ἄρᾰ G0686
Then, so, therefore — an inferential particle drawing conclusions; rarely an interrogative marker expecting uncertainty
A small but powerful logical hinge in Greek argumentation, ara signals that what follows is a consequence of what came before. Jesus uses it to clinch arguments: 'by their fruits you shall know them' (Matt 7:20), 'if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, then (ara) the kingdom of God has come upon you' (Matt 12:28). Paul employs it relentlessly in Romans to chain theological reasoning. In one special case (Acts 8:30), accented differently as a circumflex, it becomes an interrogative particle — Philip's gentle question to the Ethiopian: 'Do you then understand what you are reading?'
Senses
1. then, so, therefore — Inferential conjunction meaning 'then,' 'so,' 'therefore,' drawing a logical conclusion from preceding evidence or argument. Overwhelmingly dominant (47 of 48 occurrences), it appears in Jesus's teaching (Matt 12:28; 17:26) and saturates Paul's epistles, especially Romans (Rom 5:18; 7:3; 8:1). All major translations converge: 'then/therefore' (eng), 'pues/entonces' (spa), 'donc' (fra), 'also' (deu) — each language reaching for its standard logical connector. 47×
AR["إذًا", "إِذاً", "إِذًا", "إِذَن", "إِذَنْ", "تُرى", "تُرَى"]·ben["আর", "আসলে", "তবে", "তাহলে", "বোধহয়"]·DE["also"]·EN["then", "then-", "therefore-"]·FR["donc"]·heb["אֲזַי", "אִם-כֵּן", "אֵפוֹא", "אָז", "אָכֵן"]·HI["अतः", "आखिर", "तब", "तो", "फ़िर", "है"]·ID["Kalau-begitu", "benar", "gerangan", "kah", "kalau-begitu", "kiranya", "lalu", "maka", "mungkin", "tentu"]·IT["dunque", "dunque-"]·jav["dados", "lajeng", "mangké", "mila", "ta"]·KO["과연", "그러면", "대체", "도대체"]·PT["Então", "afinal", "então", "logo", "portanto"]·RU["же", "значит", "итак", "разве", "следовательно", "тогда"]·ES["*-pues", "entonces", "pues"]·SW["anaweza", "basi", "itakuwa", "kweli", "ni"]·TR["acaba", "demek-ki", "gerçekten-", "hepsi-", "muhtemelen-", "öyleyse"]·urd["آخر", "تو", "فرض", "پس", "پھر", "کیا"]
Matt 7:20, Matt 12:28, Matt 17:26, Matt 18:1, Matt 19:25, Matt 19:27, Matt 24:45, Mark 4:41, Luke 1:66, Luke 8:25, Luke 11:20, Luke 11:48 (+35 more)
2. then? (interrogative) — Interrogative particle (accented ἆρα) introducing a question tinged with doubt or expecting a negative answer. Attested only in Acts 8:30, where Philip asks the Ethiopian eunuch whether he truly understands the Isaiah scroll. The Spanish 'Acaso' ('by any chance?') captures the tentative, probing quality that distinguishes this rare interrogative use from the confident inferential sense. 1×
AR["هَلْ"]·ben["কি"]·DE["also"]·EN["then"]·FR["donc"]·heb["הַאִם"]·HI["क्या"]·ID["Apakah"]·IT["dunque-"]·jav["Menapa"]·KO["대체로"]·PT["Acaso"]·RU["разве-"]·ES["Acaso"]·SW["Je"]·TR["acaba"]·urd["کیا"]
Related Senses
G3588 1. definite article (18298×)H0853 1. definite direct object marker (10915×)G2532 1. (8312×)H3068 1. YHWH (the divine name) (6522×)H0834a 1. relative pronoun (who/which/that) (4839×)H3808 1. simple negation (not) (4839×)H3588a 1. causal: because, for (3498×)G1161 1. and (2806×)H3478 1. Israel (proper name and nation) (2507×)G1722 1. locative: in, within (2442×)H1004b 1. house, dwelling, building (2015×)G4771 1. you (plural address) (1853×)G3756 1. not (negation particle) (1635×)H1931 1. personal pronoun he/she/it (1431×)H4480a 1. source or separation (1198×)G3739 1. relative pronoun who/which/that (1149×)H5892b 1. city, town (1093×)H1732 1. David (proper name) (1075×)G1519 1. direction: into, to, toward (1061×)H2088 1. this, this one (demonstrative) (1059×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἄρᾰ, Epic dialect ῥά (which is enclitic and used after monosyllables, ἦ, ὅς, γάρ, etc., or words ending in a vowel or diphthong, e.g. ἐπεί), before a consonant ἄρ (perhaps cf. Lithuanian i[rtilde] 'and'): expressing consequence, then, or mere succession, there and then, and in many derived uses. __A EARLIER USAGE: to denote, __A.I immediate transition, there and then, straightway, ὣς φάτο βῆ δ᾽…