καιρός (G2540) — Greek Lexicon

καιρός

kairós

G2540 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Appointed time, critical or opportune moment; a time or period characterized by its suitability for a specific action or event. In Koine Greek, καιρός commonly refers to a 'decisive moment,' 'fitting time,' or 'season' for a particular event, action, or circumstance, as opposed to undifferentiated duration. Its meaning extends to broader concepts of 'proper season,' 'due time,' or 'moment of opportunity.'

Semantic Range

proper or appointed time; favorable moment; season; opportunity; decisive or significant moment; appropriate or fitting time; due time; limited period for action

Root / Etymology

Etymology uncertain; not clearly derived from any known Greek root, though some associate it with a verb meaning 'to cut' (καίρω), suggesting a 'cut-out' or marked-off time. However, this connection is speculative and the direct root is uncertain.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, καιρός signified the 'right point' or 'critical moment'—in archery, it was the vulnerable spot to strike; in rhetoric, the timely moment for speech. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods (including the Septuagint and New Testament), καιρός shifted to emphasize not just 'time' in the abstract, but the qualitative aspect: a 'season,' 'opportunity,' or 'appointed time' for significant events (e.g., harvest, fulfillment of prophecy, decisive action). This distinguishes it from χρόνος, which refers to chronological or measurable time. English Bible translations often use 'season,' 'opportunity,' or 'proper time,' though sometimes 'time' risks obscuring the emphasis on timeliness and appropriateness intrinsic to καιρός. The term frequently appears in divine or prophetic contexts to mark moments of fulfillment or decision.

Translation Consistency

primary "time" 83 occurrences

kairós denotes a particular or appointed moment/season rather than duration. The single, natural English noun 'time' is broad and idiomatic enough to cover 'appointed time,' 'season,' 'opportunity,' and 'due time' usages while keeping consistent rendering across all forms (many P2 instances use the phrase 'appointed time', which pairs naturally with 'time').

Alternatives (3 occurrences):

"while" (1x) "seasons" (1x) "opportunity" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; an occasion, i.e. set or proper time:--X always, opportunity, (convenient, due) season, (due, short, while) time, a while. Compare χρόνος.

Root Family

καιρός (kairos) — appointed time, critical moment, opportune occasion

Root καιρ- appointed time, critical moment, opportune occasion

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G2540-04`	καιρῶν	kairon	`N GEN M PL`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times	25
`G2540-01`	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment	24
`G2540-05`	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time	17
`G2540-06`	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	time	of an appointed time	of an appointed time	7
`G2540-03`	καιροῖς	kairois	`N DAT M PL`	times	at appointed times	at appointed times	5
`G2540-07`	καιροὺς	kairous	`N ACC M PL`	seasons	appointed times	appointed times	5
`G2540-02`	καιροὶ	kairoi	`N NOM M PL`	times	appointed times	appointed times	3

Occurrences in Scripture

86 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G2540-06`	Matthew 8:29	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	the time	of an appointed time	of an appointed time
`G2540-01`	Matthew 11:25	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-01`	Matthew 12:1	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-01`	Matthew 13:30	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	the time
`G2540-01`	Matthew 14:1	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Matthew 16:3	καιρῶν	kairon	`N GEN M PL`	times	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-05`	Matthew 21:34	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-03`	Matthew 21:41	καιροῖς	kairois	`N DAT M PL`	seasons	at appointed times	at appointed times
`G2540-01`	Matthew 24:45	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	[the proper] time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-05`	Matthew 26:18	καιρός	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-05`	Mark 1:15	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-01`	Mark 10:30	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-05`	Mark 11:13	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-01`	Mark 12:2	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	season	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-05`	Mark 13:33	καιρός	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-04`	Luke 1:20	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	season	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-06`	Luke 4:13	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	time	of an appointed time	an appointed time
`G2540-04`	Luke 8:13	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	a while	of appointed times	a while
`G2540-01`	Luke 8:13	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-01`	Luke 12:42	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	due season	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Luke 12:56	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	time
`G2540-01`	Luke 13:1	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-01`	Luke 18:30	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Luke 19:44	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	time
`G2540-01`	Luke 20:10	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	at the season	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-05`	Luke 21:8	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-02`	Luke 21:24	καιροὶ	kairoi	`N NOM M PL`	of the Gentiles	appointed times	appointed times
`G2540-01`	Luke 21:36	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	times	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	John 5:4	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	a certain season	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-05`	John 7:6	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-05`	John 7:6	καιρὸς	kairos-2	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-05`	John 7:8	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-07`	Acts 1:7	καιροὺς	kairous	`N ACC M PL`	seasons	appointed times	appointed times
`G2540-02`	Acts 3:20	καιροὶ	kairoi	`N NOM M PL`	times	appointed times	appointed times
`G2540-01`	Acts 7:20	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Acts 12:1	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-06`	Acts 13:11	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	a season	of an appointed time	of an appointed time
`G2540-07`	Acts 14:17	καιροὺς	kairous	`N ACC M PL`	seasons	appointed times	seasons
`G2540-07`	Acts 17:26	καιροὺς	kairous	`N ACC M PL`	times	appointed times	appointed times
`G2540-04`	Acts 19:23	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-04`	Acts 24:25	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	season	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-01`	Romans 3:26	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Romans 5:6	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-06`	Romans 8:18	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	time	of an appointed time	of an appointed time
`G2540-04`	Romans 9:9	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-01`	Romans 11:5	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Romans 13:11	καιρόν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-06`	1 Corinthians 4:5	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	the time	of an appointed time	the appointed time
`G2540-04`	1 Corinthians 7:5	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	a time	of appointed times	a time
`G2540-05`	1 Corinthians 7:29	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-01`	2 Corinthians 6:2	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-05`	2 Corinthians 6:2	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-01`	2 Corinthians 8:14	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-07`	Galatians 4:10	καιροὺς	kairous	`N ACC M PL`	seasons	appointed times	appointed times
`G2540-01`	Galatians 6:9	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	season	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Galatians 6:10	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	opportunity	of appointed times	an appointed time
`G2540-04`	Ephesians 1:10	καιρῶν	kairon	`N GEN M PL`	times	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-01`	Ephesians 2:12	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Ephesians 5:16	καιρόν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-01`	Ephesians 6:18	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	times	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	Colossians 4:5	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-04`	1 Thessalonians 2:17	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	a time	of appointed times	a time
`G2540-04`	1 Thessalonians 5:1	καιρῶν	kairon	`N GEN M PL`	seasons	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-01`	2 Thessalonians 2:6	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-03`	1 Timothy 2:6	καιροῖς	kairois	`N DAT M PL`	times	at appointed times	at appointed times
`G2540-03`	1 Timothy 4:1	καιροῖς	kairois	`N DAT M PL`	times	at appointed times	at appointed times
`G2540-03`	1 Timothy 6:15	καιροῖς	kairois	`N DAT M PL`	times	at appointed times	at appointed times
`G2540-02`	2 Timothy 3:1	καιροὶ	kairoi	`N NOM M PL`	times	appointed times	appointed times
`G2540-05`	2 Timothy 4:3	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-05`	2 Timothy 4:6	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-03`	Titus 1:3	καιροῖς	kairois	`N DAT M PL`	times	at appointed times	at appointed times
`G2540-04`	Hebrews 9:9	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-06`	Hebrews 9:10	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	time	of an appointed time	of an appointed time
`G2540-04`	Hebrews 11:11	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	season	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-04`	Hebrews 11:15	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	opportunity	of appointed times	opportunity
`G2540-01`	1 Peter 1:5	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-04`	1 Peter 1:11	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	of appointed times
`G2540-05`	1 Peter 4:17	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-01`	1 Peter 5:6	καιρῷ	kairo	`N DAT M SG`	the proper time	at an appointed time	at a timed moment
`G2540-05`	Revelation 1:3	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-05`	Revelation 11:18	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time
`G2540-04`	Revelation 12:12	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	time	of appointed times	time
`G2540-04`	Revelation 12:14	καιρὸν	kairon	`N ACC M SG`	a time	of appointed times	a time
`G2540-07`	Revelation 12:14	καιροὺς	kairous	`N ACC M PL`	times	appointed times	appointed times
`G2540-06`	Revelation 12:14	καιροῦ	kairou	`N GEN M SG`	a time	of an appointed time	of an appointed time
`G2540-05`	Revelation 22:10	καιρὸς	kairos	`N NOM M SG`	time	appointed time	appointed time

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