Bible Word Study
πότερος
poteros · which of two, whether
πότερος
which of two, whether
Definition
Πότερος is an interrogative adjective meaning 'which of two' or 'whether.' It is used to present a choice between two alternatives, often in a rhetorical or deliberative context. In its single New Testament occurrence in John 7:17, it frames a conditional choice regarding the origin of Jesus' teaching. The word inherently implies a binary selection, distinguishing it from broader interrogatives that might ask 'which' among many.
Biblical Usage
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in John 7:17. Here, Jesus says, 'If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the teaching, whether it is from God or whether I speak from Myself.' The usage is deliberative, presenting a clear dichotomy for the listener to discern. The context is a debate about Jesus' authority, making the binary choice rhetorically powerful.
Etymology
Derived from the Greek interrogative root πο- (po-), related to πού (pou, 'where?') and πότε (pote, 'when?'). The suffix -τερος (-teros) is a comparative ending, giving the sense of 'which of two.' It is cognate with the Latin 'uter' ('which of two'). Its formation emphasizes a direct comparison between two specific options.
Semantic Range
Though used only once, πότερος is theologically significant in John 7:17 as it frames the fundamental question of Jesus' divine authority. The binary choice—'from God' or 'from Myself'—forces a decision about Christ's origin and nature, touching on doctrines of revelation and Christology. Understanding this Greek term highlights the deliberate, either-or nature of faith in Jesus, enriching the reader's grasp of the passage's apologetic force. In ancient Greek rhetoric and logic, binary choices were a common tool for argumentation and clarification. The use of πότερος aligns with this cultural practice, presenting a clear dichotomy to challenge the audience's perception. This contrasts with modern, more nuanced approaches to inquiry, emphasizing the ancient preference for definitive, opposing alternatives in discourse. τίς (tis, G5101) — a general interrogative pronoun meaning 'who?' or 'what?', not limited to two options; ποῖος (poios, G4169) — an interrogative adjective meaning 'of what sort?' or 'what kind?', inquiring about quality rather than selection between two.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]