"enclitic particle, once, some time or other, either past or future; formerly, Jn. 9:13; at length, Lk. 22:32; at any time, ever, Eph. 5:29; Heb. 2:1; intensive after interrogatives, ever, 1 Cor. 9:7; Heb. 1:5"
Definition and meaning
enclitic particle, once, some time or other, either past or future; formerly, Jn. 9:13; at length, Lk. 22:32; at any time, ever, Eph. 5:29; Heb. 2:1; intensive after interrogatives, ever, 1 Cor. 9:7; Heb. 1:5
In the original Greek the word is written: ποτε
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of pote (G4218) across the King James Bible.
But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
For I was alive without the law once: but when the commandment came, sin revived, and I died.
For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:
But they had heard only, That he which persecuted us in times past now preacheth the faith which once he destroyed.
Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:
Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
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Common questions
Strong's G4218 (pote) is a Greek word that means: enclitic particle, once, some time or other, either past or future; formerly, Jn. 9:13; at length, Lk. 22:32; at any time, ever, Eph. 5:29; Heb. 2:1; intensive after interrogatives, ever, 1 Cor. 9:7; ... It appears 27 times in the King James Bible.
The word pote (G4218) appears 27 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4218 is pote, a Greek word defined as: enclitic particle, once, some time or other, either past or future; formerly, Jn. 9:13; at length, Lk. 22:32; at any time, ever, Eph. 5:29; Heb. 2:1; . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
pote is a Greek word found in the New Testament.