ταραχή (G5016) — Greek Lexicon

ταραχή

tarachḗ

G5016 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A condition or experience of agitation or disturbance, often referring to confusion, commotion, or tumult, either internal (such as emotional upheaval) or external (physical unrest, disorder, or disturbance in a group or in natural phenomena like water). In some contexts, it can denote riotous uproar, public disturbance, or even sedition, as well as a more general sense of trouble or distress.

Semantic Range

disturbance, commotion, confusion, agitation, tumult (physical or emotional), riot, sedition, trouble, turbulence

Root / Etymology

From the verb ταράσσω (to disturb, to agitate, to trouble). The feminine noun ταραχή is derived directly from this verb, indicating the state or act of being disturbed or troubled.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek literature, ταραχή commonly denotes physical disturbance (such as movement or turbulence in water) and metaphorically, emotional turmoil or societal unrest. In the Septuagint (LXX), it is frequently used to translate Hebrew terms for turmoil, confusion, or distress, such as הָמוֹן (hamôn, tumult) or מְהוּמָה (mehûmah, confusion). In the New Testament, ταραχή most often appears in contexts describing agitation within a crowd (Acts 19:23), but can also refer to inner emotional distress. Standard English translations often render it as 'disturbance,' 'uproar,' 'commotion,' or 'trouble,' yet these may not fully capture the underlying sense of both inward and outward agitation encompassed by the word. The meaning is closely related to ταραχή's cognate verb ταράσσω, and shares its semantic field. Distinct from τάραχος, which can also mean disorder or confusion, but ταραχή generally emphasizes the experience or condition of being disturbed, while ταράχος may focus more on the cause or event itself. The word's semantic range persisted into Hellenistic and Roman-period Greek, retaining senses of emotion, nature, and social unrest.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

feminine from ταράσσω; disturbance, i.e. (of water) roiling, or (of a mob) sedition:--trouble(-ing).

Root Family

ταραχή (tarachē) — disturbance, agitation, commotion, turmoil

Root ταραχ- to disturb, to agitate, to trouble

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5016-01`	ταραχὴν	tarachen	`N ACC F SG`	troubling	disturbance	disturbance	1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5016-01`	John 5:4	ταραχὴν	tarachen	`N ACC F SG`	troubling	disturbance	disturbance

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