ἄτομος
átomos
G823 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Indivisible, unable to be cut or divided; in context, used to indicate something instantaneous or happening in an extremely brief, subtimely duration—an indivisible point or moment. The word carries the basic sense of that which cannot be further divided, whether spatially, temporally, or conceptually.
Semantic Range
indivisible, uncuttable, incapable of division; (figuratively) an instant, a moment, an indivisibly brief period
Root / Etymology
From the privative alpha (ἀ-) meaning 'not' or 'un-' and the root of τέμνω ('to cut'), relating to τομώτερος ('sharper'). The word literally means 'uncuttable' or 'indivisible.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
ἄτομος is a rare and technical term in Greek, attested in philosophical contexts (notably Democritus and atomist philosophy, where it refers to an indivisible particle of matter), but in Hellenistic and Koine usage it can refer more generally to that which is indivisible, including instants of time. In the New Testament (1 Corinthians 15:52), it denotes an indivisibly short period—a moment—emphasizing the swiftness or immediacy of an event. Standard English translations most often render ἄτομος as 'moment,' capturing only the temporal aspect. Greek philosophical inheritances and lexical tradition demonstrate a semantic connection to indivisible elements both in time and substance. The scientific term "atom," borrowed directly from this Greek word, gained renewed meaning in modern science, but in biblical usage ἄτομος refers to an 'indivisible' or 'split-second' instant, not to physical particles.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from Α (as a negative particle) and the base of τομώτερος; uncut, i.e. (by implication) indivisible (an "atom" of time):-- moment.
Root Family
τομ- (katatomḗ) — to cut, to incise, to make an incision
| Strong's | Lemma | SIBI-P1 |
|---|---|---|
| G2699 | κατατομή | mutilation |
| G5114 | τομώτερος | more cutting |
| G663 | ἀποτομία | cutting-off severity |
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G823-01 |
ἀτόμῳ | atomo | ADJ.S DAT N SG |
moment | in an indivisible point | an indivisible point | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G823-01 |
1 Corinthians 15:52 | ἀτόμῳ | atomo | ADJ.S DAT N SG |
moment | in an indivisible point | an indivisible point |