Original Word: ἐπερωτάω
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: eperótaó
Pronunciation: ep-er-o-tah'-o
Phonetic Spelling: (ep-er-o-tah'-o)
Definition: To ask, inquire, question
Meaning: I interrogate, question, demand of.

ask questions, demand, desire.

From epi and erotao; to ask for, i.e. Inquire, seek -- ask (after, questions), demand, desire, question.

see GREEK epi

see GREEK erotao

1905 eperōtáō (from epi, "on, fitting" intensifying 2065 /erōtáō, "inquire, ask") – properly, ask appropriately (aptly), done by someone on "preferred footing" who makes a request from a "preferred position." 2065 /erōtáō ("ask pointedly") is the regular word Jesus used for making requests to the Father (Jn 14:16, 16:26, 17:9,15,20).

Word Origin
from epi and erótaó
Definition
to inquire of
NASB Translation
ask (5), ask...question (1), ask...questions (1), asked (14), asked...a question (1), asking (2), asking...questions (1), question (3), questioned (18), questioning (9).

STRONGS NT 1905: ἐπερωτάω

ἐπερωτάω, ἐπερωτῶ; imperfect ἐπηρώτων; future ἐπερωτήσω; 1 aorist ἐπηρώτησα; 1 aorist passive participle ἐπερωτηθείς; the Sept. mostly for שָׁאַל, sometimes for דָּרַשׁ;

1. to accost one with an inquiry, put a question to, inquire of, ask, interrogate (ἐπί directive, uniformly in the N. T.; Meyer on Mark 11:29 (cf. ἐπί, D. 2)): τινα, Mark 9:32; Mark 12:34; Matthew 22:46; Luke 2:46; 1 Corinthians 14:35; John 18:21 R G; τινα τί, ask one anything, Mark 7:17 L T Tr WH; ; Luke 20:40; τινα περί τίνος, one about a thing, Mark 7:17 R G; (Luke 9:45 Lachmann) (Herodotus 1, 32; Demosthenes 1072, 12); followed by λέγων with the words used by the questioner, Matthew 12:10; Matthew 17:10; Mark 9:11; Mark 12:18; Luke 3:10, 14; Luke 20:27; Luke 23:3 (R G L), and often in the Synoptic Gospels; followed by εἰ, whether, Mark 8:23; Mark 15:44; Luke 23:6; or some other form of the indirect question, Acts 23:34; ἐπηρώτων λέγοντες (L T Tr WH omit λέγοντες), τίς εἴη, Luke 8:9; ἐπερωτᾶν Θεόν to consult God (Numbers 23:3; Joshua 9:20 (14); Judges 1:1; Judges 18:5; Isaiah 19:3, etc.; Thucydides 1, 118 (etc.)), hence, to seek to know God's purpose and to do his will, Romans 10:20 from Isaiah 65:1.

2. by a usage foreign to the Greeks, to address one with a request or demand; to ask of or demand of one: followed by the infinitive Matthew 16:1 (so ἐπερωτᾶν τινα τί, Hebrew שָׁאַל, in Psalm 136:3 (); (this sense is disputed by some; see Zezschwitz as referred to at end of next word; cf. Weiss on Matthew, the passage cited, and see ἐρωτάω, 2)).

Word Origin: Derived from ἐπί (epi, meaning "upon" or "over") and ἐρωτάω (erōtaō, meaning "to ask" or "to question").

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἐπερωτάω, similar concepts of questioning or inquiring can be found in Hebrew words such as שָׁאַל (sha'al, Strong's H7592), which means "to ask" or "to inquire," and דָּרַשׁ (darash, Strong's H1875), meaning "to seek" or "to inquire." These Hebrew terms capture the essence of seeking information or understanding, akin to the Greek ἐπερωτάω.

Usage: The verb ἐπερωτάω is used in the New Testament to describe the act of questioning or inquiring, often in contexts where individuals seek clarification, understanding, or information. It can be used in both neutral and confrontational contexts, depending on the speaker's intent and the situation.

Context: The Greek verb ἐπερωτάω appears in various contexts throughout the New Testament, reflecting its nuanced use in both everyday and theological discussions. It is frequently employed in the Gospels, where individuals, including the disciples, the Pharisees, and others, pose questions to Jesus. These questions range from genuine inquiries seeking understanding to attempts at entrapment or challenge.

For example, in Matthew 16:1, the Pharisees and Sadducees come to Jesus and "asked Him to show them a sign from heaven." Here, ἐπερωτάω conveys a sense of testing or challenging Jesus' authority. In contrast, in Mark 9:32, the disciples "did not understand this statement, and they were afraid to ask Him." This usage highlights a more hesitant or uncertain form of questioning.

The verb also appears in contexts of legal or formal inquiry, as seen in Acts 23:34, where the Roman governor Felix "asked what province he was from" when Paul was brought before him. This reflects a procedural or investigative use of the term.

Theologically, ἐπερωτάω can also be seen in 1 Peter 3:21, where it is used in the context of baptism, described as "the pledge of a good conscience toward God." Here, the term suggests a deeper, spiritual inquiry or commitment, transcending mere verbal questioning.

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