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τίς (tis)

tis

which?

G5101 · Greek · New Testament · 509 verses

Quick Reference

Language
Koine Greek
Testament
New Testament
Occurrences
509 verses
Root
—

Word Overview

The interrogative pronoun tis asks "who," "which," or "what." It functions as a basic tool for inquiry, appearing frequently in the Gospels and Acts to drive dialogue forward. In Matthew 3:7, John the Baptist uses it to challenge religious leaders, asking who warned them to flee coming wrath. In Luke 19:3, Zacchaeus asks what kind of tree he might climb, showing its use for identifying specific qualities.

Its meaning shifts with context. When paired with prepositions like dia (because of), it explains reasons, as in Matthew 6:28 when Jesus asks why we worry about clothing. In rhetorical questions, such as John 21:22, the question implies a negative answer, reinforcing a command rather than seeking information. It can also denote an indefinite person or thing, meaning "someone" or "something," as seen in papyri and Acts 5:36.

The word carries significant theological weight through its variety of uses. It moves from simple identification to probing motives and explaining divine purposes. Translators render it flexibly as who, what, why, or someone, depending on the sentence structure. This versatility allows Scripture to explore both specific identities and general principles within a single grammatical form.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The Greek word tis asks simple questions like "who," "what," or "why." It appears hundreds of times in the Gospels as a tool for inquiry. Jesus uses it to challenge assumptions, such as asking why we worry about clothing or who warned religious leaders to flee wrath. These questions are not just grammatical; they invite us to examine our own hearts and motives.

When you read these passages, notice how the word shifts from seeking information to revealing truth. In Matthew 6:28, Jesus asks why we are anxious about what we wear, pointing us toward God's care for the lilies of the field. This simple interrogative helps us move from surface-level answers to deeper spiritual realities.

Understanding tis reminds us that God values honest questioning. It encourages us to seek clarity in our faith rather than settling for vague beliefs. As you encounter these questions in Scripture, let them guide you toward a more grounded trust in God's provision and purpose for your life.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 509 verses where it appears, by frequency.

  • what132×
  • What106×
  • who64×
  • why59×
  • Who47×
  • Why39×
  • Which17×
  • whom12×
  • what [is]11×
  • Whom8×
  • which6×
  • what [will be]4×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

  • τί327×
  • τίς143×
  • τίνα23×
  • Τί19×
  • τίνι17×
  • τίνος13×
  • τίνες6×
  • Τίς6×
  • τίνων3×
  • τί;3×
  • τίσιν2×
  • τίνας2×

Key Verses

  • Matthew 6:28
    Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they spin,

    Jesus uses tis to ask why we worry about clothing, shifting the focus from anxiety to observing God's care for nature.

  • Matthew 3:7
    But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers, who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?

    John the Baptist uses tis to challenge the Pharisees, asking who warned them to flee the coming wrath and exposing their lack of genuine repentance.

  • Matthew 6:27
    “Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

    The word asks which person can add a moment to their life through anxiety, highlighting human powerlessness against time and death.

  • Matthew 5:46
    For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

    Jesus uses tis to ask what reward we have for loving only those who love us, prompting reflection on the scope of Christian love.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does tis mean in the New Testament?

Tis is an interrogative pronoun that translates to "who," "what," or "which." It functions as a basic tool for asking questions, often driving dialogue forward in the Gospels and Acts. Its meaning shifts depending on context, ranging from specific identification to rhetorical inquiries.

How is tis different from other Greek question words?

While there are several interrogative words in Greek, tis is one of the most common for asking "who" or "what." It often appears in direct questions but can also introduce indirect questions. Its versatility allows it to probe motives, identify people, or explain reasons within a single grammatical form.

Where does tis appear most frequently?

Tis appears 509 times in the New Testament, with significant occurrences in the Gospels and Acts. Jesus uses it frequently to challenge listeners, such as in Matthew 6:28 where he asks about anxiety over clothing, or in Matthew 3:7 where John the Baptist questions religious leaders.

Every Occurrence (509 verses across 21 books)

Matthew 82 verses
Matthew 3:7

But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his baptism, he said to them, “You offspring of vipers,…

Matthew 5:13

“You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has lost its flavor, with what will it be salted? It is then good for…

Matthew 5:46

For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 5:47

If you only greet your friends, what more do you do than others? Don’t even the tax collectors do the same?

Matthew 6:3

But when you do merciful deeds, don’t let your left hand know what your right hand does,

Matthew 6:25

Therefore I tell you, don’t be anxious for your life: what you will eat, or what you will drink; nor yet for your body,…

Matthew 6:27

“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?

Matthew 6:28

Why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don’t toil, neither do they…

Matthew 6:31

“Therefore don’t be anxious, saying, ‘What will we eat?’, ‘What will we drink?’ or, ‘With what will we be clothed?’

Matthew 7:3

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but don’t consider the beam that is in your own eye?

Matthew 7:9

Or who is there among you who, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone?

Matthew 7:14

How narrow is the gate and the way is restricted that leads to life! There are few who find it.

Matthew 8:26

He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then he got up, rebuked the wind and the sea, and there…

Matthew 8:29

Behold, they cried out, saying, “What do we have to do with you, Jesus, Son of God? Have you come here to torment us…

Matthew 9:5

For which is easier, to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven;’ or to say, ‘Get up, and walk’?

Matthew 9:11

When the Pharisees saw it, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Matthew 9:13

But you go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ for I came not to call the righteous, but…

Matthew 9:14

Then John’s disciples came to him, saying, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast often, but your disciples don’t fast?”

Matthew 10:11

Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy, and stay there until you go on.

Matthew 10:19

But when they deliver you up, don’t be anxious how or what you will say, for it will be given you in that hour what you…

Matthew 11:7

As these went their way, Jesus began to say to the multitudes concerning John, “What did you go out into the wilderness…

Matthew 11:8

But what did you go out to see? A man in soft clothing? Behold, those who wear soft clothing are in kings’ houses.

Matthew 11:9

But why did you go out? To see a prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.

Matthew 11:16

“But to what shall I compare this generation? It is like children sitting in the marketplaces, who call to their…

Matthew 12:3

But he said to them, “Haven’t you read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him:

Matthew 12:7

But if you had known what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,’ you wouldn’t have condemned the guiltless.

Matthew 12:11

He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day,…

Matthew 12:27

If I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your children cast them out? Therefore they will be your judges.

Matthew 12:48

But he answered him who spoke to him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?”

Matthew 13:10

The disciples came, and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?”

Matthew 14:31

Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Matthew 15:2

“Why do your disciples disobey the tradition of the elders? For they don’t wash their hands when they eat bread.”

Matthew 15:3

He answered them, “Why do you also disobey the commandment of God because of your tradition?

Matthew 15:32

Jesus summoned his disciples and said, “I have compassion on the multitude, because they have continued with me now…

Matthew 16:8

Jesus, perceiving it, said, “Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, because you have brought no bread?

Matthew 16:13

Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the…

Matthew 16:15

He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

Matthew 16:26

For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange…

Matthew 17:10

His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?”

Matthew 17:19

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, “Why weren’t we able to cast it out?”

Matthew 17:25

He said, “Yes.” When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, “What do you think, Simon? From whom do the…

Matthew 18:1

In that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Who then is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Matthew 18:12

“What do you think? If a man has one hundred sheep, and one of them goes astray, doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine, go…

Matthew 19:7

They asked him, “Why then did Moses command us to give her a certificate of divorce and divorce her?”

Matthew 19:16

Behold, one came to him and said, “Good teacher, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?”

Matthew 19:17

He said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good but one, that is, God. But if you want to enter into life,…

Matthew 19:20

The young man said to him, “All these things I have observed from my youth. What do I still lack?”

Matthew 19:25

When the disciples heard it, they were exceedingly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?”

Matthew 19:27

Then Peter answered, “Behold, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?”

Matthew 20:6

About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day…

Matthew 20:21

He said to her, “What do you want?” She said to him, “Command that these, my two sons, may sit, one on your right hand…

Matthew 20:22

But Jesus answered, “You don’t know what you are asking. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be…

Matthew 20:32

Jesus stood still and called them, and asked, “What do you want me to do for you?”

Matthew 21:10

When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”

Matthew 21:16

and said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” Jesus said to them, “Yes. Did you never read, ‘Out of the mouth…

Matthew 21:23

When he had come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him as he was teaching, and…

Matthew 21:25

The baptism of John, where was it from? From heaven or from men?” They reasoned with themselves, saying, “If we say,…

Matthew 21:28

But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first, and said, ‘Son, go work today in my vineyard.’

Matthew 21:31

Which of the two did the will of his father?” They said to him, “The first.” Jesus said to them, “Most certainly I tell…

Matthew 21:40

When therefore the lord of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those farmers?”

Matthew 22:17

Tell us therefore, what do you think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?”

Matthew 22:18

But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, “Why do you test me, you hypocrites?

Matthew 22:20

He asked them, “Whose is this image and inscription?”

Matthew 22:28

In the resurrection therefore, whose wife will she be of the seven? For they all had her.”

Matthew 22:42

saying, “What do you think of the Christ? Whose son is he?” They said to him, “Of David.”

Matthew 23:17

You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that sanctifies the gold?

Matthew 23:19

You blind fools! For which is greater, the gift, or the altar that sanctifies the gift?

Matthew 24:3

As he sat on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be?…

Matthew 24:45

“Who then is the faithful and wise servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due…

Matthew 26:8

But when his disciples saw this, they were indignant, saying, “Why this waste?

Matthew 26:10

However, knowing this, Jesus said to them, “Why do you trouble the woman? She has done a good work for me.

Matthew 26:15

and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him to you?” So they weighed out for him thirty pieces of…

Matthew 26:62

The high priest stood up and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”

Matthew 26:65

Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold,…

Matthew 26:66

What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”

Matthew 26:68

saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”

Matthew 26:70

But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Matthew 27:4

saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”

Matthew 27:17

When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or…

Matthew 27:21

But the governor answered them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!”

Matthew 27:22

Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do to Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let him be crucified!”

Matthew 27:23

But the governor said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they cried out exceedingly, saying, “Let him be crucified!”

Mark 69 verses
Luke 107 verses
John 70 verses
Acts 55 verses
Romans 37 verses
I Corinthians 22 verses
II Corinthians 8 verses
Galatians 6 verses
Ephesians 8 verses
Philippians 2 verses
Colossians 2 verses
I Thessalonians 3 verses
I Timothy 1 verse
II Timothy 1 verse
Titus 1 verse
Hebrews 10 verses
James 4 verses
I Peter 3 verses
I John 4 verses
Revelation of John 14 verses