εὐθέως (eutheōs)
eutheōs
immediately
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 92 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adverb eutheōs means to act without delay, translating as "immediately," "straightway," or "at once." It describes a response that is direct and unhesitating, leaving no room for pause or deliberation. In the New Testament, it appears frequently in Matthew, Luke, John, and Acts, serving as a narrative marker that propels the story forward with urgency.
This word often highlights the decisive nature of those who encounter Jesus. For instance, when Jesus calls his first disciples, they leave their nets and follow him eutheōs (Matthew 4:20). The term emphasizes the speed of obedience, whether it is a demon leaving a person or a crowd gathering around a miracle. It signals that the event happening is significant enough to demand an instant reaction.
Eutheōs is a Hellenistic variant of the more common euthys, which dominates in Mark’s Gospel. While both words carry the same sense of immediacy, eutheōs appears in other Gospels and epistles, such as James 1:24, where it describes someone who forgets what they looked like after looking in a mirror. The etymology points to straightness or directness, suggesting a path with no detours. Translators consistently render it with words that convey suddenness, preserving the original text’s emphasis on swift action.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word eutheōs captures a sense of directness and speed, describing actions that happen without hesitation or detour. In the Gospels, this term often marks moments where people respond to Jesus with urgent obedience. When disciples leave their livelihoods to follow Him, or when healings occur at His touch, the narrative uses this word to show that some encounters demand an immediate response. It reminds us that faith is not always about long deliberation but sometimes about a decisive turn toward the Lord.
For your daily life, this concept invites you to consider where God might be calling for prompt action. Perhaps there is a nudge to reconcile, a task to begin, or a moment of compassion to seize right now. Instead of letting delay cloud your judgment, eutheōs encourages a heart that is ready to move when the opportunity arises. It suggests that the most significant moments often require us to step forward without waiting for perfect conditions.
While we cannot control every circumstance, we can cultivate a spirit of readiness. This word does not demand reckless haste but rather a willingness to act with integrity and speed when the path is clear. By embracing this directness, you allow God’s work to flow through you without unnecessary obstruction, trusting that He guides your steps even in the rush.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 92 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- immediately80×
- Immediately8×
- soon2×
- immediately;1×
- immediately [is]1×
- early1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- εὐθὺς50×
- εὐθέως39×
- εὐθύς·1×
- εὐθύς,1×
- εὐθέως,1×
- Εὐθέως1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 4:20
They immediately left their nets and followed him.
This verse highlights the decisive nature of discipleship, showing how the call to follow Jesus prompted an instant departure from their former lives.
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Mark 1:18
Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.
Here the word emphasizes the swift obedience of Simon and Andrew, who left their nets without hesitation upon hearing Jesus' invitation.
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Matthew 8:3
Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
The immediate cleansing of leprosy demonstrates the power of Jesus' word to bring instant restoration when He chooses to act.
-
Matthew 13:20
What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
In this parable, the rocky soil represents those who receive the message with initial joy but lack the depth for enduring faith.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does eutheōs mean in the New Testament?
How is eutheōs different from other words for 'immediately'?
Where does this word appear most frequently?
Why is this word significant for understanding faith?
Every Occurrence (92 verses across 9 books)
Matthew 18 verses
Jesus, when he was baptized, went up directly from the water: and behold, the heavens were opened to him. He saw the…
Matthew 4:20They immediately left their nets and followed him.
Matthew 4:22They immediately left the boat and their father, and followed him.
Matthew 8:3Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I want to. Be made clean.” Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
Matthew 13:5Others fell on rocky ground, where they didn’t have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, because they had no…
Matthew 13:20What was sown on the rocky places, this is he who hears the word and immediately with joy receives it;
Matthew 13:21yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while. When oppression or persecution arises because of the word,…
Matthew 14:22Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of him to the other side, while he sent the…
Matthew 14:27But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Cheer up! It is I! Don’t be afraid.”
Matthew 14:31Immediately Jesus stretched out his hand, took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”
Matthew 20:34Jesus, being moved with compassion, touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received their sight, and they…
Matthew 21:2saying to them, “Go into the village that is opposite you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with…
Matthew 21:3If anyone says anything to you, you shall say, ‘The Lord needs them,’ and immediately he will send them.”
Matthew 24:29“But immediately after the suffering of those days, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give its light, the…
Matthew 25:15To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his own ability. Then he went on his…
Matthew 26:49Immediately he came to Jesus, and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Matthew 26:74Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.
Matthew 27:48Immediately one of them ran and took a sponge, filled it with vinegar, put it on a reed, and gave him a drink.