Once/when
ποτέStrong’s G4218pote
Appears in 28 verses of the New Testament
In short
Pote is the Greek word usually translated “once”, “at any time” and “formerly”. It appears in 28 verses of the New Testament.
“For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.”
Meaning
Usually translated “once”, “at any time” and “formerly”. Open the dictionary entry below for the full range of meaning, with the verses it cites.
How it's translated
- once 13
- at any time 5
- formerly 4
- at last 2
- ever 2
- when 1
- former 1
- at one time 1
Word-by-word English from the STEPBible tagged text.
Where it's used most
- Ephesians 6
- Romans 3
- Galatians 3
- 1 Peter 3
- Colossians 2
- Hebrews 2
14 books in all.
Explore in Scripture
- Philemon 1:11In contextWhich in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
- 2 Peter 1:10In contextWherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:
- 2 Peter 1:21In contextFor the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
- Luke 22:32But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.
- John 9:13They brought to the Pharisees him that aforetime was blind.
- Romans 1:10Making request, if by any means now at length I might have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come unto you.
Greek dictionary
ποτέ pote · once/when
ποτέ enclitic particle, 1. once, formerly, sometime: of the past, Jhn.9:13 Rom.7:9 11:30, Gal.1:13, 23 2:6 (Lft., in l), Eph.2:2-3, 11 2:13 5:8, Col.1:21 3:7, 1Th.2:5, Tit.3:3, Phm 11, 1Pe.2:10 3:5 3:20; ἤδη ποτέ, now at length, Php.4:10; of the fut., Luk.22:32; εἴ πως ἤδη ποτέ, if sometime soon at length, Rom.1:10. 2. ever: after a neg., Eph.5:29, 2Pe.1:10 1:21; in a question, τίς π., 1Co.9:7, Heb.1:5, 13.† (AS)
From STEPBible’s Greek lexicon (based on Abbott-Smith).
Webster's 1828 Dictionary
How the English word “once” was understood when the King James Version was still the common Bible of English readers.
ONCE, adverb
wuns. [from one.]
- One time.
- One time, though no more.
- At one former time; formerly.
- At the same point of time; not gradually.
All definitions and other forms of “once”
ONCE, noun
ons. A quadruped of the genus Felis, less than the panther, of a whitish gray color. It is found in Africa and Asia, is easily tamed and is employed like a dog in hunting.
Noah Webster, An American Dictionary of the English Language (1828). Verse references are checked against the KJV. Read the full entry.
Verses are from the King James Version. Word meanings come from the original Greek, not from any one translation.