Lexical Summary pós: how, in what way, by what means Original Word: πώς Strong's Exhaustive Concordance yet, evenAnother form of the base of pos; an enclitic particle of indefiniteness; yet, even; used only in the comparative. See medepo, mepo, oudepo, oupo, popote. see GREEK pos see GREEK medepo see GREEK mepo see GREEK oudepo see GREEK oupo see GREEK popote NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originenclitic particle used as suffix or prefix, see médepó, mépó, oudepó, oupó, and pópote. Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 4452: πω[πω, an enclitic particle, see μήπω etc.] Topical Lexicon Definition and Scope Strong’s Greek 4452 (πώς) is an enclitic adverb meaning “somehow, by any means.” Though absent from the extant New Testament text, it belongs to the ordinary stock of Koine Greek and is closely related to the interrogative adverb πῶς (Strong’s 4459, “how?”). The principal nuance of 4452 is indefiniteness—expressing possibility rather than direct inquiry. Place within the Greek Language Spectrum 1. Classical Greek: Used to soften a statement or express contingency (“maybe, perchance”). Usage in the Septuagint • Judges 6:15 – “Lord, how shall I save Israel? Behold, my clan is the weakest…” (πῶς in the interrogative sense; the indefinite nuance of 4452 shows up in variant manuscripts). These examples highlight the fluidity between interrogative and indefinite adverbs in the translators’ hands and show how 4452 shades meaning toward uncertainty or amazement. Overlap with Related Adverbs in the New Testament Although 4452 itself is not attested, its cognate 4459 (πῶς) is common: The rhetorical drive of 4459 often mirrors the potential or aspirational tone that 4452 would carry if present, underscoring divine possibility and human limitation. Role in Early Christian Writings and Patristic Literature Early fathers employed πώς to express humble conjecture before divine mysteries. For example, Ignatius, Smyrnaeans 4:2, ponders, “πῶς δύναται τις ὑπομεῖναι,” “how can anyone endure,” reflecting the reverent hesitancy conveyed by 4452 in secular Koine. Significance for Biblical Theology 1. Language of Humility: The adverb inherently concedes that human plans are tentative, subject to God’s sovereign will (James 4:13-15). Implications for Ministry and Teaching • Pastoral Planning: The nuance “somehow, if perhaps” models modesty in goal-setting—“If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that” (James 4:15). Practical Points for Expository Preaching 1. Highlight Conditional Clauses: Draw attention to phrases like “if perhaps” to show biblical realism. Conclusion Though Strong’s 4452 πώς does not surface in the canonical New Testament text, its lexical family permeates Scripture, embodying humility, hope, and inquiry. Recognizing its nuance enriches interpretation of related passages and models a posture of reverent dependence upon the Lord’s sovereign direction. Forms and Transliterations πώγων πώγωνα πώγωνά πώγωνας πώγωνι πώγωνος πώγωνόςLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance πυρίνους — 1 Occ.πεπυρωμένα — 1 Occ. πεπυρωμένης — 1 Occ. πεπυρωμένον — 1 Occ. πυροῦμαι — 1 Occ. πυρούμενοι — 1 Occ. πυροῦσθαι — 1 Occ. πυρράζει — 2 Occ. πυρρός — 2 Occ. Πύρρου — 1 Occ. πυρώσεως — 2 Occ. ἐπώλησεν — 1 Occ. ἐπώλουν — 1 Occ. πωλῆσαι — 1 Occ. πωλήσας — 1 Occ. Πωλήσατε — 1 Occ. πωλησάτω — 1 Occ. πώλησόν — 3 Occ. πωλεῖ — 1 Occ. πωλεῖται — 1 Occ. |
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