Greek word · G160

αἰφνίδιος

aiphnidios

sudden

Sudden, unforeseen, coming without warning. It is used of attacks, deaths and disasters that catch people unprepared.

Appears 2 times in 2 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

αἰφνίδιος (in Lk, l.with, ἐφν- WH; see M, Pr., 35), -ον

(αἴφνης = ἄφνως, suddenly), [in LXX: Wisdom of Solomon 17:15, 2Ma.14:17, 3Ma.3:24 * ;]

sudden, unexpected: Luke 21:34, 1 Thessalonians 5:3.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 1 Thessalonians 5:3

Range of meaning

Sudden, unforeseen, coming without warning. It is used of attacks, deaths and disasters that catch people unprepared.

Against the English

KJV/WEB “sudden destruction” keeps it as an adjective. BSB/NIV make it an adverb (“suddenly”). Both work, but the Greek puts the word first for emphasis: “sudden upon them stands ruin.”

Used elsewhere in the period

In the New Testament it appears only here and in Luke 21:34, where Jesus warns, “lest that day come upon you suddenly (aiphnidios … epistē).” That verse uses the same verb, ephistēmi, and Luke 21:36 goes on to speak of being able to “escape” (ekphygein). Wisdom of Solomon 17:15 uses it of sudden, unexpected fear.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 21:34 αἰφνίδιος suddenly

    But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare.

    Here: In Greek this is an adjective describing the day ('a sudden day'), and it works like an adverb: suddenly, without warning. The word appears in the NT only here and in 1 Thess 5:3, which makes the same point.

1 Thessalonians · 1

  1. 1 Thessalonians 5:3 αἰφνίδιος suddenly

    While people are saying, “Peace and security,” destruction will come upon them suddenly, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

    Here: An adjective that agrees with “ruin”: “a sudden ruin,” one that arrives without warning. It picks up the thief image of verse 2.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.