4220. poteron
Lexical Summary
poteron: whether, which

Original Word: πότερον
Part of Speech: Adverb, Interrogative
Transliteration: poteron
Pronunciation: po'-ter-on
Phonetic Spelling: (pot'-er-on)
KJV: whether
NASB: whether
Word Origin: [neuter of a comparative of the base of G4226 (ποῦ - where)]

1. interrogative as adverb, which (of two), i.e. is it this or that

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
whether.

Neuter of a comparative of the base of pou; interrogative as adverb, which (of two), i.e. Is it this or that -- whether.

see GREEK pou

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
from poteros, a cptv. of the same as posos
Definition
which of two
NASB Translation
whether (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4220: πότερος

πότερος, ποτερα, πότερον (from Homer down), which of two; πότερον ... ,utrum ... an, whether ... or (Winers Grammar, § 57, 1 b.; Buttmann, 250 (215)): John 7:17.

Topical Lexicon
Summary of Usage

Strong’s Greek 4220 (πότερον) appears once in the New Testament, in John 7:17. In that single occurrence the term functions as a disjunctive interrogative—offering an either-or alternative between divine and merely human origins of Jesus’ teaching.

Linguistic Nuance and Binary Logic

By framing an exclusive choice, πότερον presses the hearer to a decisive judgment. It does not invite a spectrum of possibilities but demands that one of two mutually exclusive options be embraced. Within Greek rhetoric this form sharpened debate by forcing clarity; within inspired Scripture it serves to underline the urgency of spiritual discernment.

Place within the Johannine Narrative

John 7 records Jesus teaching midway through the Feast of Tabernacles, amid rising hostility from religious leaders. Verse 17 states, “If anyone desires to do His will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I speak on My own”. The single word πότερον carries the weight of that contrast:

1. From God—affirming Jesus as the sent Son who speaks the Father’s words (John 7:16; John 12:49).
2. From self—aligning Him with human pretenders whose authority derives from themselves (compare Jeremiah 23:16).

The term thus highlights the watershed moment confronting the crowd: accept or reject Jesus on the basis of obedient discernment.

Discernment Rooted in Obedience

Jesus links knowledge of the truth to a prior willingness to obey: “If anyone desires to do His will, he will know …” Obedience becomes the gateway to insight (Psalm 25:14; Proverbs 9:10). The binary πότερον underscores that no neutral ground exists; hearts either align with God’s will and recognize the divine voice, or they remain self-directed and blind (John 5:39-40; James 1:22-25).

Authority of Jesus and the Father

By using πότερον Jesus disavows independent authority while simultaneously claiming equality with the Father. The crowd must decide which of the two alternatives is true. This accords with Deuteronomy 18:15-19, where a prophet’s words are to be received as God’s own, and with Isaiah 11:2, which foretells the Spirit-imbued Messiah. The binary choice therefore becomes a test case for the larger Johannine theme: believing that the Father sent the Son (John 17:3).

Biblical Theology of Testing Doctrine

Throughout Scripture God’s people are called to examine claims of truth:
• “The Bereans were more noble … examining the Scriptures daily to see if these teachings were so” (Acts 17:11).
• “Test everything. Hold fast to what is good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21).
• “Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God” (1 John 4:1).

πότερον in John 7:17 encapsulates this principle by setting the divine-or-human alternative before every listener.

Pastoral and Discipleship Applications

1. Call to Willing Obedience. Spiritual understanding grows not merely by intellectual inquiry but by surrender to God’s will (Romans 12:1-2).
2. Criterion for Teaching. Ministries must point away from self and toward God’s glory (John 7:18; 1 Peter 4:11). πότερον urges congregations to ask, “Is this doctrine sourced in God or in human opinion?”
3. Assurance in Evangelism. The verse offers confidence that sincere seekers who commit to obey will be granted clarity (Jeremiah 29:13; Matthew 7:7-8).

Historical Interpretation in the Church

Early Christian writers seized on John 7:17 as a key for apologetics. Justin Martyr argued that willingness to follow truth leads to recognition of Christ. Augustine noted that obedience precedes knowledge, countering the claim that faith is irrational. The Reformers likewise stressed that Scripture’s authority is self-authenticating to the regenerate heart, echoing the logic of πότερον.

Reflection for Contemporary Believers

In an age of competing voices, the simple disjunction embedded in πότερον remains vital. Every sermon, doctrine, and worldview must be weighed: is it of God or of man? The promise of John 7:17 stands unchanged—those who yield their wills to the Father will “know whether the teaching is from God.”

Forms and Transliterations
ποτερον πότερον πότημα poteron póteron
Links
Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
John 7:17 Adv
GRK: τῆς διδαχῆς πότερον ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: of the teaching, whether it is of God
KJV: of the doctrine, whether it be of
INT: the teaching whether from

Strong's Greek 4220
1 Occurrence


πότερον — 1 Occ.

4219
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