αὐτόματος
autómatos
G844 substantive adjective
SILEX Entry
Definition
Acting or occurring on its own, spontaneously, without external compulsion or direct intervention; denotes something happening 'of itself' or 'automatically.' In various contexts, may emphasize the self-initiated or self-generating character of an action or event, lacking deliberate agency from another.
Semantic Range
automatic, acting of itself, spontaneous, arising without external intervention, self-generated, naturally occurring
Root / Etymology
From αὐτός (self) and the verbal adjective ending -ματος, related to the idea of action coming from oneself; properly, 'acting of itself.' Cognate with the later English term 'automatic.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, αὐτόματος occurs as early as Homer and is used to describe actions, events, or results that happen 'spontaneously,' 'naturally,' or 'by chance,' without obvious external causation. In Hellenistic and Koine Greek—including the New Testament (e.g., Mark 4:28)—it retains the sense of something occurring without visible human agency, sometimes rendered 'of itself' or 'by itself.' English translations vary between 'of itself,' 'automatically,' or 'without intervention,' but the nuance of spontaneity and absence of external causation should be noted. Unlike terms for intentional activity, αὐτόματος marks a distinction between what is deliberately done and what happens by inherent process or internal cause. Not to be confused with random chance (τύχη), but rather denoting a natural process or self-acting mechanism. The word later gives rise to 'automation' in post-biblical Greek and derived languages.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from αὐτός and the same as μάτην; self-moved ("automatic"), i.e. spontaneous:--of own accord, of self.
Root Family
αὐτόμᾰτ- (autómatos) — self-acting, spontaneous, automatic
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G844-01 |
αὐτομάτη | automate | ADJ.S NOM F SG |
by itself | self-acting | by itself | 2 |
Occurrences in Scripture
2 occurrences
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G844-01 |
Mark 4:28 | αὐτομάτη | automate | ADJ.S NOM F SG |
of itself | self-acting | of itself |
G844-01 |
Acts 12:10 | αὐτομάτη | automate | ADJ.S NOM F SG |
by itself | self-acting | by itself |