Lexical Summary tuphónikos: Tempestuous, stormy Original Word: τυφωνικός Strong's Exhaustive Concordance tempestuous. From a derivative of tupho; stormy (as if smoky) -- tempestuous. see GREEK tupho NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom tuphón (a hurricane) Definition tempestuous NASB Translation violent (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5189: τυφωνικόςτυφωνικός, τυφωνικη, τυφωνικον (Τυφῶν (cf. Chandler edition 1 § 659), a whirlwind, hurricane, typhoon), like a whirlwind, tempestuous: ἄνεμος, Acts 27:14. Topical Lexicon Linguistic and Cultural SettingThough it appears only once in the New Testament, the adjective evokes the dreaded Mediterranean winter gales known for sudden, cyclonic violence. Greek writers applied similar language to winds associated with the monstrous Typhon, and Roman mariners feared them enough to halt shipping from early November to early February. Luke’s use of the word places his account within authentic first-century nautical vocabulary. Biblical Context in Acts 27:14 “But soon a violent wind, called the Northeaster, swept down from the island” (Acts 27:14). The storm strikes Paul’s ship while it hugs the lee of Crete. In the narrative that follows (Acts 27:14–44) the word serves to • underline the life-threatening peril that makes the sailors “abandon all hope of being saved” (27:20); Meteorological Background The “Northeaster” (Eurakylon) forms when cold continental air rushes south and collides with moist maritime air, generating a circular system that funnels through Cretan passes and slams into ships with hurricane-force winds and towering waves. Luke’s term captures that typhoon-like swirl in a single adjective. Theological Themes 1. God’s Sovereignty over Creation—The Lord who “stills the roaring seas” (Psalm 65:7) also commands this tempest, using it to advance His redemptive plan. Practical and Ministry Applications • Pastoral encouragement: storms in life test faith but cannot thwart God’s purposes. Historical Reception Church fathers such as Chrysostom and Augustine cited the incident to illustrate steadfastness: the church, like Paul’s vessel, may be battered yet will reach its appointed harbor. Medieval chartmakers marked Euroaquilo as a hazard, reinforcing Luke’s credibility. Modern nautical studies confirm his details, bolstering confidence in the historicity of Acts. Related Biblical Imagery Psalm 107:23-30; Jonah 1; Mark 4:37-41; John 6:18-21—all recount storms that serve divine purposes, foreshadowing the Acts narrative and underscoring that every gale ultimately yields to the Creator’s will. Summary Strong’s Greek 5189 intensifies Luke’s description of the Northeaster that assaulted Paul’s ship, spotlighting both the fury of natural forces and the greater power of God’s providence. The lone occurrence of the word therefore carries enduring significance, reminding believers that no tempest—literal or figurative—can overturn the purposes of God or silence the testimony of His servants. Forms and Transliterations τυφωνικος τυφωνικός τυφωνικὸς τύχη tuphonikos tuphōnikos typhonikos typhonikòs typhōnikos typhōnikòsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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