What does ἐρωτάω (erōtáō) mean in the Bible?
ἐρωτάω (erōtaō) means to ask, question, request, or appeal, with its force shaped by the relationship between speaker and addressee. Jesus can make an ordinary request that Simon move his boat from shore.
Greek · G2065
ἐρωτάω
To interrogate; by implication, to request
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ἐρωτάω G2065
Pronunciation erōtáō
What does ἐρωτάω (erōtáō) mean in the Bible?
ἐρωτάω (erōtaō) means to ask, question, request, or appeal, with its force shaped by the relationship between speaker and addressee. Jesus can make an ordinary request that Simon move his boat from shore.
Reader summary
Full entry for ἐρωτάω (G2065) · Open the biblical lexicon
Questions this entry answers
How does the BSB render G2065?
The BSB source-word alignment has 63 aligned rows for this entry. Common renderings include asked (8), they asked (5), ask (4), to ask (4), to question (3).
Where does ἐρωτάω (erōtáō) appear in Scripture?
The source-word alignment first shows this entry at Matthew 15:23. Its strongest book concentrations include John (28), Luke (15), Acts (7), Matthew (4).
Are there verse guides for ἐρωτάω (erōtáō)?
This entry includes 3 verse guides that explain exact original-language forms in context.
What This Word Actually Means
ἐρωτάω (erōtaō) means to ask, question, request, or appeal, with its force shaped by the relationship between speaker and addressee. Jesus can make an ordinary request that Simon move his boat from shore. In John, He promises to ask the Father for another Advocate and repeatedly uses the verb in His prayer for those the Father has given Him. The same Gospel can distinguish asking a question from making a request within one sentence, so English “ask” should not be treated as one undifferentiated action.
Paul uses the verb for an earnest brotherly appeal that believers walk in a way pleasing to God. The word is not a technical term that always means prayer, nor does it imply uncertainty, inferiority, entitlement, or command. Questions seek understanding; requests seek action; intercession brings another’s need before someone; appeals urge a response. Responsible teaching identifies the object, purpose, relationship, and discourse setting before drawing theological conclusions.
Passage contextlexical_scope
How the Bible Uses It
ἐρωτάω covers asking questions, making requests, interceding, and earnestly appealing. The selected passages move from a practical request to Jesus’ petition to the Father, clarified kinds of asking, His intercession, and apostolic exhortation.
- Luke.5.3
Jesus got into the boat belonging to Simon and asked him to put out a little from shore. And sitting down, He taught the people from the boat.
Jesus makes a practical request that creates space for teaching the crowd. The ordinary scene establishes that the verb need not carry a technical prayer or interrogation sense.
- John.14.16
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to be with you forever—
Jesus promises to ask the Father in the farewell discourse, and the Father will give the Spirit. The verse reveals Trinitarian action through the whole promise, not through a hierarchy inferred from the request verb alone.
- John.16.23
In that day you will no longer ask Me anything. Truly, truly, I tell you, whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.
The English repetition represents two Greek verbs: ἐρωτάω first concerns questioning Jesus, while the later request to the Father uses αἰτέω. The contrast warns against building a word study from English alone.
- John.17.9
I ask on their behalf. I do not ask on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those You have given Me; for they are Yours.
Within Jesus’ prayer, the verb expresses focused intercession for His disciples. The defined object belongs to this stage of the prayer and must be read with the chapter’s later petitions and wider mission.
- 1Thess.4.1
Finally, brothers, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus to live in a way that is pleasing to God, just as you have received from us. This is how you already live, so you should do so all the more.
Paul’s request becomes a warm but authoritative appeal for growth in holy living. He recognizes existing obedience while urging believers to abound still more in conduct that pleases God.
Passage contexttheological_synthesisgrammatical_contextlexical_scopediscourse_contextPastoral application
Source Word Evidence
BSB source-word alignment connects this entry to exact verse rows, English rendering, source form, transliteration, and parsing.
How English Renders It asked 8× Luke 8:37, Luke 23:3, John 1:25, John 9:2
they asked 5× Mark 4:10, John 4:40, John 5:12, Acts 1:6
ask 4× John 1:19, John 9:21, John 17:9, John 18:21
to ask 4× Luke 7:3, Luke 9:45, Luke 14:32, Acts 23:20
to question 3× John 8:7, John 16:19, John 16:30
we ask 3× 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
[and] asked 2× Luke 5:3, Acts 23:18
asks 2× Luke 19:31, John 16:5
I am not asking 2× John 17:15, John 17:20
I will also ask 2× Matthew 21:24, Luke 20:3
invited 2× Luke 7:36, Luke 11:37
Please 2× Luke 14:18, Luke 14:19
will ask 2× John 14:16, John 16:26
[and] urged 1× Matthew 15:23
[Jesus] asked 1× Mark 8:5
are you asking 1× John 18:21
asked [him] 1× Acts 18:20
begged 1× John 4:47
do you ask 1× Matthew 19:17
he asked [them] 1× Acts 3:3
He questioned 1× Matthew 16:13
he should ask 1× 1 John 5:16
I ask 1× Philippians 4:3
I ask [you] a question 1× Luke 22:68
I beg 1× Luke 16:27
I do not ask 1× John 17:9
I urge 1× 2 John 1:5
questioned 1× John 18:19
requested 1× John 12:21
requesting 1× Acts 16:39
she kept asking 1× Mark 7:26
they appealed 1× Luke 4:38
they inquired 1× John 1:21
urged 1× John 4:31
you will {no longer} ask 1× John 16:23
Show sample aligned rows
Matthew 15:23 ἠρώτουν to [and] urged Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Matthew 16:13 ἠρώτα to He questioned Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Matthew 19:17 ἐρωτᾷς to do you ask Verb - Present Indicative Active - 2nd Person Singular Matthew 21:24 Ἐρωτήσω to I will also ask Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular Mark 4:10 ἠρώτων to they asked Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Mark 7:26 ἠρώτα to she kept asking Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Mark 8:5 ἠρώτα to [Jesus] asked Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Luke 4:38 ἠρώτησαν to they appealed Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural Luke 5:3 ἠρώτησεν to [and] asked Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular Luke 7:3 ἐρωτῶν to to ask Verb - Present Participle Active - Nominative Masculine Singular
Usage map
A compact distribution from source-word alignment before the full evidence tables.
First aligned row Matthew 15:23
Aligned rows 63
Books represented 10
Matthew 4 Mark 3 Luke 15 John 28 Acts 7 Philippians 1 1 Thessalonians 2 2 Thessalonians 1 1 John 1 2 John 1
Source forms
ἐρωτῶ 8x erōtō Luke 14:18, Luke 14:19, John 17:9, John 17:15
ἠρώτησαν 7x ērōtēsan Luke 4:38, John 1:21, John 1:25, John 9:2
ἠρώτων 7x ērōtōn Mark 4:10, John 4:31, John 4:40, John 9:15
ἠρώτησεν 6x ērōtēsen Luke 5:3, Luke 8:37, Luke 23:3, John 18:19
ἐρωτᾷ 5x erōta Luke 11:37, Luke 14:32, Luke 19:31, John 16:5
ἠρώτα 5x ērōta Matthew 16:13, Mark 7:26, Mark 8:5, John 4:47
ἐρωτήσω 3x erōtēsō Luke 22:68, John 14:16, John 16:26
ἐρωτᾷς 2x erōtas Matthew 19:17, John 18:21
Parsing patterns
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular 9x Luke 14:18, Luke 14:19, Luke 16:27, John 17:9
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural 8x Luke 4:38, John 1:21, John 1:25, John 5:12
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Plural 8x Matthew 15:23, Mark 4:10, John 4:31, John 4:40
Verb - Aorist Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 6x Luke 5:3, Luke 8:37, Luke 23:3, John 18:19
Verb - Imperfect Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 6x Matthew 16:13, Mark 7:26, Mark 8:5, Luke 7:36
Verb - Future Indicative Active - 1st Person Singular 4x Matthew 21:24, Luke 20:3, John 14:16, John 16:26
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 1st Person Plural 3x 1 Thessalonians 4:1, 1 Thessalonians 5:12, 2 Thessalonians 2:1
Verb - Present Indicative Active - 3rd Person Singular 3x Luke 11:37, Luke 14:32, John 16:5
Using This Word Well
Be careful not to...
- Ask clearly and humbly, naming whom you address and what faithful response you seek.
- Let intercession and appeal remain governed by Christ’s word rather than by entitlement or manipulation.
Avoid claiming...
- Do not claim that ἐρωτάω always means prayer, intercession, interrogation, or a request between equals.
- Do not claim that every English occurrence of “ask” represents this Greek verb.
Key Verse and Form Guides
Verse-level guides showing how this original-language form works in its specific context, including grammar, verse function, and guarded interpretation.
John 1:19 Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Subjunctive
ἐρωτήσωσιν erotesosin to interrogate; by implication, to request The form helps the reader hear the mission as deliberate inquiry, not random conversation, and it sharpens the scene around John's identity question. Read verse guide John 1:21 Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Indicative
ἠρώτησαν erotesan to interrogate; by implication, to request The grammar makes the verse read as a completed act of questioning by multiple people, which sharpens the scene without adding claims beyond the context. Read verse guide John 1:25 Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Indicative
ἠρώτησαν erotesan to interrogate; by implication, to request The form strengthens the scene as an organized inquiry and prepares the reader for the stated question without adding meaning that the context does not supply. Read verse guide Evidence Summary
Greek word. To question or interrogate; in later Greek also means to request or petition, overlapping with αἰτέω.
Source Gloss
to interrogate; by implication, to request
Greek Text Appearances
Textus Receptus witness, full corpus Greek token appearances from Scrivener 1894 Textus Receptus in the full New Testament corpus.
16 of 58 Greek text appearances shown. Linked morphology labels have verse guides.
Matthew 15:23 Verb Third Person Plural Imperfect Active Indicative
ἠρώτων hrwtwn
I ask, question, request
Read verse Matthew 16:13 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἠρώτα hrwta
I ask, question, request
Read verse Matthew 21:24 Verb First Person Singular Future Active Indicative
Ἐρωτήσω erwthsw
I ask, question, request
Read verse Mark 4:10 Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Indicative
ἠρώτησαν hrwthsan
I ask, question, request
Read verse Mark 7:26 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἠρώτα hrwta
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 4:38 Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Indicative
ἠρώτησαν hrwthsan
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 5:3 Verb Third Person Singular Aorist Active Indicative
ἠρώτησεν hrwthsen
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 7:3 Verb Present Active Participle Nominative Singular Masculine
ἐρωτῶν erwtwn
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 7:36 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
Ἠρώτα hrwta
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 8:37 Verb Third Person Plural Aorist Active Indicative
ἠρώτησαν hrwthsan
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 9:45 Verb Aorist Active Infinitive
ἐρωτῆσαι erwthsai
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 11:37 Verb Third Person Singular Imperfect Active Indicative
ἠρώτα hrwta
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 14:18 Verb First Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ἐρωτῶ erwtw
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 14:19 Verb First Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ἐρωτῶ erwtw
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 14:32 Verb Third Person Singular Present Active Indicative
ἐρωτᾷ erwta
I ask, question, request
Read verse Luke 16:27 Verb First Person Singular Present Active Indicative
Ἐρωτῶ erwtw
I ask, question, request
Read verseFull New Testament corpus: 260 chapters, 7,957 verses, 140,628 tokens. Data source: honza/textus-receptus (data only), with authority check against byztxt/greektext-textus-receptus.
Grammatical Forms
How mood, tense, and voice shift the force of this verb in context.
This verb appears through different tense, voice, mood, or stem patterns. Those forms help readers see how the action is presented in context.
Form groups 5 Aligned forms 62 Tenses Present, Imperfect, Aorist, Future Voices Active
Tenses
Voices
Indicative states a fact or reality 50×
Present Active Luke 14:18 · Luke 14:19 · Luke 16:27 · John 17:9 · John 17:15 · John 17:20 · Phil 4:3 · 2 John 1:5 · Luke 11:37 · Luke 14:32 · John 16:5 · 1 Thess 4:1 · 1 Thess 5:12 · 2 Thess 2:1 · Matt 19:17 · John 18:21 17×
Imperfect Active Matt 15:23 · Mark 4:10 · John 4:31 · John 4:40 · John 9:15 · John 12:21 · Acts 1:6 · Acts 16:39 · Matt 16:13 · Mark 7:26 · Mark 8:5 · Luke 7:36 · John 4:47 · Acts 3:3 14×
Aorist Active Luke 4:38 · John 1:21 · John 1:25 · John 5:12 · John 9:2 · John 9:19 · John 19:31 · Acts 10:48 · Luke 5:3 · Luke 8:37 · Luke 23:3 · John 18:19 · John 19:38 · Acts 23:18 14×
Future Active Matt 21:24 · Luke 20:3 · John 14:16 · John 16:26 · John 16:23 5×
Infinitive verbal noun — the action in abstract 3×
Aorist Active Luke 9:45 · Acts 23:20 2×
Present Active John 16:19 1×
Subjunctive possibility, probability, or purpose 5×
Present Active Luke 19:31 · John 16:30 2×
Participle verbal adjective — the action as a modifying quality 2×
Present Active Luke 7:3 · Acts 18:20 2×
Imperative command or strong request 2×
Aorist Active John 9:21 · John 18:21 2×
Discourse Aspect
How this verb appears across 62 occurrences in the NT discourse index (MACULA Greek SBLGNT).
Aspect
Tense
present 22 aorist 21 imperfect 14 future 5
Voice
active 62
Mood
indicative 49 subjunctive 5 participle 3 infinitive 3 imperative 2
NT Occurrences
Matthew 15:23 ἠρώτουν imperfect active indicative background Matthew 16:13 ἠρώτα imperfect active indicative background Matthew 19:17 ἐρωτᾷς present active indicative ongoing Matthew 21:24 Ἐρωτήσω future active indicative prospective Mark 4:10 ἠρώτων imperfect active indicative background Mark 7:26 ἠρώτα imperfect active indicative background Mark 8:5 ἠρώτα imperfect active indicative background Luke 4:38 ἠρώτησαν aorist active indicative completed Luke 5:3 ἠρώτησεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 7:3 ἐρωτῶν present active participle participle Luke 7:36 Ἠρώτα imperfect active indicative background Luke 8:37 ἠρώτησεν aorist active indicative completed Luke 9:45 ἐρωτῆσαι aorist active infinitive infinitive Luke 11:37 ἐρωτᾷ present active indicative ongoing Luke 14:18 ἐρωτῶ present active indicative ongoing Luke 14:19 ἐρωτῶ present active indicative ongoing Luke 14:32 ἐρωτᾷ present active indicative ongoing Luke 16:27 Ἐρωτῶ present active indicative ongoing Luke 19:31 ἐρωτᾷ present active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 20:3 Ἐρωτήσω future active indicative prospective Luke 22:68 ἐρωτήσω aorist active subjunctive subjunctive Luke 23:3 ἠρώτησεν aorist active indicative completed John 1:19 ἐρωτήσωσιν aorist active subjunctive subjunctive John 1:21 ἠρώτησαν aorist active indicative completed John 1:25 ἠρώτησαν aorist active indicative completed John 4:31 ἠρώτων imperfect active indicative background John 4:40 ἠρώτων imperfect active indicative background John 4:47 ἠρώτα imperfect active indicative background John 5:12 ἠρώτησαν aorist active indicative completed John 8:7 ἐρωτῶντες present active participle participle John 9:15 ἠρώτων imperfect active indicative background John 9:19 ἠρώτησαν aorist active indicative completed John 9:2 ἠρώτησαν aorist active indicative completed John 9:21 ἐρωτήσατε aorist active imperative imperative John 12:21 ἠρώτων imperfect active indicative background John 14:16 ἐρωτήσω future active indicative prospective John 16:19 ἐρωτᾶν present active infinitive infinitive John 16:23 ἐρωτήσετε future active indicative prospective John 16:26 ἐρωτήσω future active indicative prospective John 16:30 ἐρωτᾷ present active subjunctive subjunctive
+22 more occurrences
Aspect reflects grammatical form — not authorial emphasis. Participles and infinitives are verbal adjectives and nouns respectively.
Clause data: MACULA Greek (Clear Bible, CC BY 4.0) · SBLGNT (Logos/SBL, CC BY 4.0)
Word Origins
ἐρωτάω is built from these roots:
Part of These Phrases
Compound and idiomatic phrases that include this word. Follow a link to study the phrase and how its parts work together.
For the Preacher and Teacher
Faithful asking is neither passive wishing nor verbal control. Jesus asks Simon for the use of a boat and turns ordinary cooperation into a setting for teaching. In the farewell discourse, the Son asks the Father, who gives another Advocate to remain with the disciples. The verse reveals coordinated divine action and covenant provision; the request verb should not be made to carry a speculative ranking within the Trinity.
John 16 then offers a lexical safeguard by using different Greek verbs for questioning Jesus and requesting from the Father, even though English renders both “ask. ” John 17 shows the Son interceding deliberately for those the Father has given Him. Paul uses the same verb differently, joining request with encouragement as he urges believers to please God more and more.
Christian asking should therefore be clear about its addressee, purpose, and desired response. It can seek understanding, ask another to act, carry people before God, or appeal for obedience. Its humility does not erase conviction, and its earnestness does not create entitlement.
Anchor passage
John.17.9
Doctrinal connections
- G1905 Eperōtaō, to ask or interrogate: this related verb often foregrounds pointed questioning and must remain distinct by context.
- G154 Aiteō, to ask or request: John 16:23 places αἰτέω beside ἐρωτάω and shows why English overlap needs lexical care.
- G1189 Deomai, to plead or pray: this term can stress need or entreaty beyond the broad relational asking of ἐρωτάω.
- G4336 Proseuchomai, to pray: prayer is a broader God-directed practice and should not be reduced to one request verb.
- G3870 Parakaleō, to appeal, encourage, or exhort: First Thessalonians 4:1 joins earnest asking with strengthening exhortation.
- G1793 entynchanō, to intercede: intercession vocabulary helps trace Christ’s and the Spirit’s ministry beyond one Johannine verb.
The verb can take a person, an object clause, or a request as its complement. Context decides whether the action is inquiry, petition, intercession, or appeal. John 16:23 is especially instructive because one English word translates distinct Greek verbs in the same verse, demonstrating that translation-level repetition is not proof of lexical identity.
From Old to New Testament
Scripture portrays servants asking kings, worshipers petitioning God, prophets interceding, and wisdom seekers asking for understanding. The New Testament places these relational acts under the Son’s mediation, the Father’s gift, the Spirit’s presence, and apostolic calls to lives that please God.
Canonical synthesisPastoral application
Sources
MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain
Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0
Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0
Berean Standard Bible (BSB) source-word alignment - CC0 Public Domain