ἐπερωτ-άω G1905
eperotao -- to ask, question, or interrogate someone; to make inquiry of a person for information or testing
The verb eperotao ('to ask, question, inquire') combines the prefix epi- with erotao ('to ask'), intensifying the notion of directed inquiry. Its 56 New Testament occurrences cluster heavily in the Synoptic Gospels, where it describes the questioning of Jesus by disciples, crowds, Pharisees, Sadducees, and Pilate -- as well as Jesus questioning others in return. The word covers the full spectrum from genuine information-seeking (Mark 9:11, disciples asking about Elijah) to hostile testing (Matt 22:35, a lawyer testing Jesus) to judicial interrogation (Matt 27:11, Pilate questioning Jesus). French interroger and German fragen both capture the interrogative force. The uniform cross-lingual rendering confirms a single semantic core: to direct a question at someone.
Senses
1. ask, question, inquire — To ask or question someone directly, whether seeking information, testing an interlocutor, or conducting formal interrogation. In Matt 22:35 a lawyer questions Jesus to test him; in Mark 9:32 the disciples fear to ask about his passion prediction; in Matt 27:11 Pilate interrogates Jesus. Spanish pregunto, French interroger, and German fragen converge on this single questioning sense across 56 occurrences. 56×
AR["سَأَلَ", "سَأَلَهُ", "سَأَلَهُم", "سَأَلَهُمْ"]·ben["জিজ্ঞাসা-করল", "জিজ্ঞাসা-করলেন", "জিজ্ঞেস-করতেন", "জিজ্ঞেস-করল", "জিজ্ঞেস-করলেন", "প্রশ্ন-করল", "প্রশ্ন-করলেন"]·DE["fragen", "fragt"]·EN["asked", "he-asked", "he-was-asking", "questioned", "was-asking"]·FR["interroger"]·heb["שָׁאַל"]·HI["उसने-पूछा", "पूछता-था", "पूछा", "महायाजक"]·ID["Dia-bertanya", "Ia-bertanya", "bertanya", "ia-bertanya"]·IT["interrogare"]·jav["Panjenenganipun-taken", "ndangu", "nyuwun-pirsa", "panjenenganipun-mundhut-pirsa", "pitaken", "takon", "wali-nagari-ndangu"]·KO["물었다", "물으셨다"]·PT["perguntava", "perguntou"]·RU["Спросил", "спрашивал", "спросил"]·ES["interrogó", "le-preguntó", "les-preguntó", "preguntaba", "preguntó"]·SW["akauliza", "akawauliza", "alimuuliza", "alimwuliza", "aliwauliza", "mmoja", "wao"]·TR["sordu", "soruyordu"]·urd["پوچھا", "پوچھتا-تھا"]
Matt 12:10, Matt 16:1, Matt 17:10, Matt 22:23, Matt 22:35, Matt 22:41, Matt 22:46, Matt 27:11, Mark 5:9, Mark 7:17, Mark 8:23, Mark 8:27 (+38 more)
Related Senses
H0559 1. say, speak, tell (5297×)G3004 1. say, tell, speak (2226×)H1696 1. speak, say, tell (Piel) (1105×)H7121 1. call, summon, name (575×)H6680 1. command, order, charge (483×)H6030b 1. answer, respond, reply (289×)G2980 1. speak, talk (277×)H5046 1. Hifil: to tell, report (237×)G0611 1. answer or respond verbally (232×)H1288 1. Piel: bless, invoke blessing (227×)H7650 1. swear, take an oath (Niphal) (154×)H3789 1. Qal passive participle: written, recorded (112×)H1984b 1. praise, laud (Piel) (111×)H7592 1. ask, inquire, question (96×)H3034 1. give thanks, praise (Hifil) (94×)G1321 1. teach, instruct actively (92×)H3789 2. Qal active: write, compose (89×)G1125 1. to write, compose (a letter or document) (84×)H5046 2. Hifil: to declare, proclaim (79×)H7892a 1. song, musical composition (78×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐπερωτ-άω, Ionic dialect ἐπειρ-, consult, inquire of, with accusative person, Refs 5th c.BC+, cf. Oracle texts cited in LXX+4th c.BC+:—passive, to be questioned, asked a question, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 with accusative of things, ask a question, ταῦτα, τάδε, Refs 5th c.BC+; also, ask about a thing, [Refs 5th c.BC+; σμικρόν τι τῶν ῥηθέντων call it in question, Refs 5th c.BC+ inquire what.., Refs 5th…