869. aphnó

Lexicon

aphnó: Suddenly, unexpectedly

Original Word: ἄφνω
Part of Speech: Adverb
Transliteration: aphnó
Pronunciation: af-no'
Phonetic Spelling: (af'-no)
Definition: Suddenly, unexpectedly
Meaning: suddenly.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

suddenly.

Adverb from aphanes (contraction); unawares, i.e. Unexpectedly -- suddenly.

see GREEK aphanes

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
suddenly
NASB Translation
suddenly (3).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 869: ἄφνω

ἄφνω, adverb (akin to αἰφνης, see in αἰφνίδιος above), suddenly: Acts 2:2; Acts 16:26; Acts 28:6. (the Sept.; (Aeschylus), Thucydides and subsequent writings.)

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from a root word meaning "unseen" or "unforeseen."

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: While there is no direct Hebrew equivalent for ἄφνω, similar concepts of suddenness or unexpectedness can be found in Hebrew words such as פִּתְאֹם (pith'om, Strong's Hebrew 6597), which also conveys the idea of something happening suddenly or unexpectedly.

Usage: The term ἄφνω is used in the New Testament to describe events that happen abruptly or without prior indication, emphasizing the element of surprise or immediacy.

Context: The Greek adverb ἄφνω appears in the New Testament to convey the suddenness of an event, often highlighting the divine or miraculous nature of occurrences. It is used to describe moments when God's intervention or the unfolding of His plan takes place in an unexpected manner, underscoring the element of surprise and the immediacy of His actions.

In Acts 2:2, ἄφνω is used to describe the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost: "Suddenly a sound like a mighty rushing wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting." This passage illustrates the sudden and powerful arrival of the Holy Spirit, marking a pivotal moment in the early Church.

Another instance is found in Acts 16:26, where it describes the miraculous event in the Philippian jail: "Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the doors flew open and everyone's chains came loose." Here, ἄφνω emphasizes the unexpected and divine nature of the earthquake that led to the liberation of Paul and Silas.

The use of ἄφνω in these contexts serves to remind readers of the unpredictability of God's actions and the importance of being prepared for His interventions, which can occur at any moment.

Forms and Transliterations

αφνω άφνω ἄφνω αφοβίας άφοβος aphno aphnō áphno áphnō

Englishman's Concordance

Acts 2:2 Adv
GRK: καὶ ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ τοῦ
NAS: And suddenly there came from heaven
KJV: And suddenly there came a sound
INT: And came suddenly out of

Acts 16:26 Adv
GRK: ἄφνω δὲ σεισμὸς
NAS: and suddenly there came a great
KJV: And suddenly there was a great
INT: suddenly moreover earthquake

Acts 28:6 Adv
GRK: ἢ καταπίπτειν ἄφνω νεκρόν ἐπὶ
NAS: up or suddenly fall down
KJV: dead suddenly: but
INT: or to fall down suddenly dead after a while

Strong's Greek 869
3 Occurrences

ἄφνω — 3 Occ.