τυγχάνω G5177
To obtain or attain something sought; to happen or chance; (as participle) ordinary, common.
A verb whose semantic range stretches from purposeful attainment to mere happenstance. At one end, Paul declares that he has 'obtained help from God' to this very day (Acts 26:22), and the faithful strive to 'obtain the resurrection from the dead' (Luke 20:35). At the other extreme, the participial form means simply 'ordinary' — miracles at Ephesus were 'no ordinary' (ou tas tuchousas) wonders (Acts 19:11), using litotes to underscore the extraordinary by negating the commonplace. Between these poles sits the impersonal 'it may happen' or 'perhaps' (1 Cor 15:37), where Spanish 'quizás' and 'acaso' reveal the chance element that lurks in the word's etymology.
Senses
1. obtain or attain — To obtain, attain, or receive something desired or sought after. Paul 'obtained help from God' (Acts 26:22), the elect strive 'to obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus' (2 Tim 2:10), and those 'counted worthy obtain that age' (Luke 20:35). Spanish uses 'alcanzar' (to reach, attain) and 'gozar' (to enjoy), while French 'obtenir' and German 'erlangen' consistently mark purposeful acquisition. The seven occurrences span human courtesy (Acts 24:2; 27:3) to eschatological hope. 7×
AR["أَنْ-يَنَالَ", "نَائِلًا", "نَائِلِينَ", "نَالَ", "يَنالوا", "يَنَالُوا"]·ben["-পুনরুত্থানের", "তারা-পায়", "পাইতে", "পাইতেছি", "পাইয়া", "পায়,", "পেয়েছেন"]·DE["erlangen", "τυγχάνοντες", "τυχεῖν", "τυχὼν"]·EN["enjoying", "having-obtained", "he-has-obtained", "may-obtain", "they-might-obtain", "to-obtain", "to-receive"]·FR["erlangen", "obtenir"]·heb["זָכָה", "זוֹכִים", "זוֹכֶה", "יִזְכּוּ", "יַשִּׂיגוּ", "לְהַשִּׂיג", "לְקַבֵּל"]·HI["पअयेन,", "पाएं।", "पाकर", "पातेहुए", "पाने।", "प्राप्त-करने", "प्राप्त-किया"]·ID["memperoleh", "mencapai", "menerima.", "menikmati", "mereka-peroleh.", "telah-memperoleh"]·IT["Trofimo", "tetuchen", "tuchein", "tuchōsin"]·jav["angsal", "nampi", "nampi.", "nggayuh,", "pikantuk", "pikantuk,", "sampun-pikantuk"]·KO["누리며", "받기를", "얻게-하라,", "얻기를", "얻기에", "얻어서", "얻었으니"]·PT["alcancem", "alcançar", "alcançassem", "obteve", "receber.", "tendo-obtido"]·RU["достиг", "достигли", "достигнуть", "достичь", "получая", "получив", "получить"]·ES["alcancen", "de-alcanzar", "gozando", "ha-obtenido", "habiendo-obtenido", "obtengan", "recibir"]·SW["amepata", "kupata", "kuupata", "niliopata", "tukipata", "wapate"]·TR["elde-etti", "ulaşarak", "ulaşmak", "ulaşmaya", "ulaşsınlar"]·urd["پا-کر", "پائیں", "پاتے-ہوئے", "پانا", "پانے-کو", "پایا"]
2. happen or chance — To happen, come about, or chance — an impersonal usage expressing possibility or contingency. Paul writes 'perhaps of wheat or some other grain' (1 Cor 15:37) and 'perhaps I will stay with you' (1 Cor 16:6). Spanish 'quizás' and 'acaso' lay bare the etymological link to chance and fortune that undergirds the entire word family. This sense preserves the oldest stratum of tunchano: hitting upon something by luck rather than intention. 3×
AR["تُوجَدُ", "لَعَلَّ", "يُوجَدُ"]·ben["সম্ভবত", "হয়", "হয়,"]·DE["erlangen"]·EN["it-may-happen", "perhaps"]·FR["obtenir"]·heb["אוּלַי", "יִקְרֶה", "קָרָה"]·HI["शायद", "हो"]·ID["kebetulan", "kebetulan,", "mungkin"]·IT["Trofimo"]·jav["bok-bilih", "kalampahan"]·KO["아마", "있다면"]·PT["calha", "calha,"]·RU["возможно", "случится"]·ES["acaso", "quizás"]·SW["ikitokea", "labda"]·TR["kalacağım", "olursa", "tip"]·urd["شاید", "ہو"]
3. ordinary or common — Ordinary, common, or usual — the adjectival participial form, typically appearing in litotes constructions where negation produces emphasis. The miracles through Paul were 'not ordinary' (ou tas tuchousas, Acts 19:11), and the Maltese showed 'no ordinary' (ou ten tuchousan) kindness (Acts 28:2). Spanish 'comunes' / 'común' and German 'gewoehnlich' clarify what the Greek achieves through participial flexibility: marking the baseline of the expected so that its negation highlights the exceptional. 2×
AR["عادِيَّةً", "عَادِيَّةٍ"]·ben["সাধারণ"]·DE["τυχούσας", "τυχοῦσαν"]·EN["ordinary"]·FR["obtenir"]·heb["מְקֻרִית", "רְגִילוֹת"]·HI["साधारण", "सामान्य"]·ID["biasa"]·IT["Trofimo"]·jav["lumrah"]·KO["보통-의", "보통이-아닌"]·PT["comum", "comuns,"]·RU["обычное", "обычные,"]·ES["comunes", "común"]·SW["ya-kawaida", "za-kawaida"]·TR["bize", "sıradan"]·urd["معمولی"]
Related Senses
H1961 1. be, exist, was (Qal copular/existential) (3505×)G1510 1. copulative, linking predication (2095×)H3045 1. Qal: to know, perceive, understand (829×)H3548 1. priest, cultic officiant (750×)H5315 1. soul, inner being (647×)H3820a 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (572×)G5547 1. Christ, Messiah, Anointed One (540×)G1096 1. become, change state (421×)H5030 1. Prophet, divine spokesperson (317×)H4672 1. Qal: find, discover (289×)H5930a 1. burnt offering (sacrifice) (286×)G1492 1. know facts or truths (285×)H3881 1. Levites (priestly class) (283×)H3824 1. heart, inner self (mind/will/emotion) (250×)H1245 1. seek, search for (200×)G1097 1. know, be acquainted with (196×)H2142 1. Qal: remember, recall (173×)G1096 2. happen, occur, take place (158×)G2588 1. heart (inner self, mind, will) (158×)G1510 2. participial, being (circumstantial/attributive) (157×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
τυγχάνω, Refs 6th c.BC+: Epic dialect imperfect τύγχανον Refs 8th c.BC+, (παρετ-) Refs 8th c.BC+: future τεύξομαι Refs 8th c.BC+ (also as future middle of τεύχω): aorist 2 ἔτῠχον, Epic dialect τύχον, Refs 8th c.BC+, etc.; Epic dialect subjunctive τύχωμι, -ῃσι, Refs; later also τετύχῃσι, Refs 1st c.BC+; late Epic dialect optative τετύχοιμι Refs 4th c.AD+: Epic dialect also aorist 1 ἐτύχησα Refs…