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βραχύς

brachýs

G1024 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Root βραχ- short, small, brief

Definition

Short in extent, duration, or amount. βραχύς primarily denotes something of limited length (physical or temporal), but can also be used for smallness of quantity or number. In contexts, it may refer to a brief period of time, limited physical space, or a small number/amount. Occasionally, it is used in reference to concise speech or few words.

Semantic Range

short (in space), brief (in time), little (in amount or quantity), few (in number), concise (of speech)

Root / Etymology

From the root βραχ-; etymology uncertain beyond Greek usage. The root appears in Greek words concerning shortness or brevity (e.g., βραχύτης, 'shortness').

Historical & Contextual Notes

βραχύς is attested in classical Greek with the basic sense of 'short' as opposed to μακρός ('long'). In the Septuagint and New Testament, it retains this neutral descriptive sense, applying to both time (a 'little while') and space (a 'short distance'). The figurative use for concise language (e.g., 'few words') emerges from the idea of short quantity or limited extent. English translations such as 'little,' 'short,' or 'a little while' convey some nuance, but rarely reflect its application to quantity or number, which is present in Koine usage. The word does not carry specialized religious or ethnic connotations and is used in secular, literary, and scriptural Greek.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

of uncertain affinity; short (of time, place, quantity, or number):--few words, little (space, while).

Root Family

βραχύς (brachys) — short, small, brief

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G1024-02 βραχὺ brachu ADJ.S ACC N SG a little while a short span 3
G1024-01 βραχέων bracheon ADJ.S GEN M PL brief of few 1

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G1024-02 Luke 22:58 βραχὺ brachu ADJ.S ACC N SG a little while a short span
G1024-02 John 6:7 βραχύ brachu ADJ.S ACC N SG a little a short span
G1024-02 Acts 5:34 βραχὺ brachu ADJ.S ACC N SG a little while a short span
G1024-01 Hebrews 13:22 βραχέων bracheon ADJ.S GEN M PL brief of few
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