ποῖος (poios)

The adjective poios asks "of what kind" or "what sort." It seeks to identify the specific quality, nature, or identity of a person or thing. In the New Testament, this word appears roughly thirty-two times, with frequent use in the Gospels and Acts where characters inquire about details of events or laws.

Its usage spans both direct questions and indirect reports. Jesus uses it to probe understanding, as when he asks the lawyers which commandment is greatest (Matthew 22:36) or when he wonders what kind of man healed the paralytic (John 5:12). The word also functions in reported speech, such as when the disciples wonder where the thief would strike (Luke 12:39), showing how it bridges immediate inquiry and narrative reflection.

Lexical sources note a subtle shift in meaning over time. While classical Greek often used poios to express surprise or scorn, the New Testament writers generally employ it in straightforward inquiries about identity or nature. Paul retains this sense of "what manner" when discussing legalism (Romans 3:27), whereas later texts sometimes use it with a narrower focus on location or time, such as asking which way a thief might come (Revelation 3:3).