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ποταπός

potapós

G4217 determiner

SILEX Entry

Definition

Interrogative adjective expressing quality or character; primarily means 'of what sort or kind,' used to inquire into the nature, quality, or category of something or someone. Also used exclamatorily to express astonishment or emphasis regarding nature or quality, such as 'what incredible (manner of)...' or 'what remarkable...'.

Semantic Range

of what sort, of what kind, of what manner, what remarkable (quality), what extraordinary, how great, exclamatory expression of astonishment or admiration

Root / Etymology

Compound, likely derived from the interrogative πότε ('when?') and the base of ποῦ ('where?'), but the exact etymology is uncertain. The word functions independently as an interrogative and exclamatory adjective in Greek.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, ποταπός is a relatively rare term, occasionally found in philosophical or rhetorical works where it strengthens the inquiry into the nature or category of an object or person. In the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including the Septuagint and the New Testament, it often appears in contexts expressing astonishment or emphasizing the remarkable quality of something (e.g., 'what kind of man is this?', 'what manner of love'). English translations often render it as 'what manner of,' 'what kind of,' or 'how great a,' but the Greek emphasizes both the qualitative inquiry and, at times, a sense of wonder or admiration. Unlike ποῖος, which also asks 'of what sort,' ποταπός carries a slightly more emphatic or exclamatory tone in Koine usage. In the New Testament, it especially appears in contexts of amazement (e.g., Matthew 8:27, 2 Peter 3:11).

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

apparently from πότε and the base of ποῦ; interrogatively, whatever, i.e. of what possible sort:--what (manner of).

Root Family

ποταπός (potapos) — of what sort, of what kind, of what manner

Root ποταπ- of what sort, of what kind, of what manner

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4217-05 ποταπός potapos PRO.Q NOM M SG what kind of what sort (of) what sort 2
G4217-03 ποταπὴν potapen DET ACC F SG what sort of what sort of what sort of 1
G4217-04 ποταποὶ potapoi DET NOM M PL what of what sort what sort 1
G4217-01 ποταπαὶ potapai DET NOM F PL what of what sort what sort 1
G4217-06 ποταποὺς potapous PRO.Q ACC M PL what kind of what sort of ones what kind of 1
G4217-02 ποταπὴ potape DET NOM F SG what kind of what sort what sort 1

Occurrences in Scripture

7 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4217-05 Matthew 8:27 ποταπός potapos PRO.Q NOM M SG what-kind-of what sort (of) what sort
G4217-04 Mark 13:1 ποταποὶ potapoi DET NOM M PL what of what sort what sort
G4217-01 Mark 13:1 ποταπαὶ potapai DET NOM F PL what of what sort what sort
G4217-05 Luke 1:29 ποταπὸς potapos PRO.Q NOM M SG what kind of what sort (of) what sort
G4217-02 Luke 7:39 ποταπὴ potape DET NOM F SG what kind of what sort what sort
G4217-06 2 Peter 3:11 ποταποὺς potapous PRO.Q ACC M PL what kind of what sort of ones what kind of
G4217-03 1 John 3:1 ποταπὴν potapen DET ACC F SG what sort of what sort of what sort of
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