Greek word · G887

ἀχλύς

achlys

mist

Mist, haze, gloom. Used especially of a dimness or film over the eyes, and in epic poetry of the darkness that covers the eyes of the dying or the dazed.

Appears once in the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

ἀχλύς, -ύος, ἡ

[in Aq.: Ezekiel 12:7; Sm.: Job 3:5 * ;]

a mist, esp. a dimness of the eyes: Acts 13:11 (see Tr., Syn., § with).†

(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 13:11

Range of meaning

Mist, haze, gloom. Used especially of a dimness or film over the eyes, and in epic poetry of the darkness that covers the eyes of the dying or the dazed.

Against the English

All the major English versions say 'mist', which is accurate. The word suggests a haze over the eyes more than weather.

Used elsewhere in the period

Homer uses it of the mist Athena removes from Diomedes' eyes so he can tell gods from men (Iliad 5.127), and of death's mist over the eyes. The Greek medical writers (Hippocrates, Galen) use it for clouding of vision. In the New Testament it occurs only here.

Where it appears

Acts · 1

  1. Acts 13:11 ἀχλὺς mist

    Now look, the hand of the Lord is against you, and for a time you will be blind and unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.

    Here: A clouding or haze over the eyes. It appears only here in the New Testament. It suggests sight fading into fog before it goes completely dark.

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