ἀπορ-έω G0639
To be at a loss, perplexed, or bewildered; a state of mental uncertainty about what to think or do.
Aporeo captures a particular shade of confusion -- not mere ignorance, but the frustrating experience of having no way forward, no clear answer. It appears at moments of genuine psychological crisis in the NT: Herod is 'much perplexed' yet fascinated by John the Baptist (Mark 6:20), the women at the empty tomb stand bewildered (Luke 24:4), the disciples look at one another in uncertainty after Jesus predicts betrayal (John 13:22), and Festus confesses bafflement about Jewish legal disputes (Acts 25:20). Paul uses it memorably in his hardship catalogue -- 'perplexed, but not driven to despair' (2 Cor 4:8) -- distinguishing temporary bewilderment from ultimate hopelessness.
Senses
1. be perplexed, be at a loss — To be mentally at a loss, perplexed, or bewildered -- unable to determine the right course of action or correct interpretation of events. Spanish 'estando perplejo' and French 'perplexe' both mirror the core meaning precisely. The word implies not simple ignorance but an active grappling with a situation that defies easy resolution. Key passages include Mark 6:20 (Herod's fascination-confusion with John), Luke 24:4 (the women's bewilderment at the empty tomb), and Paul's paradox of being perplexed yet not despairing (2 Cor 4:8). 6×
AR["أَنْ-كُنَّ-مُتَحَيِّراتٍ", "إِذْ-حَارْتُ", "تَحَيَّرَ", "حَائِرِينَ", "مُتَحَيِّرينَ", "مُتَحَيِّرٌ"]·ben["ধাঁধায়-আছি", "বিচলিত-হতেন", "বিস্মিত-হয়ে", "বিহ্বল,", "হতবুদ্ধি-হইয়া", "হতবুদ্ধি-হওয়ার"]·DE["ratlos-sein", "ἀπορεῖσθαι", "ἀπορούμενος"]·EN["I-am-perplexed", "being-at-a-loss", "he-was-perplexed", "perplexed", "to-be-perplexed"]·FR["perplexe", "être-dans-l'embarras"]·heb["הִתְבַּלְבֵל", "מְבֻלְבָּלִים", "נִבְכִּים", "נֶאֱלַם-אֲנִי", "נָבוֹךְ"]·HI["अचंभित-होना", "असमंजसमेंहोकर", "चकित-होते-हुए", "मैन-अस्मनजस-मेइन-हुन", "रखता-था", "व्याकुल-होते-हुए"]·ID["Bingung", "aku-bingung", "bingung", "kebingungan"]·IT["aporeisthai", "aporoumai", "aporoumenoi", "eporei", "essere-in-dubbio"]·jav["bingung", "bingung,", "kula-kuwatir"]·KO["난처하여", "당혹스럽노라", "당혹하고-있을-때", "당황하고-있었다,", "당황하나", "당황하며"]·PT["estou-perplexo", "perplexo", "perplexos"]·RU["в-затруднении", "затрудняющийся", "недоумевал", "недоумевать", "недоумеваю", "недоумевая"]·ES["estaba-perplejo", "estando-perplejo", "estar-perplejas", "estoy-perplejo", "perplejos", "siendo-perplejos"]·SW["alichanganyikiwa", "kuchanganyikiwa", "nataabika", "nikishindwa", "tukishindwa,", "wakishangaa"]·TR["şaşkındı", "şaşkınım", "şaşırarak", "şaşırma", "şaşırıp", "şaşırıyoruz"]·urd["حیران", "حیران-ہوتے-ہوئے", "حیران-ہونے", "حیران-ہوں", "پریشان-ہوتا-تھا", "پریشان-ہوتے-ہیں"]
Related Senses
H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)H0977 1. choose, select (Qal active) (145×)G2147 1. find, discover (144×)G5590 1. soul, inner self (100×)H4672 2. Niphal: be found, be discovered (99×)H1875 1. seek, search for (96×)H5315 2. life, vitality (94×)H1847 1. knowledge, discernment (90×)H2450 1. wise, prudent (84×)H7911 1. Qal: to forget (83×)H3684 1. fool, dullard (70×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἀπορ-έω, __B Laconian dialect 1st pers.plural ἀπορίομεςRefs 5th c.BC+: aorist ἠπόρησαRefs 5th c.BC+: perfect ἠπόρηκαRefs 5th c.BC+ —passive, future ἀπορηθήσομαι (συν-) Refs 2nd c.AD+, but middle in passive sense ἀπορήσομαιRefs 4th c.BC+aorist ἠπορήθην, perfect ἠπόρημαι, both in active and passive sense (see. below):—to be ἄπορος, i. e. without means or resource: hence, __B.1 to be at a loss, be…