Greek · G2540 · unreviewed

καιρός

Time/right time

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καιρός G2540

Pronunciation kairós

What does καιρός (kairós) mean in the Bible?

καιρός (kairós) is a Greek word meaning "time/right time". καιρός, -οῦ, ὁ [in LXX chiefly for עֵת, also for מוֹעֵד, etc. Signals fulfillment of redemptive expectation. This term runs through the canonical themes of Messiah.

Full entry for καιρός (G2540) · Browse the biblical lexicon

Meaning

time/right time

Extended definition

A specific, opportune moment or season—not merely duration but the right time for action.

1due measure, fitness, proportion (Eur., Xen., al.).

2Of Time (cl. also) in the sense of a fixed and definite period, time, season (Kennedy, Sources, 153): Mat.11:25, Mrk.1:15, Luk.21:8, Rom.13:11, Eph.6:18, Heb.11:15, 1Pe.1:5 1:11 Rev.1:3, al.; with genitive, πειρασμοῦ Luk.8:13; τ. καρπῶν, Mat.21:34; σύκων, Mrk.11:13; pl., Mat.21:41; χρόνοι ἢ (καὶ) κ., Act.1:7, 1Th.5:1; ἐθνῶν, Luk.21:24; of opportune or seasonable time, Act.24:25, Gal.6:10, Eph.5:16, Col.4:5; with inf., Heb.11:15; ὁ κ. οὗτος, Mrk.10:30, Luk.18:30; ὁ νῦν κ. (Dalman, Words, 148), Rom.8:18; ὁ κ. ὁ ἐμός, Jhn.7:6; κ. δεκτῲ, 2Co.6:2 (LXX); δουλεύειν τῷ κ., Rom.12:11, R, mg.; τ. σημεῖα τῶν κ., Mat.16:3; adverbial usages: ἐν κ., Mat.24:45, 1Pe.5:6 (cf. καιρῷ, Luk.20:10; τῷ κ., Mrk.12:2); ἄχρι καιροῦ, Luk.4:13; πρὸς καιρόν, Luk.8:13, 1Co.7:5; κατὰ καιρόν, Rom.5:6; πρὸ καιροῦ, Mat.8:29

Synonyms(χρόνος) time in the sense of duration

Source: STEPBible TBESG + Abbott-Smith

Why This Word Matters

Signals fulfillment of redemptive expectation.

Identifies the decisive redemptive moment of Christ’s presence.

Indicates redemptive periods determined by God.

Indicates divinely ordained moment of redemptive fulfillment.

Affirms divine sovereignty over redemptive timing. John 7:1–13

Grammatical Forms

How this word appears across different grammatical cases and numbers.

Nominative · Singular · Masculine Matt 21:34 · Matt 26:18 · Mark 1:15 · Mark 11:13 · Mark 13:33 · Luke 21:8 · John 7:6 · John 7:8 · 1 Cor 7:29 · 2 Cor 6:2 · 2 Tim 4:3 · 2 Tim 4:6 · 1 Pet 4:17 · Rev 1:3 · Rev 11:18 · Rev 22:10 17×

Nominative · Plural · Masculine Luke 21:24 · Acts 3:20 · 2 Tim 3:1 3×

Genitive · Singular · Masculine Matt 8:29 · Luke 4:13 · Acts 13:11 · Rom 8:18 · 1 Cor 4:5 · Heb 9:10 · Rev 12:14 7×

Genitive · Plural · Masculine Matt 16:3 · Eph 1:10 · 1 Thess 5:1 3×

Dative · Singular · Masculine Matt 11:25 · Matt 12:1 · Matt 13:30 · Matt 14:1 · Matt 24:45 · Mark 10:30 · Mark 12:2 · Luke 8:13 · Luke 12:42 · Luke 13:1 · Luke 18:30 · Luke 20:10 · Luke 21:36 · Acts 7:20 · Rom 3:26 · Rom 11:5 24×

Dative · Plural · Masculine Matt 21:41 · 1 Tim 2:6 · 1 Tim 4:1 · 1 Tim 6:15 · Titus 1:3 5×

Accusative · Singular · Masculine Luke 1:20 · Luke 8:13 · Luke 12:56 · Luke 19:44 · Acts 12:1 · Acts 19:23 · Acts 24:25 · Rom 5:6 · Rom 9:9 · Rom 13:11 · 1 Cor 7:5 · Gal 6:10 · Eph 5:16 · Col 4:5 · 1 Thess 2:17 · Heb 9:9 21×

Accusative · Plural · Masculine Acts 1:7 · Acts 14:17 · Acts 17:26 · Gal 4:10 · Rev 12:14 5×

Canonical Themes

Messiah

Biblical Occurrences

Each occurrence shows the passage reference, the original language term as it appears in that context, its transliteration, and the contextual sense.

Additional Occurrences

John 7:1-13 καιός kairós

appointed time

Luke 12:54–59 καιρὸν kairós

Season, appointed time

Mark 1:14–15 καιρός kairós

appointed time, decisive moment

Mark 13:32–37 καιρός kairós

appointed time, season

New Testament Witnesses

John 7:1–13 καιρός kairós Nominative · Singular · Masculine

appointed time

Luke 12:54–59 καιρὸν kairós Accusative · Singular · Masculine

appointed time

Luke 21:20–24 καιροί kairós Nominative · Plural · Masculine

appointed times

Mark 1:14–20 καιρός kairós Nominative · Singular · Masculine

appointed time

Appears In

Compound and idiomatic lexemes in which this word is a constituent. Follow a link to study the phrase and its other participating words.

Word Pictures (Robertson)

A.T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) discusses this term in the following chapters. Open any chapter and go to the Word Pictures tab to read his verse-by-verse commentary.

Acts 24 — Paul Before Felix: Resurrection Hope, Clear Conscience, and Coming Judgment Colossians 4 — Prayer, Wise Witness, Faithful Service, and Gospel Fellowship John 7 — The Feast, the Divided Crowd, and the Living Water of Jesus Luke 12 — Fear God, Confess Christ, Seek the Kingdom, and Be Ready Luke 21 — The Widow’s Gift, Jerusalem’s Fall, and Watchfulness before the Son of Man Luke 4 — The Spirit-Anointed Son Tested, Rejected, and Proclaiming the Kingdom Mark 1 — The Beginning of the Gospel: The Servant-King Appears with Authority Matthew 16 — The Confession of the Christ, the Church Christ Builds, and the Cross-Shaped Way of Discipleship Matthew 21 — The King Enters Jerusalem, Judges Fruitless Religion, and Exposes Rejected-Son Leadership Matthew 8 — The Authority of Jesus over Uncleanness, Sickness, Discipleship, Storms, and Demons Romans 13 — Submission to Governing Authorities, Love as the Fulfillment of the Law, and Life in the Light of the Coming Day

A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament (1930–31) — public domain

Sources

MorphGNT Strong's Dictionary XML — CC0 1.0 Public Domain

Open Scriptures Hebrew Bible (morphhb/OSHB) — CC BY 4.0

Open Scriptures Hebrew Lexicon — CC BY 4.0

STEPBible Data — CC BY 4.0

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