τίς

who, which, what

Definition

The pronoun τίς (tis) is a fundamental interrogative word meaning 'who?', 'which?', or 'what?'. It is used to ask questions about identity, nature, or quality, as in 'Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?' (Matthew 3:7). It can also function as an indefinite pronoun, meaning 'someone', 'anyone', or 'a certain one', as seen in 'If anyone forces you to go one mile...' (Matthew 5:41). In some contexts, it expresses a rhetorical question implying a negative answer, such as 'Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?' (Matthew 6:27).

Biblical Usage

Τίς appears frequently throughout the New Testament, especially in the Gospels and Acts, where it is central to dialogue, teaching, and narrative. It is used in direct questions from Jesus (e.g., Matthew 5:46), from others (e.g., Matthew 3:7), and in rhetorical questions to provoke thought (e.g., Matthew 6:25-28). It also serves as an indefinite pronoun in general statements or parables, such as in Luke 10:31. Its usage is consistent with classical Greek interrogative and indefinite functions.

Etymology

Τίς is the ancient Greek interrogative and indefinite pronoun, derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *kʷi-/*kʷo-, which is the source of similar question words in many languages (e.g., Latin 'quis', English 'who'). In Greek, it is the singular form; the plural is τίνες (tines). Its basic meaning as a question word ('who? what?') remained stable from classical through Koine Greek.

Semantic Range

As a primary tool for inquiry, τίς is theologically significant because it frames the questions at the heart of the gospel. Jesus uses it to challenge assumptions and direct attention to God's kingdom, as in His questions about identity (Matthew 16:13-15) and priority (Matthew 6:25-34). Understanding its dual role as both interrogative ('who?') and indefinite ('someone') helps readers discern whether a passage is posing a specific question or making a general statement about people's response to God.

In the Greco-Roman world, rhetorical questions using τίς were a common teaching and debating technique, which Jesus and the apostles employed effectively. Its use as an indefinite pronoun ('a certain one') was typical in storytelling to introduce a generic character, a pattern seen in many parables. The word itself carries no significant cultural baggage beyond its standard grammatical function.

τί (ti, G5101) — The neuter singular form of the same word, meaning 'what?'. ποῖος (poios, G4169) — Asks 'what kind of?' or 'of what sort?', focusing on quality or nature. πότερος (poteros, G4221) — Asks 'which of two?', used for choosing between alternatives.

Word Details

Scripture References