πόθεν
pothen
from where
from the base of πόσις with enclitic adverb of origin; from which (as interrogative) or what (as relative) place, state, source or cause:--whence.
John 4:11 · Word #14
Lexicon G4159
| Lemma | πόθεν |
| Transliteration | póthen |
| Strong's | G4159 |
| In-context | from where |
| Literal | from-where |
Morphology ADV
All morphology codes
| Part of Speech | ADV — Adverb — Modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb |
Lexical Info
| Lemma | πόθεν |
| Strong's | G4159 |
SIBI-P1 G4159-01
from-where?
| Root | πόθεν (pothen) |
| Core Meanings | from where, from what place, from what source, whence, from what cause |
| Semantic Range | from what place, from what source, from whom, from what cause or reason; occasionally used rhetorically to question origin, authority, or motive |
| Conceptual Significance | πόθεν frequently frames questions about origin—geographical, relational, or authoritative—especially in discussions of identity and divine commission. In the biblical text, it often probes the true source behind actions, teaching, or authority, highlighting the importance of discerning whether something proceeds from heaven, human agency, or another origin. |
| Morphological Notes | Adverb (Gr,D); interrogative or relative adverb of origin. It denotes source or point of departure and does not inflect for gender, number, or case. |
| Rendering Rationale | The rendering "from-where?" preserves the adverbial sense of origin inherent in πόθεν and keeps its interrogative force. As an adverb (Gr,D), it does not carry case, gender, or number, so the English reflects its function as an inquiry about source or origin rather than location alone. |
AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)
Word Usage (29 occurrences of G4159)
| Location | Form | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matthew 13:27 | πόθεν | pothen | |
| Matthew 13:54 | πόθεν | pothen | |
| Matthew 13:56 | πόθεν | pothen |