Lexicon :: Strong's G154 - aiteō

[The constructions of this word in the Greek Bible, the Apostolic Fathers, etc., are exhibited in detail by Prof. Ezra Abbot in the North American Review for Jan. 1872, p. 182f. He there shows also (in opposition to Trench, § xl., and others) that it is not "the constant word for the seeking of the inferior from the superior," and so differing from ἐρωτάω, which has been assumed to imply 'a certain equality or familiarity between the parties'; that the distinction between the words does not turn upon the relative dignity of the person asking and the person asked; but that αἰτέω signifies to ask for something to be given not done, giving prominence to the thing asked for rather than the person, and hence is rarely used in exhortation. έρωτάω, on the other hand, is to request a person to do (rarely to give) something; referring more directly to the person, it is naturally used in exhortation, etc. The views of Trench are also rejected by Cremer, 4te Aufl. under the word. The latter distinguishes αἰτέω from similar words as follows: "αἰτέω denotes the request of the will, ἐπιθυμέω that of the sensibilities, δέομαι the asking of need, while ἐρωτάω marks the form of the request, as does εὔχεσθαι also, which in classic Greek is the proper expression for a request directed to the gods and embodying itself in prayer." έρωτάω, αἰτέω and δέομαι are also compared briefy by Green, Critical Notes, etc. (on John 14:13, 16), who concludes of ἐρωτάω "it cannot serve to indicate directly any peculiar position, absolute or relative, of the agent. The use of the word may, therefore, be viewed as having relation to the manner and cast of the request, namely, when carrying a certain freedom of aim and bearing; a thing inseparable from the act of direct interrogation"; cf. further Schmidt, chapter 7. Compare: ἀπ-, ἐξ-, ἐπ-, παρ- (-μαι), προσαιτέω.]