χειμών
cheimṓn
G5494 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
A season of cold and inclement weather, especially marked by rain, storms, or wind; generally 'winter,' but also used to denote severe weather, storms, or tempests; in some contexts, refers specifically to the season characterized by storms in the Mediterranean climate.
Semantic Range
winter (season), storm, bad or inclement weather, tempest, period of storms or rains
Root / Etymology
From Greek χειμών, likely derived from a root connected to χεῖν (to pour), indicating the concept of pouring rain or storm. The connection with physical phenomena (rain, storms, weather) is reinforced by its relation to similar words in Indo-European languages relating to winter or stormy weather. The precise morphological derivation is uncertain.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, χειμών referred broadly to both the winter season and to inclement weather event (especially violent storms, gales, and tempests). In Koine Greek, including the New Testament and the Septuagint, it retains both senses: the literal 'winter' season marked by cold and wet conditions, as well as sudden, dangerous storms at sea (see Acts 27:20). In the context of Mediterranean climate and travel, χειμών especially signified periods when travel, particularly by sea, was hazardous or suspended. English Bible translations typically render it as 'winter,' but occasionally as 'storm' or 'tempest' depending on context (e.g., when describing perils at sea). The nuance of unpredictable and threatening weather in the period is prominent, and so 'winter' should often be understood as shorthand for the season's associated dangers. Contrasts with terms like θύελλα (violent windstorm) and ἀνεμοζάλη (tempest); χειμών is broader, encompassing the entire stormy or wintry period as well as individual storms. The noun appears in Hellenistic sources with similar force; it is not used to specify religious seasons or festivals.
Translation Consistency
χειμών most commonly denotes the season of winter and by extension severe or stormy weather; 'winter' is the natural, idiomatic English choice that covers the primary sense and typical uses (including stormy/tempsestuous conditions) better than the awkward hyphenated 'storm-season' or the preposition 'of'.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from a derivative of (to pour; akin to the base of 5490 through the idea of a channel), meaning a storm (as pouring rain); by implication, the rainy season, i.e. winter:--tempest, foul weather, winter.
Root Family
χειμ- (paracheimázō) — winter, to endure winter, to spend the winter
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G3914 | παραχειμάζω | to spend the winter |
| G3915 | παραχειμασία | wintering period |
| G5492 | χειμάζω | of those being storm-tossed |
Word Forms
2 distinct forms
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5494-02 |
χειμῶνος | cheimonos | N GEN M SG |
winter | of winter | of winter | 4 |
G5494-01 |
χειμών | cheimon | N NOM M SG |
storm | storm-season | storm-season | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
6 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G5494-01 |
Matthew 16:3 | χειμών | cheimon | N NOM M SG |
storm | storm-season | storm-season |
G5494-02 |
Matthew 24:20 | χειμῶνος | cheimonos | N GEN M SG |
winter | of winter | of winter |
G5494-02 |
Mark 13:18 | χειμῶνος | cheimonos | N GEN M SG |
winter | of winter | of winter |
G5494-01 |
John 10:22 | χειμὼν | cheimon | N NOM M SG |
winter | storm-season | storm-season |
G5494-02 |
Acts 27:20 | χειμῶνός | cheimonos | N GEN M SG |
storm's | of winter | of storm |
G5494-02 |
2 Timothy 4:21 | χειμῶνος | cheimonos | N GEN M SG |
winter | of winter | of winter |