καιρός G2540
An appointed time, season, or decisive moment; a point or period marked by divine purpose or particular significance.
Unlike χρόνος, which measures time quantitatively (duration, chronology), καιρός carries a qualitative charge—it is the right time, the fitting moment, the season ripe with significance. In the Gospels, Jesus speaks of 'my time' (Matt 26:18) and warns that the disciples do not know the appointed times (Acts 1:7). Paul uses it for both the present evil age and the coming 'fullness of times.' The word moves fluidly between an appointed moment in salvation history, a natural or liturgical season, and a window of opportunity. Spanish 'tiempo' covers most instances, but the occasional 'época' and 'tiempo oportuno' signal the semantic sub-distinctions.
Senses
1. definite time or period — The dominant sense across roughly 80 occurrences designates a definite, appointed, or decisive point or period in time, often within God's redemptive plan. Spanish 'tiempo,' French 'temps,' German 'Zeit' are used consistently. Encompasses harvest time (Matt 13:30), the time of visitation (Luke 19:44), the present time (Rom 3:26; 8:18), and eschatological moments (Matt 8:29, 'before the time'). The word often carries theological weight—this is not just any moment but the moment appointed by God. 80×
AR["أَوانٍ", "الزَّمَانَ", "الزَّمَانُ", "الوَقْتِ", "الْمَوْسِمَ", "حِينِهِ", "زَمَنِ", "وَقتٍ", "وَقتُ", "وَقتِ", "وَقتِهِ", "وَقْتُ", "وَقْتِ", "وَقْتِهَا", "وَقْتِي"]·ben["সময়", "সময়,", "সময়ে", "সময়ের"]·DE["Zeit"]·EN["a-time", "due-time", "season", "time"]·FR["temps"]·heb["הַזְּמַן", "זְּמַן", "זְמַן", "מוֹעֵד", "עֵת"]·HI["समय", "समय-के", "समय-पर", "समय-मेइन", "समय-से"]·ID["itu", "musim", "sementara", "waktu", "waktunya", "waktunya,"]·IT["tempo"]·jav["jaman", "wanci", "wekdal", "wekdal,", "wekdalipun", "wektu,"]·KO["때", "때-가", "때-에", "때가", "때를", "때에"]·PT["do-tempo", "tempo", "tempo,"]·RU["времени", "время"]·ES["tiempo"]·SW["-wa-mavuno", "amebarikiwa", "wa-", "wakati", "wakati,"]·TR["Zamanım", "mevsim", "mevsimde", "zaman", "zaman,", "zamanda", "zamanı", "zamanında", "zamanından"]·urd["زمانے", "موسم", "موسم-میں", "وقت", "وقت-میں"]
Matt 8:29, Matt 11:25, Matt 12:1, Matt 13:30, Matt 14:1, Matt 21:34, Matt 24:45, Matt 26:18, Mark 1:15, Mark 10:30, Mark 11:13, Mark 12:2 (+38 more)
2. season or epoch — A small cluster (about 3 occurrences) narrows to season or epoch—a defined era, age, or natural season. In Acts 14:17, God gave 'fruitful seasons'; Gal 4:10 warns against observing 'times and seasons'; 1 Thess 5:1 pairs καιροί with χρόνοι to cover the full temporal horizon. Spanish 'épocas' and the English plural 'seasons' mark this as a broader, more extended temporal frame than the punctiliar 'appointed moment' of sense 1. 3×
AR["أوقاتًا", "أَوقاتًا", "الأوْقاتِ"]·ben["ঋতু", "ঋতু,", "কালের"]·DE["Zeit"]·EN["seasons"]·FR["temps"]·heb["מוֹעֲדִים", "עִתּוֹת", "עוֹנוֹת"]·HI["ऋतुएं", "कअल", "मोउसमोन,"]·ID["masa", "musim", "musim-musim"]·IT["tempo"]·jav["mangsa", "mangsa,", "wekdal,"]·KO["때들을", "시기들에-대하여", "절기들,"]·PT["estações", "épocas"]·RU["времена", "сроках"]·ES["tiempos", "épocas"]·SW["majira", "nyakati"]·TR["dönemlerin", "mevsimler", "mevsimleri"]·urd["موسموں", "موسموں-کی"]
3. opportune time or occasion — Three occurrences foreground the opportune or fitting character of the moment—the window of favorable action. In Luke 4:13, the devil departs 'until an opportune time' (ἄχρι καιροῦ); Luke 20:10 refers to sending a servant 'at the season' (i.e., the right time for collecting); Acts 1:7 speaks of times the Father has set by his own authority. Spanish 'tiempo oportuno' and 'ocasiones' and English 'in season' highlight the element of fitness and opportunity. 3×
AR["أَوْقَاتًا", "حينٍ", "في-الوَقتِ"]·ben["-সময়ে", "-সেই", "সময়ের"]·DE["Zeit"]·EN["a-time", "in-season", "seasons"]·FR["temps"]·heb["בַּ-עֵת", "עִתּוֹת", "עֵת"]·HI["पिता-ने", "समय-तक", "समय-पर"]·ID["masa-masa,", "pada-waktu", "waktu-yang-tepat"]·IT["tempo"]·jav["ing-wekdalipun,", "mangsa,", "wekdal."]·KO["그-것들-을", "때-까지", "때에"]·PT["estações", "na-época"]·RU["времени", "времени.", "сроки,"]·ES["en-tiempo", "ocasiones", "tiempo-oportuno"]·SW["wakati", "wakati-mwingine"]·TR["-o", "bir-zamana", "zamanda"]·urd["موسم-میں", "موسموں-کو", "وقت۔"]
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
καιρός, ὁ, due measure, proportion, fitness (not in Refs 8th c.BC+; εἰ ὁ κ. ἦν σαφής the distinction, the point, Refs 5th c.BC+; ἡ ἀπορία ἔχει τινὰ κ. has some point or importance, Refs 4th c.BC+; καιροῦ πέρα beyond measure, unduly, Refs 5th c.BC+ codices; προσωτέρω or πορρωτέρω τοῦ κ., Refs 5th c.BC+; ὀξύτερα τοῦ κ. Refs 5th c.BC+; ὑπερβάλλων τῇ φιλοτιμίᾳ τὸν κ. Refs 5th c.BC+ __II of Place,…