Quick Definition
πόθεν Irg.adv. whence
Strong's Definition
from the base of 4213 with enclitic adverb of origin; from which (as interrogative) or what (as relative) place, state, source or cause
KJV Usage: whence
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament
advb. | ὅς
84.6 · Spacial Extensions · Extension From a Source
from where? whence? where? extension from a source, with an incorporated interrogative point of reference
MAT 13:27 · MAT 13:54 · MAT 13:56 · MAT 15:33 · MAT 21:25 · MRK 6:2 · MRK 8:4 · LUK 13:25 · LUK 13:27 · LUK 20:7 · JHN 2:9 · JHN 3:8 · JHN 4:11 · JHN 6:5 · JHN 7:27 · JHN 7:27 · JHN 7:28 · JHN 8:14 · JHN 8:14 · JHN 9:29 · JHN 9:30 · JHN 19:9 · JAS 4:1 · JAS 4:1 · REV 2:5 · REV 7:13
89.86 · Relations · Manner
how, in what manner a marker of an event indicating how something took place
UBS Dictionary of the Greek New Testament © United Bible Societies, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
πόθεν, adv., [fr. Hom. down], whence ; a. of place, from what place: Mt. xv. 33; LK. xiii. 25, 27; Jn. iii. 8; vi. 55 viii. 14; ix. 29, 30; xix. 9; Rev. vii. 13; from what condition, Rev. ii. 5. b. of origin or source, i.q. from what author or giver: Mt. xiii. [27], 54, 56; xxi. 25; Mk. vi. 2; Lk. xx. 7; Jn. ii. 9; Jas. iv. 1; from what parentage, Jn. vii. 27 sq. (ef. vi. 42), see Meyer ad loc. c. of cause, how is it that? how can it be that? Mk. viii. 4; xii. 37; Lk. i. 43; Jn. i. 48 (49); iv. 11.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
πόθεν pothen 29x
whence? from where, used of place, etc., Mt. 15:33; met. of a state of dignity, Rev. 2:5; used of origin, Mt. 21:25; of cause, source, author, etc., Mt. 13:27, 54, 56; Lk. 1:43; how? in what way? Mk. 8:4; 12:37
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
πόθεν, adv., whence; of place: Mt 15:33, Lk 13:25, 27, Jo 3:8 6:5 8:14 9:29, 30 19:9, Re 7:13; metaph., of condition, Re 2:5;
of origin: Mt 13:27, 54, 56 21:25, Mk 6:2, Lk 20:7, Jo 2:9, Ja 4:1; of parentage, Jo 7:27, 28;
of cause: Mk 8:4 12:37, Lk 1:43, Jo 1:49 4:11.†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
πόθεν, “whence ’’’: P Oxy II. 2371. 88. (Α. Ὁ. 186) δηλοῦντες πόθεν ἕκαστος τῶν ὑπαρχόντων καταβέβηκεν εἰς αὑτοὺς ἡ κτῆσ{ελις, ‘severally declaring the sources from which the property acquired has come into their possession” (Edd.). For the enclitic ποθέν, cf. P Tebt 11. 423? (early iii/a.D.) δή[λω]σόν μοι ταχ[έως] ἵνα πίέμψω ποθὲν αὐτοῖς pérpla τιν]ά, ‘‘tell me at once in order that I may send a few measures to them from somewhere” (idd.), and for πόθεν = ‘thow,” see Mk 1257, Jn 148 and 6° (Field Moves, p. 91).
Liddell-Scott-Jones — Greek-English Lexicon
πόθεν (pothen) — whence. πόθεν, Ionic dialect κόθεν:
I. interrogative adverb whence?
I.1. of Place, εἰρώτα.., τίς εἴη καὶ π. ἔλθοι [Refs 8th c.BC+]
I.2. of origin, π. γένος εὔχεται εἶναι from what stock he avows that he is by descent, [Refs 8th c.BC+]
I.3. in speaking, π. ἄρξωμα; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.4. of the cause, whence? wherefore? π. χοὰς ἔπεμψε; ἐκ τίνος λόγο; [Refs 4th c.BC+]; to express surprise or negation, π. γὰρ ἔσται βιοτ; i.e. οὐδαμόθεν, [NT+5th c.BC+]how can it be? impossible! nonsense! [Refs 5th c.BC+]; π. γά; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
I.5. with Verbs of finding, taking, purchasing, etc., π. ἂν πριαίμην ῥῖν; [Refs 5th c.BC+]
II. ποθέν, enclitic adverb from some place or other, εἴ π. [Refs 8th c.BC+]; ἐκ βιβλίου π. ἀκούσας from some book or other, [Refs]