4212. posakis

Lexical Summary

posakis: How often, how many times

Original Word: ποσάκις
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: posakis
Pronunciation: po-sak'-is
Phonetic Spelling: (pos-ak'-is)
KJV: how oft(-en)
NASB: how often
Word Origin: [multiplicative from G4214 (πόσος - how much)]

1. how many times

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

how often.

Multiplicative from posos; how many times -- how oft(-en).

see GREEK posos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
interrog. adverb from posos
Definition
how often?
NASB Translation
how often (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4212: ποσάκις

ποσάκις (πόσος), adverb, how often: Matthew 18:21; Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34. ((Platos epistle, Aristotle, others.))

Topical Lexicon

Occurrences and Scope

Matthew 18:21; Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34. In each case the adverb highlights repeated, even habitual, action rather than a single event.

Literary Function

Used in direct speech, the term magnifies intensity: Peter seeks a numeric limit for forgiveness; Jesus laments Jerusalem with a sweep of centuries in view. It therefore amplifies both human concern for boundaries and divine insistence on boundless grace.

Forgiveness within the Community (Matthew 18:21)

“Then Peter came to Him and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother who sins against me? Up to seven times?’”.
• Rabbinic norms set three pardons (based loosely on Amos 1–2); Peter’s seven is generous by contemporary standards, yet Jesus immediately explodes even that ceiling (verse 22).
• The word thus introduces the foundational kingdom ethic: forgiveness is to be extended without arithmetic, because it reflects the immeasurable mercy already received (Matthew 18:23-35).

Divine Persistence toward Israel (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34)

“Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those sent to her! How often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were unwilling.” (Matthew 23:37; cf. Luke 13:34).
• The lament stands at the climax of Jesus’ public ministry, summarizing centuries of prophetic outreach.
• The imagery of the hen evokes Exodus 19:4; Deuteronomy 32:11; Psalm 91:4—underscoring covenant faithfulness and protective care.
• Christ speaks as the One who continually commissioned prophets, implicitly asserting His divinity and eternality.

Historical and Rabbinic Background

First-century Judaism prized measurable obedience; rabbinic discussion often revolved around numeric thresholds. In contrast, Jesus’ teaching and self-revelation via this adverb sweep beyond such limits, locating righteousness in God’s inexhaustible character rather than in calculable quotas.

Intertextual Echoes

Old Testament laments (“How long, LORD?” Psalm 13:1) and invitations (“Turn, turn… why will you die?” Ezekiel 33:11) resonate behind the Gospel usages, showing continuity between prophetic longing and Messiah’s personal grief.

Pastoral and Homiletical Insights

1. Persistent Forgiveness: Leaders and congregants alike are admonished to mirror God’s limitless pardon.
2. Patient Evangelism: The term models repeated gospel appeals, even in the face of resistance.
3. Divine Emotion: Jesus’ lament affirms genuine divine feeling without compromising sovereignty, encouraging believers to engage both head and heart in ministry.

Applications in Discipleship

• Personal Relationships: Keep no tally of grievances; practice proactive reconciliation.
• Corporate Worship: Lament for the lost should inform intercession, reflecting the Savior’s “how often” yearning.
• Missions Strategy: Re-engage hardened fields with renewed compassion, confident that God’s persistence has not expired.

Summary

Strong’s 4212 serves as a verbal spotlight on the immeasurable frequency of both God’s overtures and the forgiveness He commands. It captures the rhythm of redemptive history—unceasing divine invitation met with halting human response—and calls every disciple to participate in that same relentless grace.

Forms and Transliterations

ποσακις ποσάκις ποσαπλώς posakis posákis

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 18:21 Adv
GRK: αὐτῷ Κύριε ποσάκις ἁμαρτήσει εἰς
NAS: to Him, Lord, how often shall my brother
KJV: Lord, how oft shall my
INT: to him master how often will sin against

Matthew 23:37 Adv
GRK: πρὸς αὐτὴν ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυναγαγεῖν
NAS: who are sent to her! How often I wanted
KJV: thee, how often would I
INT: to her how often would I have gathered together

Luke 13:34 Adv
GRK: πρὸς αὐτήν ποσάκις ἠθέλησα ἐπισυνάξαι
NAS: sent to her! How often I wanted
KJV: thee; how often would
INT: to her how often would I have gathered

Strong's Greek 4212
3 Occurrences

ποσάκις — 3 Occ.