10:29 πυνθάνομαι I inquire

    So when I was invited, I came without objection. I ask, then, why have you sent for me?”

  4. Acts 21:33 ἐπυνθάνετο he was inquiring

    The commander came up and arrested Paul, ordering that he be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done.

    Here: The verb form shows ongoing action: 'he kept asking' or 'he began asking.' It pictures repeated attempts to get information. Verse 34 shows the questions were aimed at the shouting crowd and got nowhere.

  5. Acts 23:19 ἐπυνθάνετο· he was inquiring:

    The commander took the young man by the hand, drew him aside, and asked, “What do you need to tell me?”

  6. Acts 23:20 πυνθάνεσθαι to inquire

    He answered, “The Jews have agreed to ask you to bring Paul to the Sanhedrin tomorrow on the pretext of acquiring more information about him.

  7. Acts 23:34 πυθόμενος having learned

    The governor read the letter and asked what province Paul was from. Learning that he was from Cilicia,

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