Greek word · G5177

τυγχάνω

tynchanō

to obtain/happen

An old Greek idiom meaning 'if it should happen' → 'perhaps,' 'it may be,' 'for example,' 'say.' Placed beside a word of quantity, it makes the number vague: 'ever so many,' 'who knows how many.'

Appears 12 times in 12 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τυγχάνω

[in LXX: Deuteronomy 19:5 (מָצָא), Job 3:21 7:2 17:1, Proverbs 30:23 (without definite Heb. equiv.), Wisdom of Solomon 15:19, 1Ma.11:42, 3Ma.3:7, al. ;]

I. Trans.

1. to hit (opposite to ἁμαρτάνω, to miss the mark: Hom., Xen., al.).

2. to hit upon, light upon;

(a) of persons, to meet with, fall in with: absol., ptcp., ὁ τυχών, a chance person, anyone (Lat. quivis), οὐ τυχών, not common or ordinary, Acts 19:11 28:2;

(b) of things, to reach, get, obtain: with genitive of thing(s) Luke 20:35, Acts 24:3 26:22 27:3, 2 Timothy 2:10 Hebrews 8:6 11:35.

II. Intrans., to happen; of things, to happen, chance, befall: impers., εἰ τύχοι, it may be, perhaps, 1 Corinthians 14:10 15:37; so ptcp., τυχόν (old accusative absol.; see M, Pr., 74), 1 Corinthians 16:6

(cf. ἐν-, ὑπερ-εν-, ἐπι-, παρα-, συν-τυγχάνω).†

τυχόν, adv., see: τυγχάνω

(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 Corinthians 14:10

Range of meaning

An old Greek idiom meaning 'if it should happen' → 'perhaps,' 'it may be,' 'for example,' 'say.' Placed beside a word of quantity, it makes the number vague: 'ever so many,' 'who knows how many.'

Against the English

The KJV, WEB and YLT keep the hedge with 'it may be.' The BSB ('Assuredly'), NIV ('Undoubtedly') and ESV ('doubtless') turn it into its opposite, a statement of certainty. They do this by reading the whole phrase as rhetorical emphasis on how many languages there are.

How it drifted

Translators take the uncertainty as being about the number, not about whether languages exist. So they render the phrase with a word of emphasis. This is defensible as a paraphrase, but it drops what the Greek literally says.

Used elsewhere in the period

The phrase is common in Hellenistic Greek, including writers such as Dionysius of Halicarnassus. The optative mood (the 'might be' form) had become rare and somewhat literary by Paul's day. Paul uses the same idiom in 1 Corinthians 15:37, 'perhaps of wheat or of some other grain.' BDAG (s.v. τυγχάνω) treats it as 'if it should turn out that way, perhaps,' and renders this verse along the lines of 'ever so many kinds of languages.'

From the study of 2 Timothy 2:10

Range of meaning

Its basic sense is 'to hit (a mark)'. From that: to reach, attain, obtain (with a genitive object); to happen upon or meet with; and as an idiom, 'to happen to be'. With an object like 'salvation' it means to gain or lay hold of something aimed at.

Against the English

'Obtain' (KJV, BSB, WEB, NIV, ESV) is accurate. The English verb is a little flat, though: the Greek pictures reaching a goal, almost hitting a target. It does not suggest earning, and it does not suggest luck.

Used elsewhere in the period

Luke 20:35: those 'counted worthy to attain (tychein) that age and the resurrection'. Heb 11:35: tortured faithful ones refused release 'so that they might attain (tychōsin) a better resurrection', a close parallel to suffering with final resurrection life in view. Common in classical and Hellenistic Greek for attaining honors or goals.

From the study of Acts 19:11

Range of meaning

Tynchanō means 'to hit the mark, meet with, happen'. Its participle ho tychōn, 'the one who happens along', means 'ordinary, any old, commonplace'. Negated, ou ho tychōn is a fixed idiom of polished Greek meaning 'no ordinary, remarkable, exceptional'.

Against the English

BSB, NIV, ESV and NASB have 'extraordinary', KJV and WEB 'special', and YLT 'not common'. All of them catch the sense. YLT keeps the understated negative form. 'Special' in KJV meant 'out of the ordinary, singular' in 1611; today it can sound like 'of a particular category'.

Used elsewhere in the period

The idiom is common in Hellenistic literary prose and in the papyri. Luke uses it again in Acts 28:2 ('no ordinary kindness', ou tēn tychousan philanthrōpian) for the islanders of Malta. It is one of the signs of Luke's educated Greek style.

Where it appears

Luke · 1

  1. Luke 20:35 τυχεῖν to obtain

    But those who are considered worthy to share in the age to come and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage.

    Here: 'To obtain' or 'reach'. The coming age and the resurrection are presented as something you arrive at and receive, not something you are automatically part of.

Acts · 5

  1. Acts 19:11 τυχούσας being ordinary

    God did extraordinary miracles through the hands of Paul,

    Here: 'Happening, chance, any old.' In the fixed phrase 'not the ones that happen along' it means 'not run-of-the-mill', so the meaning is 'unusual, extraordinary'.

  2. Acts 24:2 τυγχάνοντες we are attaining

    When Paul had been called in, Tertullus opened the prosecution: “Because of you, we have enjoyed a lasting peace, and your foresight has brought improvements to this nation.

  3. Acts 26:22 τυχὼν having obtained

    But I have had God’s help to this day, and I stand here to testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen:

    Here: "Having obtained" or "having met with." The past tense views the help as something Paul received, but the rest of the sentence shows it lasted all the way to this day.

  4. Acts 27:3 τυχεῖν. to receive.

    The next day we landed at Sidon, and Julius treated Paul with consideration, allowing him to visit his friends and receive their care.

  5. Acts 28:2 τυχοῦσαν ordinary

    The islanders showed us extraordinary kindness. They kindled a fire and welcomed all of us because it was raining and cold.

    Here: Literally 'that happens to turn up,' so 'ordinary, everyday.' The phrase 'not the ordinary' was an idiom of good Greek style meaning 'extraordinary.' Luke uses it also in Acts 19:11.

1 Corinthians · 3

  1. 1 Corinthians 14:10 τύχοι, it would be

    Assuredly, there are many different languages in the world, yet none of them is without meaning.

    Here: This is the optative form of the verb, a rare and somewhat literary mood used for 'might be' possibilities. The phrase εἰ τύχοι means 'perhaps,' 'it may be' or 'say.' It admits that the number cannot be fixed. Paul uses the same phrase in 15:37, 'perhaps of wheat.'

  2. 1 Corinthians 15:37 τύχοι, it would be

    And what you sow is not the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or something else.

  3. 1 Corinthians 16:6 τυχὸν possibly

    Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go.

2 Timothy · 1

  1. 2 Timothy 2:10 τύχωσιν may obtain

    For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, so that they too may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus, with eternal glory.

    Here: 'May attain, may get': reaching and laying hold of a goal. The tense presents the arrival as a single whole event, and the form expresses purpose. It does not mean 'by chance' here.

Hebrews · 2

  1. Hebrews 8:6 τέτυχεν He has obtained

    Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.

    Here: Perfect tense: "he has obtained," and still holds. This is a lasting position. Hebrews does not say how he obtained it, but the letter's argument points to God's appointment (5:5–6) and Jesus' completed offering (9:11–12).

  2. Hebrews 11:35 τύχωσιν· they may obtain;

    Women received back their dead, raised to life again. Others were tortured and refused their release, so that they might gain a better resurrection.

    Here: 'They might attain.' It points to a future result they were aiming for. The martyrs gave up the near prize, staying alive, to reach the far one.

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