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ὑετός

hyetós

G5205 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Rain; primarily refers to precipitation from the sky, including both general rainfall and a single instance or period of raining, such as a shower. In extended usage, can denote the act or occurrence of raining or the resulting wetness (from rain) in a given context.

Semantic Range

rain, rainfall, rain shower, period of rain, the act of raining, wetness from rain

Root / Etymology

From the root ὑ- (connected with water, as in ὕδωρ, ‘water’), with the addition of the noun-forming suffix -ετός. No direct verb source survives in classical or Koine Greek, but the sense is related to raining or descending moisture.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ὑετός is the standard term for 'rain' in classical, Hellenistic, and Koine Greek. In classical sources (e.g., Homer, Herodotus), it generally refers to rain as a natural phenomenon. The Septuagint uses ὑετός to translate several Hebrew words for rain (e.g., מָטָר, matar), indicating both beneficial rainfall and rain as a sign of divine favor or displeasure. In the New Testament, it always refers to literal rain, often in agricultural or parabolic contexts (e.g., Matt 7:25; Heb 6:7). Unlike some poetic terms for rain or storm (e.g., ὄμβρος for heavy rain, storm), ὑετός is a neutral, everyday word for rain and does not carry metaphorical extensions unless the context makes it explicit. Standard English translations such as 'rain' capture its core meaning, but the distinction between a general rain and a rain shower is controlled by context, not the word itself.

Translation Consistency

primary "rain" 5 occurrences

'Rain' is the simple, natural English word that best captures the primary sense (precipitation, shower, period of raining) and matches the majority of existing renderings. It is flexible enough to cover both single events and general rainfall and is more natural than the more technical 'rainfall'.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a primary (to rain); rain, especially a shower:--rain.

Root Family

ὑετός (hyetos) — rain, rainfall, precipitation, act of raining

Root ὑ- to rain, water, precipitation

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5205-01 ὑετὸν ueton N ACC M SG rain rainfall rain 3
G5205-02 ὑετὸς uetos N NOM M SG rain rainfall rain 1
G5205-03 ὑετοὺς uetous N ACC M PL rains rains rains 1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5205-03 Acts 14:17 ὑετοὺς uetous N ACC M PL rains rains rains
G5205-01 Acts 28:2 ὑετὸν ueton N ACC M SG rain rainfall rain
G5205-01 Hebrews 6:7 ὑετόν ueton N ACC M SG rain rainfall rain
G5205-01 James 5:18 ὑετὸν ueton N ACC M SG rain rainfall rain
G5205-02 Revelation 11:6 ὑετὸς uetos N NOM M SG rain rainfall rain
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