Greek word · G4437

πυκνός

pyknos

often

Pyknos means dense, thick, close-packed, and so frequent. The comparative neuter used as an adverb means "more often" or simply "quite often" (the comparative form can just mean "rather").

Appears 3 times in 3 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

πυκιός, -ή, -όν

[in LXX: Ezekiel 31:3 A (חֹרֶשׁ), 3Ma.1:28 3Mac 4:10, 4Ma.12:12 * ;]

1. close, compact, solid.

2. frequent: 1 Timothy 5:23. Neut. pl., πυκνά, as adv., much, often: Mark 7:3 Τ (see: πυγμή), Luke 5:33. Comparat., πυκνότερον, very often or so much the oftener (seeBl., § 44, 3,): Acts 24:26.†

(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 Acts 24:26

Range of meaning

Pyknos means dense, thick, close-packed, and so frequent. The comparative neuter used as an adverb means "more often" or simply "quite often" (the comparative form can just mean "rather").

Against the English

KJV/YLT "the oftener", NASB "quite often", BSB "frequently". All are fair.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 5:33 (pykna, "fast often") and 1 Timothy 5:23 ("your frequent ailments"). It is common in Greek prose for frequency.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 5:33 πυκνὰ often

    Then they said to Him, “John’s disciples and those of the Pharisees frequently fast and pray, but Yours keep on eating and drinking.”

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 24:26 πυκνότερον often

    At the same time, he was hoping that Paul would offer him a bribe. So he sent for Paul frequently and talked with him.

    Here: A comparative form used as an adverb: "rather often" or "more often than you'd expect." The basic word means "dense, packed close," so the meetings came thick and fast.

1 Timothy · 1

  1. 1 Timothy 5:23 πυκνάς frequent

    Stop drinking only water and use a little wine instead, because of your stomach and your frequent ailments.

    Here: Literally 'close-packed'. Here it means illnesses that keep coming back, a pattern of recurring sickness rather than one illness.

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