ἐξαίφν-ης G1810
Suddenly, unexpectedly; denoting an event that occurs without warning or preparation.
An adverb expressing abrupt, unanticipated occurrence. Every New Testament use carries a note of dramatic surprise: the heavenly host appearing suddenly to the shepherds (Luke 2:13), a spirit seizing a boy without warning (Luke 9:39), a blinding light from heaven flashing around Saul on the Damascus road (Acts 9:3, 22:6), and Jesus' warning that the master may return suddenly (Mark 13:36). Spanish de-repente and French soudainement both capture the shock element. The word consistently marks divine irruption into ordinary human experience.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Suddenly, all at once, without prior warning. Used to mark dramatic moments of divine or supernatural intervention: the angelic multitude appearing to the shepherds (Luke 2:13), a spirit suddenly seizing a child (Luke 9:39), a great light from heaven flashing around Saul (Acts 9:3; 22:6), and the eschatological return of the master (Mark 13:36). The uniformity across translations -- Spanish de-repente, French soudain/soudainement, English suddenly -- confirms a single, unambiguous adverbial sense of instantaneous, startling occurrence. 5×
AR["فَجْأَةً"]·ben["হঠাৎ"]·DE["ἐξαίφνης"]·EN["suddenly"]·FR["soudain", "soudainement"]·heb["פִּתְאֹם", "פִּתְאוֹם"]·HI["अचानक"]·ID["tiba-tiba"]·IT["exaiphnes", "improvvisamente"]·jav["dumadakan", "sanalika"]·KO["갑자기"]·PT["de-repente"]·RU["внезапно"]·ES["de-repente"]·SW["ghafla", "ghafula"]·TR["aniden", "ansızın"]·urd["اچانک"]
Related Senses
H3117 1. day, specific time (2231×)H5704 1. until, unto, as far as (1238×)H8141 1. year, unit of time (880×)H6258 1. and now (421×)G2250 1. day (388×)H5750 1. again, more, further (288×)H5769 1. forever, to eternity (280×)H6256 1. time, period (264×)H2320 1. month, calendar period (260×)H0310a 2. after (temporal) (258×)H3915 1. night, period of darkness (234×)H1242 1. morning (214×)H5750 2. still, yet (continuative) (166×)G5119 1. then (160×)G3568 1. now (147×)G2193 1. until (143×)G3825 1. (141×)G3752 1. (123×)H6153 1. evening, time of day (123×)H0227a 1. then (122×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
ἐξαίφν-ης, adverb on a sudden, Refs 8th c.BC+participle, ψυχὴν θεωρεῖν ἐ. ἀποθανόντος ἑκάστου the moment that he is dead, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἀκούσαντι ἐ. at first hearing, Refs 4th c.BC+; but τὸ ἐ. the instantaneous, that which is between motion and rest, and not in the time-series, Refs 5th c.BC+; but, ={τὸ ἐν ἀναισθήτῳ χρόνῳ διὰ μικρότητα ἐκστάν}, Refs 4th c.BC+