ἐπερώτ-ημα G1906
question, inquiry; pledge, appeal
A noun meaning question or inquiry, but also developing the sense of a pledge or formal request. In 1 Peter 3:21, baptism saves 'not as a removal of dirt from the body but as an appeal (ἐπερώτημα) to God for a good conscience.' Scholars debate whether this means the believer's pledge to God or a request for cleansing. The Latin legal term 'stipulatio' (formal agreement) influenced later usage.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Peter's complex phrase has generated much interpretation. Does ἐπερώτημα mean the baptized person's pledge of fidelity or their appeal for God's cleansing? The multilingual evidence shows diversity: Spanish 'petición' (request), German 'Frage' (question). The broader context suggests baptism involves conscious commitment and divine response, not mere ritual washing. This is covenant transaction, not mechanical purification. 1×
AR["طَلَبٌ"]·ben["প্রতিজ্ঞা"]·DE["Frage"]·EN["pledge"]·FR["ἐπερώτημα"]·heb["בַּקָּשָׁה"]·HI["प्रतिज्ञा"]·ID["permohonan"]·IT["eperōtēma"]·jav["pitakon"]·KO["구함"]·PT["resposta"]·RU["обязательство"]·ES["petición"]·SW["ahadi"]·TR["talebi"]·urd["مانگنا"]
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
ἐπερώτ-ημα, Ionic dialect ἐπειρ-, ατος, τό, question, Refs 5th c.BC+ __2 answer to inquiry put to higher authority: hence, sanction, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __3 = Latin stipulatio, PCair. Preis.1.16 Refs 2nd c.AD+: hence probably, pledge, Refs.