τυφωνικός (tuphōnikos)
tuphōnikos
tempestuous
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective tuphōnikos describes something that is violent, stormy, or tempestuous in nature. Derived from a root meaning whirlwind or hurricane, it conveys the raw power and chaos of a severe weather event rather than a gentle breeze.
In the New Testament, this word appears only once, specifically in Acts 27:14. There, it characterizes a "tempestuous" wind that strikes a ship at sea, illustrating its use to depict sudden, overwhelming force. The term captures the intensity of nature’s fury, serving as a vivid descriptor for circumstances beyond human control.
Translators typically render tuphōnikos as "stormy" or "violent," emphasizing the destructive potential of the wind described in the narrative. Its singular occurrence highlights its role as a precise literary tool for portraying crisis and danger in biblical storytelling.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word tuphōnikos appears only once in the New Testament, describing a violent, tempestuous wind in Acts 27:14. This rare term captures the raw power and chaos of a severe storm that strikes without warning. It reminds us that some circumstances in life feel beyond our control, much like the sudden gale that battered Paul’s ship.
Even in such overwhelming moments, this word points to a deeper truth: God remains present in the storm. The narrative does not end with destruction but with deliverance, showing that faithfulness continues even when the winds are against us. We can trust that no tempest is too great for His care.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- tempestuous1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τυφωνικὸς1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 27:14
But before long, a stormy wind beat down from shore, which is called Euroclydon.
This verse uses tuphōnikos to describe the Euroclydon wind, emphasizing its sudden and overwhelming force against the ship.