4218. pote
Strong's Lexicon
pote: once, formerly, at some time, ever

Original Word: ποτε
Part of Speech: Particle, Disjunctive Particle
Transliteration: pote
Pronunciation: po'-te
Phonetic Spelling: (pot-eh')
Definition: once, formerly, at some time, ever
Meaning: at one time or other, at some time, formerly.

Word Origin: Derived from the enclitic particle πότε (pote), which is a combination of the interrogative pronoun πός (pos) meaning "how" or "in what way" and the enclitic particle τε (te) meaning "and" or "also."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for "ποτε," the concept of a past state or condition is often expressed in Hebrew through narrative context or specific terms like "אָז" (az, Strong's H227) meaning "then" or "at that time."

Usage: The Greek adverb "ποτε" is used to denote an indefinite point of time, often translated as "once" or "formerly" in English. It is used to refer to a past state or condition that has since changed. In the New Testament, it often highlights the contrast between a believer's past life and their new life in Christ.

Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, the concept of time was often viewed cyclically, with an emphasis on the past as a foundation for understanding the present and future. The use of "ποτε" in the New Testament reflects a Jewish and early Christian understanding of time as linear, with a clear distinction between the "old" life before knowing Christ and the "new" life after conversion. This transformation is a central theme in Christian teaching, emphasizing redemption and renewal.

NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origin
enclitic particle from the same as posos and te
Definition
once, ever
NASB Translation
any time (1), ever (4), former (1), former times (1), formerly (8), last (2), never* (2), once (8), when (1), when once (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 4218: ποτέ

ποτέ, an enclitic particle, from Homer down;

1. once, i. e. at some time or other, formerly, aforetime;

a. of the Past: John 9:13; Romans 7:9; Romans 11:30; Galatians 1:13, 23 (cf. Winer's Grammar, § 15, 7); Ephesians 2:2f, 11, 13; Ephesians 5:8; Colossians 1:21; Colossians 3:7; 1 Thessalonians 2:5; Titus 3:3; Philemon 1:11; 1 Peter 2:10; 1 Peter 3:5, 20; ἤδη πότε, now at length, Philippians 4:10.

b. of the future: Luke 22:32; ἤδη πότε, now at length, Romans 1:10.

2. ever: after a negative, οὐδείς πότε, Ephesians 5:29 (Buttmann, 202 (175).); οὐ ... πότε, 2 Peter 1:21; μή πότε (see μήποτε); after οὐ μή with the aorist subjunctive 2 Peter 1:10; in a question, τίς πότε, 1 Corinthians 9:7; Hebrews 1:5, 13; ὁποῖοί πότε, whatsoever, Galatians 2:6 (but some would render πότε here formerly, once; cf. Lightfoot ad loc.).

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
formerly, in the old time

From the base of pou and te; indefinite adverb, at some time, ever -- afore-(any, some-)time(-s), at length (the last), (+ n-)ever, in the old time, in time past, once, when.

see GREEK pou

see GREEK te

Forms and Transliterations
ποτε ποτέ ποτὲ pote poté potè
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Interlinear GreekInterlinear HebrewStrong's NumbersEnglishman's Greek ConcordanceEnglishman's Hebrew ConcordanceParallel Texts
Englishman's Concordance
Luke 22:32 Prtcl
GRK: καὶ σύ ποτε ἐπιστρέψας στήρισον
NAS: may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again,
KJV: not: and when thou art converted,
INT: and you when having turned back strengthen

John 9:13 Prtcl
GRK: Φαρισαίους τόν ποτε τυφλόν
NAS: to the Pharisees the man who was formerly blind.
KJV: him that aforetime was blind.
INT: Pharisees who once [was] blind

Romans 1:10 Prtcl
GRK: πως ἤδη ποτὲ εὐοδωθήσομαι ἐν
NAS: perhaps now at last by the will of God
KJV: now at length I might have a prosperous journey
INT: perhaps now at length I will be prospered by

Romans 7:9 Prtcl
GRK: χωρὶς νόμου ποτέ ἐλθούσης δὲ
NAS: I was once alive apart
KJV: the law once: but
INT: apart from law once having come however

Romans 11:30 Prtcl
GRK: γὰρ ὑμεῖς ποτὲ ἠπειθήσατε τῷ
NAS: For just as you once were disobedient
KJV: ye in times past have not believed
INT: indeed you once were disobedient

1 Corinthians 9:7 Prtcl
GRK: ἰδίοις ὀψωνίοις ποτέ τίς φυτεύει
NAS: Who at any time serves as a soldier
KJV: goeth a warfare any time at his own
INT: at his own expense at any time who plants

Galatians 1:13 Prtcl
GRK: ἐμὴν ἀναστροφήν ποτε ἐν τῷ
NAS: For you have heard of my former manner of life
KJV: conversation in time past in
INT: my way of life once in

Galatians 1:23 Prtcl
GRK: διώκων ἡμᾶς ποτὲ νῦν εὐαγγελίζεται
NAS: they kept hearing, He who once persecuted
KJV: us in times past now
INT: persecuted us once now preaches the gospel

Galatians 1:23 Prtcl
GRK: πίστιν ἥν ποτε ἐπόρθει
NAS: which he once tried to destroy.
KJV: the faith which once he destroyed.
INT: faith which once he destroyed

Galatians 2:6 Prtcl
GRK: τι ὁποῖοί ποτε ἦσαν οὐδέν
INT: something what kind formerly they were not

Ephesians 2:2 Prtcl
GRK: ἐν αἷς ποτὲ περιεπατήσατε κατὰ
NAS: in which you formerly walked according
KJV: Wherein in time past ye walked
INT: in which once you walked according to

Ephesians 2:3 Prtcl
GRK: πάντες ἀνεστράφημέν ποτε ἐν ταῖς
NAS: all formerly lived
KJV: had our conversation in times past in
INT: all had our conduct once in the

Ephesians 2:11 Prtcl
GRK: μνημονεύετε ὅτι ποτὲ ὑμεῖς τὰ
NAS: remember that formerly you, the Gentiles
KJV: ye [being] in time past Gentiles
INT: remember that once you the

Ephesians 2:13 Prtcl
GRK: ὑμεῖς οἵ ποτε ὄντες μακρὰν
NAS: you who formerly were far off
KJV: ye who sometimes were far off
INT: you who once were afar off

Ephesians 5:8 Prtcl
GRK: ἦτε γάρ ποτε σκότος νῦν
NAS: for you were formerly darkness,
KJV: For ye were sometimes darkness, but
INT: you were indeed once darkness now

Ephesians 5:29 Prtcl
GRK: οὐδεὶς γάρ ποτε τὴν ἑαυτοῦ
NAS: for no one ever hated his own
KJV: For no man ever yet hated his own
INT: no one indeed at any time the of himself

Philippians 4:10 Prtcl
GRK: ὅτι ἤδη ποτὲ ἀνεθάλετε τὸ
NAS: that now at last you have revived
KJV: that now at the last your care of
INT: that already at last you revived [your]

Colossians 1:21 Prtcl
GRK: καὶ ὑμᾶς ποτὲ ὄντας ἀπηλλοτριωμένους
NAS: And although you were formerly alienated
KJV: you, that were sometime alienated and
INT: And you once being alienated

Colossians 3:7 Prtcl
GRK: ὑμεῖς περιεπατήσατέ ποτε ὅτε ἐζῆτε
NAS: and in them you also once walked, when
KJV: also walked some time, when ye lived
INT: you walked once when you were living

1 Thessalonians 2:5 Prtcl
GRK: οὔτε γάρ ποτε ἐν λόγῳ
KJV: neither at any time used we
INT: never indeed at any time with word

Titus 3:3 Prtcl
GRK: Ἦμεν γάρ ποτε καὶ ἡμεῖς
NAS: For we also once were foolish
KJV: were sometimes foolish,
INT: were indeed once also we

Philemon 1:11 Prtcl
GRK: τόν ποτέ σοι ἄχρηστον
NAS: who formerly was useless
KJV: Which in time past was to thee
INT: once to you useless

Hebrews 1:5 Prtcl
GRK: γὰρ εἶπέν ποτε τῶν ἀγγέλων
NAS: of the angels did He ever say,
KJV: said he at any time, Thou
INT: indeed said he ever of the angels

Hebrews 1:13 Prtcl
GRK: ἀγγέλων εἴρηκέν ποτε Κάθου ἐκ
NAS: of the angels has He ever said,
KJV: said he at any time, Sit
INT: angels said he ever Sit at

1 Peter 2:10 Prtcl
GRK: οἵ ποτε οὐ λαὸς
NAS: for you once were NOT A PEOPLE,
KJV: Which in time past [were] not
INT: who once [were] not a people

Strong's Greek 4218
29 Occurrences


ποτε — 29 Occ.

















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