Original Word: πυνθάνομαι
Part of Speech: Verb
Transliteration: punthanomai
Pronunciation: poon-than'-om-ahee
Phonetic Spelling: (poon-than'-om-ahee)
Definition: to inquire, to ask, to learn by inquiry
Meaning: I ask, inquire, ascertain by inquiry, understand.

Word Origin: Middle voice of a primary verb, which only occurs in certain tenses.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "punthanomai," the concept of inquiry can be related to Hebrew words like "שָׁאַל" (sha'al - Strong's H7592), meaning "to ask" or "to inquire."

Usage: The verb "punthanomai" is used in the New Testament to describe the act of inquiring or asking questions to gain information. It often implies a deeper investigation or seeking to understand something more fully. This verb is typically used in contexts where individuals are seeking knowledge or clarification about a particular matter.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, inquiry and the pursuit of knowledge were highly valued, especially in philosophical and educational contexts. The act of asking questions was a fundamental part of learning and teaching. In the Jewish context, inquiry was also a key aspect of religious and legal discussions, as seen in the rabbinic tradition of debate and interpretation of the Scriptures.

Word Origin
from a prim. root puth-
Definition
to inquire, by impl. to learn
NASB Translation
ask (1), asking (2), inquire (4), inquired (2), inquiring (1), learned (1).

STRONGS NT 4441: πυνθάνομαι

πυνθάνομαι; imperfect ἐπυνθανομην; 2 aorist ἐπυθόμην; (cf. Curtius, § 328); a deponent verb; as in classical Greek from Homer down.

1. to inquire, ask: followed by an indirect question — with the indicative Acts 10:18; with the optative, John 13:24 R G; Luke 15:26; Luke 18:36; Acts 21:33; followed by a direct question, Acts 4:7; Acts 10:29; Acts 23:19; παρά τίνος τί (Buttmann, 167 (146)), John 4:52; παρά τίνος followed by an indirect question with the indicative Matthew 2:4; τί περί τίνος, Acts 23:20.

2. to ascertain by inquiry: followed by ὅτι, Acts 23:34 (A. V. understood).

ask, demand, inquire, understand.

Middle voice prolonged from a primary putho (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 erotao, which properly means a request as a favor; and from aiteo, which is strictly a demand for something due; as well as from zeteo, which implies a search for something hidden; and from deomai, which involves the idea of urgent need); by implication, to learn (by casual intelligence) -- ask, demand, enquire, understand.

see GREEK erotao

see GREEK aiteo

see GREEK zeteo

see GREEK deomai

επυθετο επύθετο ἐπύθετο επυνθανετο επυνθάνετο ἐπυνθάνετο επυνθανοντο επυνθάνοντο ἐπυνθάνοντο πυθέσθαι πυθομενος πυθόμενος πυνθανεσθαι πυνθάνεσθαι πυνθανομαι πυνθάνομαι πύξια πυξίον πυξίου πύξον epunthaneto epunthanonto eputheto epynthaneto epyntháneto epynthanonto epynthánonto epytheto epýtheto punthanesthai punthanomai puthomenos pynthanesthai pynthánesthai pynthanomai pynthánomai pythomenos pythómenosInterlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts