ποτέ (G4218) — Greek Lexicon

ποτέ

poté

G4218 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root ποτ- ever, once, at some time, at any time

Definition

Indefinite temporal adverb: at some time, once, ever, at any point (past or future). Used to indicate an unspecified or indeterminate time when an action may or did occur. It can refer to a time in the past ('once, formerly'), or serve to generalize across time spans ('ever, at any time') depending on context. May also be used in rhetorical or hypothetical constructions ('if ever', 'should it happen that').

Semantic Range

at some (indefinite) time, ever (at any point in past or future), once (formerly), in time past, when (in indirect or indefinite questions), at any time (in questions or conditions), at length (finally, after some delay)

Root / Etymology

From interrogative ποῦ (where, whither) with the enclitic particle τε, forming an indefinite temporal adverb (literally, 'at some point') via the base form of ποῦ. The etymology links to a class of Greek indefinites created by combining interrogative bases with particles such as τε, δε, που, ποτε, etc.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ποτέ marks an indefinite or unspecified point in time and is flexible as to tense, but it most commonly refers to past time ('once', 'at one time'). In Koine (including the New Testament and the Septuagint), it maintains this function, but its range broadens to include hypothetical or emphatic expressions about the past or future ('if ever', 'at any time', 'once'). Not to be confused with πῶς (how) or ποῦ (where), nor with ποτέ as an emphatic negative (οὐδέποτε = 'never'). Traditional English translations ('ever', 'once', 'formerly', 'at any time') do not always distinguish the nuances of indefinite versus definite time reference. In rhetorical questions or conditions, ποτέ can suggest doubt or rarity ('has it ever...?'). Contrast μετά (after), πάλιν (again), which have more specific temporal values. First attested in classical prose and poetry, the adverb retains its function into Koine Greek without significant semantic shift.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the base of πού and τέ; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever:--afore-(any, some-)time(-s), at length (the last), (+ n- )ever, in the old time, in time past, once, when.

Root Family

ποτέ (poté) — ever, once, at some time, at any time

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	Occurrences
`G4218-01`	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time	29

Occurrences in Scripture

29 total occurrences

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1
`G4218-01`	Luke 22:32	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	John 9:13	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Romans 1:10	ποτὲ	pote	`ADV`		at some time
`G4218-01`	Romans 7:9	ποτέ	pote	`ADV`		at some time
`G4218-01`	Romans 11:30	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	1 Corinthians 9:7	ποτέ	pote	`ADV`	ever	at some time
`G4218-01`	Galatians 1:13	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Galatians 1:23	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	Galatians 1:23	ποτε	pote-2	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	Galatians 2:6	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Ephesians 2:2	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	Ephesians 2:3	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Ephesians 2:11	ποτὲ	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Ephesians 2:13	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	Ephesians 5:8	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Ephesians 5:29	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	ever	at some time
`G4218-01`	Philippians 4:10	ποτὲ	pote	`ADV`	at last	at some time
`G4218-01`	Colossians 1:21	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Colossians 3:7	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	1 Thessalonians 2:5	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	ever	at some time
`G4218-01`	Titus 3:3	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	Philemon 1:11	ποτέ	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	Hebrews 1:5	ποτε	pote	`ADV`		at some time
`G4218-01`	Hebrews 1:13	ποτε	pote	`ADV`		at some time
`G4218-01`	1 Peter 2:10	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	once	at some time
`G4218-01`	1 Peter 3:5	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	in former times	at some time
`G4218-01`	1 Peter 3:20	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	formerly	at some time
`G4218-01`	2 Peter 1:10	ποτε	pote	`ADV`	ever	at some time
`G4218-01`	2 Peter 1:21	ποτέ	pote	`ADV`	ever	at some time

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