Greek word · G170

ἀκαιρέω

akaireō

to lack opportunity

To lack opportunity, to have no fitting time, to be without a kairos (an appropriate moment or season).

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀκαιρέομαι, -οῦμαι

(ἄκαιρος, unseasonable),

to have no opportunity (opposite to εὐκαιρέω): Philippians 4:10.†

(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 Philippians 4:10

Range of meaning

To lack opportunity, to have no fitting time, to be without a kairos (an appropriate moment or season).

Against the English

Most versions say "lacked opportunity" or "had no opportunity (to show it)". The Latin Vulgate's "occupati eratis" ("you were busy") changes the meaning. English cannot easily show the link with kairos, "season", which matches the plant image.

Used elsewhere in the period

The verb is rare. It occurs only here in the New Testament and is found occasionally in later Greek prose, for example Diodorus Siculus 10.19.5. The noun kairos, "right time, season", is very common, including for agricultural seasons.

Where it appears

Philippians · 1

  1. Philippians 4:10 ἠκαιρεῖσθε you were lacking opportunity

    Now I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.

    Here: "You kept lacking the right moment." It is built from a-, "without", and kairos, "the right time or season". This is another word found only here in the New Testament. It fits the blossoming image: the plant was alive, but its season had not come.

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