ζήτ-ημα G2213
Question, issue; a matter of dispute or inquiry, especially of a legal or theological nature
Refers to a disputed question or matter under investigation, carrying a more formal and weighty tone than a simple inquiry. In the New Testament, every occurrence involves official or theological controversies—debates before councils, governors, or kings. Spanish 'cuestión' and French 'question' both reflect this juridical register. The word signals that more is at stake than mere curiosity; these are contested claims requiring adjudication.
Senses
1. sense 1 — A disputed question or point of contention, particularly in legal or theological debate. All five NT occurrences appear in Acts: the controversy about circumcision sent to Jerusalem (Acts 15:2), Gallio's dismissal of the dispute as a matter of Jewish law (Acts 18:15), Lysias's assessment that the charges concern questions of Jewish law (Acts 23:29), Festus's puzzlement over questions about Jesus's resurrection (Acts 25:19), and Paul's appeal to Agrippa's expertise in Jewish questions (Acts 26:3). Spanish 'cuestiones' and French 'question' consistently reflect the forensic-deliberative register rather than casual inquiry. 5×
AR["المَسَائِلِ", "مَسأَلَةِ", "مَسَائِلَ", "مَسَائِلُ"]·ben["প্রশ্ন", "প্রশ্নের"]·DE["ζητήματά", "ζητήματα", "ζητήματος", "ζητημάτων"]·EN["question", "questions"]·FR["question"]·heb["שְׁאֵלָה", "שְׁאֵלוֹת"]·HI["प्रश्न", "प्रश्नोंके", "प्रश्नोंको;"]·ID["Pertanyaan", "persoalan", "persoalan-persoalan", "pertanyaan", "pertanyaan;"]·IT["questione"]·jav["pitakonan", "pitakènan", "pitakènan;"]·KO["문제", "문제가", "문제들-의", "문제들에-대하여", "문제들을"]·PT["questão", "questões", "questões;"]·RU["вопросу", "вопросы", "спорах", "споров", "споры"]·ES["cuestiones", "cuestión"]·SW["maswali", "swali"]·TR["sorular", "soruların", "sorunlar", "sorunun"]·urd["سوال", "سوالات"]
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
ζήτ-ημα, ατος, τό, that which is sought, Refs 5th c.BC+; οὐ ῥάδιον ζ. a thing not easy to find, of Pentheus' mutilated limbs, Refs 5th c.BC+; δυσνοούμενον ζ., of God, Refs 2nd c.AD+ __II inquiry, question, NT+5th c.BC+; especially of a philosophic nature, τὸ περὶ νόμους ζ. Refs 5th c.BC+; τὰ περὶ φύσεως ζRefs 4th c.AD+; also τοῦτ᾽.. οὗ τυγχάνει ζ. Refs 5th c.BC+; search, σῶμα μυρίοις ζητήμασιν…