### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **posákis**, represented by `{{G4212}}`, is an adverb that asks **how many times** or **how often**. Though it appears only **3 times** across **3 unique verses**, its usage is pivotal, serving to question the frequency of an action and thereby framing significant theological statements about divine patience and human responsibility.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G4212}}` is used in two distinct contexts. It appears twice in Jesus's lament over Jerusalem, where he asks, "**how often** would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!" [[Matthew 23:37]]. This same sentiment is expressed in a parallel account, highlighting a repeated and unreciprocated desire for divine gathering [[Luke 13:34]]. The word's other use comes from Peter, who asks Jesus, "Lord, **how oft** shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him?" [[Matthew 18:21]], seeking to quantify the limits of interpersonal forgiveness.
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words are central to the contexts where `{{G4212}}` is found:
* `{{G264}}` **hamartánō** (to err, especially (morally) to sin): This is the offense Peter is asking about in his question concerning forgiveness. The word means to "miss the mark," and it is this repeated action he seeks to place a limit on [[Matthew 18:21]].
* `{{G863}}` **aphíēmi** (to forgive, forsake, lay aside): This is the gracious response Peter questions the required frequency of. It is used to describe the act of forgiving debts and sins [[Matthew 6:12]].
* `{{G1996}}` **episynágō** (to collect upon the same place:--gather (together)): This is the specific action Jesus longed to perform for Jerusalem's children, using the imagery of a hen who "doth gather her brood" [[Luke 13:34]].
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G4212}}` is expressed through the questions it raises:
* **Divine Longing and Rejection:** In the lament over Jerusalem, "how often" emphasizes the persistence of God's grace. Despite the city's violent rejection of those sent to it—killing the prophets `{{G615}}` and stoning messengers `{{G3036}}`—the offer to be gathered was made repeatedly [[Matthew 23:37]].
* **The Limit of Mercy:** Peter's question, "how oft," reveals a human tendency to seek a limit for mercy. His inquiry about forgiving a brother who sins `{{G264}}` against him sets the stage for a teaching that challenges a transactional view of forgiveness [[Matthew 18:21]].
### Summary
In summary, **posákis** `{{G4212}}` is a rare but potent adverb that transforms a simple question of "how many times" into a profound spiritual examination. It frames both the sorrow of divine love spurned by a rebellious people and the human struggle to comprehend the boundless nature of forgiveness. Through its limited use, it forces a confrontation with the depth of God's patience and the limitless scope of a believer's grace.
TRV