Quick Definition
of what kind
Strong's Definition
interrogatively, whatever, i.e. of what possible sort
Derivation: apparently from G4219 (πότε) and the base of G4226 (ποῦ);
KJV Usage: what (manner of)
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
ποταπός ((in Dionysius Halicarnassus, Josephus, Philo, others) for the older ποδαπός (cf. Lob. Phryn., p. 56f; Rutherford, New Phryn., p. 129; Winers Grammar, 24; Curtius, p. 537, 5th edition); according to the Greek grammarians equivalent to ἐκ ποίου δαπεδου, from what region; according to the conjecture of others equivalent to ποῦ ἀπό ((Buttmann, Lexil. 1:126, compares the German wovon)), the delta δ' being inserted for the sake of euphony, as in the Latinprodire, prodesse; cf. Fritzsche on Mark, p. 554f (still others regard (δαπος merely as an ending; cf. Apollonius Dyscolus, Buttmann's edition, the index under the word)), ποταπή, ποταπον;
1. from what country, race, or tribe? so from Aeschylus down.
2. from Demosth. down also equivalent to ποῖος, of what sort or quality? (what manner of?): absolutely of persons, Mat_8:27; 2Pe_3:11; with a person noun, Luk_7:39; with names of things, Mar_13:1; Luk_1:29; 1Jn_3:1.
Mounce Concise Greek Dictionary
ποταπός potapos 7x
Of what country? in NT equivalent to ποῖος , What? Of what manner? Of what kind or sort? Luk_1:29 ; Luk_7:37 ;
denoting admiration, What? What kind of? How great? Mat_8:27 ; Mar_13:1
Abbott-Smith Greek Lexicon
** ποταπός
(late form of cl . ποδ -), -ή , -όν ,
[in LXX : Da LXX Su 1:54 * ;]
1. ( = ποδαπός ) from what country?
2. In late writers, = ποῖος , of what sort?: Mat_8:27 , Mar_13:1 , Luk_1:29 ; Luk_7:39 , 2Pe_3:11 , 1Jn_3:1 .†
Moulton & Milligan — Vocabulary of the Greek NT
ποταπός [page 530]
This Hellenistic form of the classical ποδαπός , of what country? (cf. Proleg. p. 95), occurs in the Mime fragment, P Oxy III. 413 .155 (Roman period) ποταπὰ περιπατεῖς ; where are you walking from? In the NT the word is never local, but = ποῖος ; of what sort? how great? : cf. the illiterate P Oxy XIV 1678 .16 (iii/A.D.) γράψον μυ , ποταπὸν θέλεις ἐνήκω ( l. ἐνέγκω ), write me what sort (of purple) you wish me to bring. The same usage occurs in Apoc. Petr. 2 ποταποί εἰσι τὴν μορφήν : see also Schmid Atticismus iii. p. 253, iv. p. 371.
STEPBible — Tyndale Abridged Greek Lexicon
ποταπός
(late form of cl. ποδ-), -ή, -όν, [in LXX: Dan LXX Su 1:54* ;]
__1. (= ποδαπός) from what country?
__2. In late writers, = ποῖος, of what sort?: Mat.8:27, Mrk.13:1, Luk.1:29 7:39, 2Pe.3:11, 1Jn.3:1.†
(AS)
📖 In-Depth Word Study
How great (what kind?) (4217) potapos
How great (4217) (potapos possibly from pote = interrogative adverb [when?] + pou = where?) is firstly an interrogative adjective which means "of what sort or what kind?" (speaking of quality). When potapos is used (as in the present passage) in an exclamation, the context conveys the sense of admiration = "how great!"; "how wonderful!", "how glorious!" (cp Mk 13:1) John Stott says potapos always implies astonishment.
Vine...
primarily, “from what country,” then, “of what sort”...
Steven Cole adds
It’s as if John thinks about the Father’s great love and says, “Where does this come from? It must be from heaven, because there’s nothing like it in this world!” (The Father's Great Love)
Potapos - 7x in 6v - Matt 8:27; Mark 13:1; Luke 1:29; 7:39; 2 Pet 3:11; 1 John 3:1. NAS = how great(1), what kind of(2), what sort of(1), what sort of person(1), what wonderful (2). Potapos is not found in the non-apocryphal Septuagint.
Wuest...comments on how great ("what manner of"1Jn 3:1KJV)
“What manner of” is potapÃ"n, “from what country, race or tribe?” The word speaks of something foreign. The translation could read, “Behold, what foreign kind of love the Father has bestowed upon us.” The love of God is foreign to the human race. It is not found naturally in humanity. When it exists there, it is in a saved individual, and by reason of the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Smith suggests, “from what far realm? What unearthly love,ââ¬Â¦ how other-worldly.” (Wuest, K. S. Wuest's Word Studies from the Greek New Testament: Eerdmans or Logos)
Hiebert notes that potapos...
implies a reaction of astonishment, and usually of admiration, upon viewing some person or thing. The expression conveys both a qualitative and quantitative force, "what glorious, measureless love!" This love, originating with God, ever seeks the true welfare of those being loved; it is amazing in-deed when we remember the personal destitution of those He loves. God's is a love that works visible, transforming results in the lives of its recipients. (The Epistles of John An Expositional Commentary by D. Edmond Hiebert)