πυνθάνομαιpynthánomai
to question, i.e. ascertain by inquiry (as a matter of information merely; and thus differing from G2065 (ἐρωτάω), which properly means a request as a favor; and from G154 (αἰτέω), which is strictly a demand for something due; as well as from G2212 (ζητέω), which implies a search for something hidden; and from G1189 (δέομαι), which involves the idea of urgent need); by implication, to learn (by casual intelligence)
Greek (New Testament) · G4441
Meanings
1. to inquire: with accusative of thing, John 4:42, Acts 23:20; followed by quæst. indir., Matthew 2:4, Luke 15:26, Luke 18:36, Acts 10:18, Acts 21:33; quæst. dir., Acts 4:7, Acts 10:29, Acts 23:19; followed by παρά, with genitive of person, Matthew 2:4, John 4:52.
2. to learn by inquiry: followed by ὅτι, Acts 23:34.
Where it appears
Appears 12 times in the Bible.
- Matthew 2:4 He called a meeting of the leading priests and teachers of religious law and asked, “Where is the Messiah supposed to be born?”
- Luke 15:26 and he asked one of the servants what was going on.
- Luke 18:36 When he heard the noise of a crowd going past, he asked what was happening.
- John 4:52 He asked them when the boy had begun to get better, and they replied, “Yesterday afternoon at one o’clock his fever suddenly disappeared!”
- John 13:24 Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?”
- Acts 4:7 They brought in the two disciples and demanded, “By what power, or in whose name, have you done this?”
Source: G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), public domain.