פֶּ֥תַע

𐤐𐤕𐤏

peta

suddenly

from an unused root meaning to open (the eyes); (compare פִּתְאוֹם); a wink, i.e. moment(used only (with or without preposition) adverbially, quickly or unexpectedly; at an instant, suddenly, [idiom] very.

H6621

Proverbs 6:15 · Word #6

Lexicon H6621

Lemmaפֶּתַע
Lemma (Paleo)𐤐𐤕𐤏
Transliterationpethaʻ
Strong'sH6621
In-contextsuddenly

Morphology HD All morphology codes

Part of Speech D — Adverb — Modifies a verb

SIBI-P1 H6621-01

an eye-opening instant

Rootפתע (p-t-ʿ)
Core Meaningsopening (of the eyes), suddenness, abruptness, instant perception
Semantic Rangesuddenly, in an instant, unexpectedly, in a moment, abruptly
Conceptual SignificanceThe term conveys the abruptness with which events—often divine actions or reversals—can occur in biblical narrative, emphasizing the immediacy and unpredictability of YHWH’s intervention.
Morphological NotesMasculine singular noun in the absolute state (HD), functioning adverbially to denote the manner or timing of an action.
Rendering RationaleThe noun derives from a root meaning "to open (the eyes)," suggesting the brief moment of an eye opening or blinking. Rendering it as "an eye-opening instant" preserves the imagery of sudden perception while reflecting the singular absolute noun form used adverbially.

AI-generated (openai/gpt-5.2-chat-latest)

Words from Root פתע (opening (of the eyes), suddenness, abruptness, instant perception)

SILEX Code Transliteration SIBI-P1
befeta in an eye-opening instant
H6597-01 fiteom in suddenness
H6597-02 piteom in suddenness

Word Usage (7 occurrences of H6621)

Location Form Transliteration Meaning
Numbers 6:9 בְּ/פֶ֣תַע befeta suddenly
Numbers 35:22 בְּ/פֶ֥תַע befeta suddenly
Isaiah 29:5 לְ/פֶ֥תַע lefeta in a moment