πόθεν (G4159) — Greek Lexicon

πόθεν

póthen

G4159 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root ποθ- from where, from what source, from what cause, from what origin

Definition

Interrogative or relative adverb signifying 'from where; from what place, source, cause, or origin.' Primarily asks about the point or source of origin (geographical, personal, or abstract). In extended usage, can question the origin or cause of an event or state ('how did this come to be; what is the source of this action or thing?').

Semantic Range

from where, from what place, from what source, from what cause, from what origin, whence (interrogative or relative), how (with sense of 'from what cause' in some contexts)

Root / Etymology

Traditionally related to the interrogative πῶς (how) or associated with the prepositional root πο-, meaning 'where'. The exact derivation is uncertain, but it is likely connected etymologically with the family of pronominal and adverbial stems indicating place or mode in Greek (cf. ποῦ 'where?', ποῖ 'to where?').

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, πόθεν was commonly used to ask about the geographic or personal source ('from where are you?'), as well as about the cause ('whence comes this trouble?'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, the form typically appears in direct questions (Mat 13:27 'πόθεν οὖν ἔχεις ζιζάνια;') and occasionally in indirect statements. The word is not limited to physical locations; it is also used for abstract origins (John 7:27 'this man, we know whence he is'). English translations commonly render it 'whence,' 'from where,' or 'how' (when origin or cause is implied), but the nuance of origin—geographical, causal, or personal—is sometimes reduced in translation. In Koine usage, retains its function but often with broader or less formal application than in classical Greek. No theological interpretation is inherent; it remains an interrogative/relative adverb. Not to be confused with ποῦ ('where?'), which focuses on place, not source.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of πόσις with enclitic adverb of origin; from which (as interrogative) or what (as relative) place, state, source or cause:--whence.

Root Family

πόθεν (pothen) — from where, from what source, from what cause, from what origin

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G4159-01`	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where	29

Occurrences in Scripture

29 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G4159-01`	Matthew 13:27	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`		from where
`G4159-01`	Matthew 13:54	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`		from where
`G4159-01`	Matthew 13:56	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`		from where
`G4159-01`	Matthew 15:33	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`		from where
`G4159-01`	Matthew 21:25	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`		from where
`G4159-01`	Mark 6:2	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	From whence	from where
`G4159-01`	Mark 8:4	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	From whence	from where
`G4159-01`	Mark 12:37	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	how	from where
`G4159-01`	Luke 1:43	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	Luke 13:25	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	Luke 13:27	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	where	from where
`G4159-01`	Luke 20:7	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 1:48	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	from where	from where
`G4159-01`	John 2:9	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 3:8	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	where	from where
`G4159-01`	John 4:11	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	from where	from where
`G4159-01`	John 6:5	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	where	from where
`G4159-01`	John 7:27	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 7:27	πόθεν	pothen-2	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 7:28	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 8:14	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 8:14	πόθεν	pothen-2	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 9:29	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 9:30	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	whence	from where
`G4159-01`	John 19:9	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	where	from where
`G4159-01`	James 4:1	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`	From where	from where
`G4159-01`	James 4:1	πόθεν	pothen-2	`ADV`	from where	from where
`G4159-01`	Revelation 2:5	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`		from where
`G4159-01`	Revelation 7:13	πόθεν	pothen	`ADV`		from where

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