4970. sphodra

Lexicon

sphodra: Very, exceedingly, greatly

Original Word: σφόδρα
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: sphodra
Pronunciation: sfod'-rah
Phonetic Spelling: (sfod'-rah)
Definition: Very, exceedingly, greatly
Meaning: exceedingly, greatly, very much.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

exceedingly, greatly, sore, very.

Neuter plural of sphodros (violent; of uncertain derivation) as adverb; vehemently, i.e. In a high degree, much -- exceeding(-ly), greatly, sore, very.

HELPS Word-studies

4970 sphódra (from sphodros, "all-out, exceeding; very much", L-S) – properly, "done to the max," going all-out ("wide-open") with total effort – like doing something "with a vengeance!"

[4970 /sphódra ("exceedingly") is "properly the neuter plural of sphodros ('vehement, violent') and means 'exceedingly, greatly,' and is placed after adjectives" (J. Thayer).]

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
adverb from sphodros (excessive, violent)
Definition
very much
NASB Translation
deeply (3), exceedingly (1), extremely (3), greatly (1), very (2).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4970: σφόδρα

σφόδρα (properly neuter plural of σφοδρός, vehement, violent;), from Pindar and Herodotus down, exceedingly, greatly: placed after adjectives, Matthew 2:10; Mark 16:4; Luke 18:23; Revelation 16:21; with verbs, Matthew 17:6, 23; Matthew 18:31; Matthew 19:25; Matthew 26:22; Matthew 27:54; Acts 6:7.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from an adverbial form related to the Greek word σφοδρός (sphodros), meaning "vehement" or "violent."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: The Hebrew equivalent often used to convey a similar sense of intensity or emphasis is מְאֹד (me'od), Strong's Hebrew 3966, which is frequently translated as "very," "exceedingly," or "greatly" in the Old Testament. This term is used in various contexts to amplify the degree of an action or quality, much like σφόδρα in the Greek New Testament.

Usage: This word is used in the New Testament to convey a high degree of intensity or emphasis, often modifying verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to highlight the extremity or significance of an action or quality.

Context: The Greek adverb σφόδρα appears in several New Testament passages, emphasizing the intensity or extremity of an action or state. It is often used to underscore the profound impact or significance of an event or emotion. For example, in Matthew 2:10, the Magi "rejoiced exceedingly with great joy" upon seeing the star, highlighting their overwhelming joy. In Matthew 26:22, the disciples were "deeply grieved" when Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him, indicating the depth of their sorrow. The use of σφόδρα in these contexts serves to amplify the emotional or situational intensity, providing readers with a clearer understanding of the magnitude of the events or feelings described.

The adverb is also found in passages such as Mark 16:4, where the women at the tomb were "utterly amazed" to find the stone rolled away, and in Luke 18:23, where the rich young ruler became "very sad" upon hearing Jesus' words about selling his possessions. These instances further illustrate the word's function in conveying strong emotional responses or significant occurrences.

σφόδρα is a key term for understanding the emotional and narrative depth of certain New Testament passages, offering insight into the reactions and experiences of biblical figures. Its use underscores the dramatic and often life-changing nature of the events described in the Gospels and other New Testament writings.

Forms and Transliterations

σφοδρα σφόδρα σφοδρόν σφοδρώ sphodra sphódra

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 2:10 Adv
GRK: χαρὰν μεγάλην σφόδρα
NAS: they rejoiced exceedingly with great
KJV: they rejoiced with exceeding great
INT: joy great exceedingly

Matthew 17:6 Adv
GRK: καὶ ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα
KJV: face, and were sore afraid.
INT: and were terrified greatly

Matthew 17:23 Adv
GRK: καὶ ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα
NAS: day. And they were deeply grieved.
KJV: And they were exceeding sorry.
INT: And they were grieved greatly

Matthew 18:31 Adv
GRK: γενόμενα ἐλυπήθησαν σφόδρα καὶ ἐλθόντες
NAS: had happened, they were deeply grieved
KJV: what was done, they were very sorry,
INT: having taken place they were grieved greatly and having gone

Matthew 19:25 Adv
GRK: μαθηταὶ ἐξεπλήσσοντο σφόδρα λέγοντες Τίς
NAS: heard [this], they were very astonished
KJV: heard [it], they were exceedingly amazed,
INT: disciples were astonished exceedingly saying Who

Matthew 26:22 Adv
GRK: καὶ λυπούμενοι σφόδρα ἤρξαντο λέγειν
NAS: Being deeply grieved, they each
KJV: And they were exceeding sorrowful,
INT: And being grieved exceedingly they began to say

Matthew 27:54 Adv
GRK: γενόμενα ἐφοβήθησαν σφόδρα λέγοντες Ἀληθῶς
NAS: and the things that were happening, became very frightened
KJV: they feared greatly, saying,
INT: took place feared greatly saying Truly

Mark 16:4 Adv
GRK: γὰρ μέγας σφόδρα
NAS: although it was extremely large.
KJV: for it was very great.
INT: indeed large extremely

Luke 18:23 Adv
GRK: γὰρ πλούσιος σφόδρα
NAS: very sad, for he was extremely rich.
KJV: for he was very rich.
INT: indeed rich extremely

Acts 6:7 Adv
GRK: ἐν Ἰερουσαλὴμ σφόδρα πολύς τε
NAS: continued to increase greatly in Jerusalem,
KJV: in Jerusalem greatly; and a great
INT: in Jerusalem exceedingly a great moreover

Revelation 16:21 Adv
GRK: πληγὴ αὐτῆς σφόδρα
NAS: its plague was extremely severe.
KJV: thereof was exceeding great.
INT: plague of it exceedingly

Strong's Greek 4970
11 Occurrences

σφόδρα — 11 Occ.