ἀπορέω

ἀπορέω impf. ἠπόρουν; fut. 3 sg. ἀπορήσει Pr 31:11 (πόρος ‘way’, ‘means’ of achieving someth.; Pre-Socr., Hdt.+) orig. ‘be without resources’ (so also esp. ins, pap) to be in a confused state of mind, be at a loss, be in doubt, be uncertain act. (Thu. 5, 40, 3; X., Hell. 6, 1, 4; Alex. Ep. XIII 1; POxy 472, 8; 939, 23f; Wsd 11:17; Philo, Leg. All. 1, 70; Jos., Ant. 2, 271 and 304, Vi. 161) πολλὰ ἠπόρει he was at a loss Mk 6:20 (so Goodsp., Probs. 58f: ‘he was very much disturbed’; but s. FZorell, Lex. s.v. and CBonner, HTR 37, ’44, 41–44, 336 ‘he was wont to raise many questions’; s. also L-S-J-M s.v. I 2; but the καί foll. is prob. adversative: ‘he was much perplexed when he listened to John, yet readily continued to give him an audience’. On the textual problem s. KRomaniuk, ἠπόρει ou ἐποίει en Mc 6:20?: ETL 69, ’93, 140f).—Elsewh., in our lit. mid. (X., An. 6, 1, 21; 7, 3, 29 et al.; SIG 226, 35; 1 Macc 3:31; Jos., Bell. 4, 226; Just., D. 72, 3; s. Renehan ’82, 34) τί ἐν σεαυτῷ διαλογίζῃ καὶ ἀπορῇ; why this inward debate and perplexity? Hs 9, 2, 6. περὶ τινος about someth. Lk 24:4 (v.l. διαπορέω q.v.); Hs 8, 3, 1. W. indir. question foll. ἀπορούμενοι περί τίνος λέγει uncertain as to which one he meant J 13:22. πρός τι PEg², 63. W. acc. foll. ἀπορούμενος τὴν (v.l. εἰς τὴν) περὶ τούτων ζήτησιν since I was at a loss how to investigate these matters Ac 25:20 (B-D-F §148, 2; Rob. 472). ἔν τινι because of someone Gal 4:20. Abs. ἀπορούμενοι ἀλλʼ οὐκ ἐξαπορούμενοι (sometimes) at a loss, but not losers (an attempt to reproduce the wordplay; REB: bewildered, but never at our wits’ end) 2 Cor 4:8. ἠπορούμην ἐπὶ ταῖς παρθέναις Hs 9, 2, 5.—M-M.