πῶς G4459
Interrogative and indefinite adverb: 'how?' in questions of manner or possibility; 'somehow, lest somehow' in clauses of apprehension.
A versatile adverb that most often introduces questions about manner, means, or possibility -- 'How can these things be?' (John 3:9). Every major translation language renders it with a direct interrogative: English 'how,' Spanish 'como,' French 'comment,' German 'wie.' In a smaller but theologically significant set of passages, it shifts to an indefinite sense expressing apprehension or hopeful uncertainty -- 'lest somehow' or 'if perhaps' -- as when Paul hopes his ministry might 'somehow' provoke Israel to jealousy (Rom 11:14). The Spanish 'acaso' and 'de algun modo' capture this softer, indefinite shade nicely.
Senses
1. how? (interrogative) — The dominant interrogative use (103x), introducing direct and indirect questions about manner, means, or feasibility. Translations universally reach for straightforward interrogative forms -- English 'how,' Spanish 'como,' French 'comment,' German 'wie.' Jesus deploys it with rhetorical force: 'How can Satan cast out Satan?' (Mark 3:23), and the disciples' astonishment surfaces in 'How then can anyone be saved?' (Matt 19:25). The interrogative force ranges from genuine inquiry to incredulity. 103×
AR["بِماذا", "فَكَيفَ", "كَيفَ", "كَيْفَ"]·ben["কিভাবে", "কী-করে", "কীভাবে", "কেমন", "কেমন-করে"]·DE["wie"]·EN["How", "how"]·FR["comment"]·heb["אֵיךְ"]·HI["कैसे", "सबों-को", "हुआ"]·ID["Bagaimana", "Dengan-apa", "bagaimana"]·IT["come?"]·jav["Kados-pundi", "Kadospundi", "Kepiye", "kados-pundi", "kadospundi", "kepiye"]·KO["어떻게", "어찌"]·PT["A-que", "Como", "como"]·RU["Как", "как"]·ES["Cómo", "cómo", "¿cómo"]·SW["Jinsi-gani", "basi", "jinsi", "jinsi-", "jinsi-gani", "mara", "mtaikimbia", "mwana", "uliingia", "vipi"]·TR["Nasıl", "nasıl"]·urd["پھر", "کیسے"]
Matt 6:28, Matt 7:4, Matt 10:19, Matt 12:4, Matt 12:26, Matt 12:29, Matt 12:34, Matt 16:11, Matt 21:20, Matt 22:12, Matt 22:43, Matt 22:45 (+38 more)
2. somehow, perhaps, lest somehow — An indefinite adverb of apprehension or cautious hope (15x), most often appearing as mu pos ('lest somehow') or expressing 'in some way, perhaps.' Paul's language in Romans 1:10 ('if somehow now at last I may succeed') and Romans 11:14 ('if somehow I might provoke to jealousy') reveals the hopeful-uncertain register. Spanish distinguishes this neatly with 'acaso' and 'de algun modo' versus the blunt interrogative 'como.' First Corinthians 8:9 warns 'lest somehow this liberty of yours become a stumbling block,' illustrating the apprehensive function. 15×
AR["-", "بِأَيَّةِ-طَرِيقَةٍ", "بِأَيَّةِ-وَسيلَةٍ", "بِأَيِّ-وَجْهٍ", "بِطَريقَةٍ-ما", "رُبَّما", "لا"]·ben["-কিছুমাত্র", "কোনভাবে", "কোনোভাবে", "কোনোভাবে,", "কোনোমতে", "না", "যেন", "হয়ত"]·DE["wie"]·EN["he", "somehow"]·FR["comment"]·heb["אֵיךְ", "אֵיךְשֶׁהוּ", "אֵיכְשֶׁהוּ", "אוּלַי"]·HI["ऐसा", "कहिन", "कहीं", "कहेएन", "किसी-तरह", "किसी-प्रकार", "किसीतरह", "तो-नहिन"]·ID["ada", "bagaimana", "bagaimana-pun", "bagaimana-pun,", "entah bagaimana", "entah-bagaimana", "juga", "kalau-kalau", "mungkin"]·IT["come", "come?"]·jav["bok-menawi", "kados-kados", "kados-pundi", "kadosdéné", "kadospundi", "kadospundi]", "mbok-menawi", "mbokbilih", "mbokmenawi", "menapa,", "saged"]·KO["어떤-방식으로", "어떻게든", "어떻게든]", "어쩌든", "혹시"]·PT["[também]", "de-algum-modo", "de-algum-modo,", "talvez"]·RU["как", "как-бы", "как-либо", "как-нибудь", "как-то", "не", "не,"]·ES["acaso", "de-algún-modo", "sea-que", "tampoco"]·SW["kwa-namna-fulani", "kwa-njia-fulani", "kwa-njia-fulani,", "labda", "labda,", "pia"]·TR["belki", "belki-", "bir-sekilde", "bir-şekilde", "daha aşırı-", "de", "kendim", "nasılsa", "yetkisi-"]·urd["ایسا-نہ-ہو", "شاید", "کسی-طرح", "کہیں"]
Acts 27:12, Rom 1:10, Rom 11:14, Rom 11:21, 1 Cor 8:9, 1 Cor 9:27, 2 Cor 2:7, 2 Cor 9:4, 2 Cor 11:3, 2 Cor 12:20, 2 Cor 12:20, Gal 2:2 (+3 more)
Related Senses
H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H3427 1. Qal: to dwell, inhabit (937×)G1537 1. from, out of (source/origin) (886×)H8034 1. Name (designation / identifier) (856×)G3361 1. subjective negation (not) (834×)G1909 1. on, upon (spatial surface) (757×)H0369 1. existential negation: there is not (738×)H5869a 1. in the eyes/sight of (evaluative) (734×)H5650 1. Servant, attendant, subject (723×)H0408 1. prohibitive negation do-not (712×)G2443 1. so that, in order that (purpose/result) (665×)G0575 1. from (649×)G1223 1. through, by means of (582×)H3541 1. thus, so, in this manner (569×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
πῶς, Ionic dialect κῶς, interrogative adverb of Manner, how? Refs 8th c.BC+; sometimes to express displeasure, Refs 5th c.BC+; to express astonishment or doubt, π. εἶπα; Refs 5th c.BC+; π. λέγει; Refs; π. φῄ; Refs 5th c.BC+; π. τοῦτ᾽ ἔλεξα; Refs 4th c.BC+; π. τοῦτ᾽ εἶπες α; Refs 5th c.BC+; also π. μὴ φῶμεν..; surely we must, Refs __b in dialogue, to ask explanation, with a repetition of a word…