### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word G4212 (ποσάκις), transliterated as *posákis*, functions as an interrogative adverb of number, derived from πόσος (posos), meaning "how much" or "how many." Its core meaning denotes "how many times" or "how often," querying the frequency or multiplicity of an action or event. It is a direct inquiry into the numerical repetition of an occurrence. Semantically, it encapsulates the concept of recurrence and serves to elicit a quantitative response regarding the instances of something happening.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term G4212 (ποσάκις) appears three times in the New Testament, each instance carrying profound theological weight:
1. **[[Matthew 18:21]]**: "Then Peter came up and said to him, 'Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?'" Here, Peter's question, using ποσάκις, reveals a human tendency to quantify and limit forgiveness. He proposes a specific, albeit generous by human standards, number (seven times). Jesus' immediate and radical response ("I do not say to you seven times, but seventy-seven times" or "seventy times seven") shatters this numerical boundary, pointing to a boundless, uncalculating forgiveness that mirrors divine grace. The word ποσάκις thus serves as a foil, highlighting the contrast between human limitation and divine infinitude in the realm of mercy.
2. **[[Matthew 23:37]] / [[Luke 13:34]]**: "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!" In this poignant lament, Jesus employs ποσάκις to emphasize the repeated, earnest, and persistent attempts He (and by extension, God) has made to gather and protect the people of Jerusalem. The "how often" here is not a question seeking a numerical answer from the audience, but rather a rhetorical exclamation expressing the depth of God's long-suffering love and the tragedy of its rejection. It underscores the divine yearning for reconciliation and the sorrow over human recalcitrance.
In both contexts, ποσάκις functions not merely as a simple interrogative but as a rhetorical device that frames a deeper theological truth, whether concerning the nature of forgiveness or the persistence of divine love.
### Related Words & Concepts
The immediate linguistic relative of G4212 (ποσάκις) is its root, πόσος (posos), which means "how much" or "how many" (`{{G4214}}`). While ποσάκις specifically refers to frequency, πόσος is a more general interrogative of quantity.
Other related concepts and contrasting terms include:
* πολλάκις (pollakis, `{{G4178}}`): "often" or "many times," an adverb of frequency but not interrogative. It describes a known or observed repetition.
* ἅπαξ (hapax, `{{G530}}`): "once" or "a single time," denoting a unique or singular occurrence, often with theological significance (e.g., Christ's sacrifice ἅπαξ for all).
* δίς (dis, `{{G1364}}`): "twice."
* ἑπτάκις (heptakis, `{{G2034}}`): "seven times," specifically used by Peter in [[Matthew 18:21]] as his suggested limit.
The conceptual field around ποσάκις thus involves the measurement and perception of repetition, frequency, and the boundaries (or lack thereof) in divine and human interactions.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of G4212 (ποσάκις) lies in its ability to highlight profound truths about God's character and humanity's response.
In the context of forgiveness ([[Matthew 18:21]]), ποσάκις serves as a crucial rhetorical pivot. Peter's question, rooted in human logic and a desire for quantifiable limits, is met by Jesus with a divine standard that transcends all calculation. The "how often" of human forgiveness is revealed as fundamentally flawed when compared to the infinite nature of God's mercy, which is not bounded by numerical limits. This challenges believers to embody a radical, immeasurable forgiveness that reflects the very heart of God.
In the lament over Jerusalem ([[Matthew 23:37]], [[Luke 13:34]]), ποσάκις powerfully conveys the depth of God's persistent, yearning love and patience. The rhetorical "how often" underscores the repeated, earnest overtures of divine grace to a resistant people. It reveals a God who does not easily give up, but continually seeks to gather and protect His creation, even in the face of rejection. This highlights the tragic reality of human free will and the profound sorrow in the divine heart when grace is refused. The word thus speaks to the steadfastness of God's love, His long-suffering nature, and the immense cost of human rebellion.
### Summary
G4212 (ποσάκις) is an interrogative adverb meaning "how often" or "how many times." Though simple in its literal definition, its biblical occurrences imbue it with profound theological significance. In [[Matthew 18:21]], Peter's use of ποσάκις regarding forgiveness serves to contrast human, limited understanding of mercy with the boundless, uncalculating nature of divine grace. In Jesus' lament over Jerusalem in [[Matthew 23:37]] and [[Luke 13:34]], ποσάκις rhetorically underscores the persistent, long-suffering love and repeated attempts of God to gather His people, highlighting the divine desire for reconciliation despite human recalcitrance. Ultimately, ποσάκις acts as a linguistic lens, revealing the infinite patience and enduring love of God in the face of human limitations and resistance.
TRV