χρόνος (chronos)
chronos
time
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 53 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun chronos refers to time as a measurable quantity or duration, whether long or short. Unlike words that denote a specific appointed moment, this term describes the continuous flow or span in which events unfold. It appears frequently in Luke and Acts, often marking the passage of years or seasons, such as when Herod questioned Jesus’ birth date (Matthew 2:7) or when Paul stayed with the Corinthians for an extended period (Acts 18:18).
Its usage highlights quantity over quality. In Revelation, it measures how long a witness will testify (Revelation 11:3), and in Hebrews, it counts the time required to teach basic principles (Hebrews 5:12). The sources note its distinction from kairos, which signifies a critical or opportune moment; chronos is the clock’s ticking, while kairos is the event that interrupts it. This quantitative sense allows it to pair with prepositions to indicate duration, as in “as long as” (Romans 7:1) or “until” (Acts 3:21).
Translators often render chronos simply as “time,” though context sometimes demands “while” or “season.” Its root etymology is uncertain, but its function remains clear across the New Testament: it frames human history within a timeline that God oversees. From the days of Noah to the end of the age, chronos provides the setting for divine action without dictating its timing.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chronos measures the ticking clock of our lives. It counts the years from childhood to old age, the seasons of waiting, and the long stretches of history where God remains silent yet present. Unlike moments of sudden opportunity, this term describes the steady, often unnoticed passage of days that make up our daily existence.
For your faith, this means your life is not a series of random accidents but a measured timeline under God’s watchful eye. Whether you are in a season of long waiting like Elizabeth or enduring a prolonged struggle like the man at Bethesda, your time is known and held by Him. The steady rhythm of chronos provides a stable stage for His grace to work out over years, not just seconds.
This perspective brings comfort when life feels slow or stagnant. You are not wasting time; you are living within a sacred duration that God uses to shape character and fulfill promises. Trust that the hours you spend in prayer, service, and quiet obedience are recorded in His eternal ledger, contributing to a purpose far larger than your immediate circumstances.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 53 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- time27×
- a time6×
- times5×
- time.2×
- time,2×
- [the] time2×
- while1×
- of time1×
- for a time1×
- for a period1×
- a time.1×
- a time,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χρόνον22×
- χρόνων6×
- χρόνος6×
- χρόνῳ5×
- χρόνους3×
- χρόνου3×
- χρόνον.2×
- χρόνον,2×
- χρόνου,1×
- χρόνος,1×
- χρόνον.¶1×
- χρόνοις1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 1:7
He said to them, “It isn’t for you to know times or seasons which the Father has set within his own authority.
This verse distinguishes between measurable time and God's sovereign authority over seasons, reminding believers that specific timing belongs to the Father.
-
Luke 1:57
Now the time that Elizabeth should give birth was fulfilled, and she gave birth to a son.
Here chronos marks the fulfillment of a long-awaited promise, showing how divine timing completes what human waiting cannot achieve.
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John 5:6
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The phrase 'for a long time' highlights the duration of the man's suffering, emphasizing Jesus' compassionate awareness of prolonged pain.
-
Acts 3:21
whom heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God spoke long ago by the mouth of his holy prophets.
This reference to 'times of restoration' uses chronos to frame the historical period leading up to God's ultimate renewal of all things.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between chronos and kairos?
How does chronos appear in the New Testament?
Does chronos imply God is limited by time?
Every Occurrence (53 verses across 15 books)
Matthew 3 verses
Then Herod secretly called the wise men, and learned from them exactly what time the star appeared.
Matthew 2:16Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male…
Matthew 25:19“Now after a long time the lord of those servants came, and settled accounts with them.