Greek word · G2120

εὐκαιρία

eukairia

opportunity

A good or suitable time, a favorable opportunity. It is related to kairos, a fitting or decisive moment, as distinct from chronos, time measured by the clock.

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

What it means

εὐκαιρία, -ας, ἡ

(εὔκαιρος), [in LXX: Psalms 9:10 (see Soph., Lex., see word) Psalms 10:1 145:15 (עֵת), Sirach 38:24, 1Ma.11:42 * ;]

fitting time, opportunity: before ἵνα, Matthew 26:16; τοῦ, with inf., Luke 22:6.†

(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 Luke 22:6

Range of meaning

A good or suitable time, a favorable opportunity. It is related to kairos, a fitting or decisive moment, as distinct from chronos, time measured by the clock.

Against the English

'Opportunity' (KJV, BSB, WEB) is accurate. YLT's 'a favourable season' keeps the sense of timing. The word means more than any opening: it means the right moment for a particular purpose.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used in the parallel at Matt 26:16. It appears in the Septuagint at Ps 9:10 and 9:22 (Ps 9:9 and 10:1 in English), and in Sirach and 1 Maccabees for a suitable time. It is ordinary Greek for a 'good time' to do something.

Similar words

Where it appears

Matthew · 1

  1. Matthew 26:16 εὐκαιρίαν an opportunity

    So from then on Judas looked for an opportunity to betray Jesus.

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 22:6 εὐκαιρίαν opportunity

    Judas consented, and began to look for an opportunity to betray Jesus to them in the absence of a crowd.

    Here: Literally a 'good time' (eu, 'good', plus kairos, 'right time'). It means a moment that suits his purpose, which here is a quiet one where an arrest won't stir people up.

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