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פִּתְאוֹם

𐤐𐤕𐤀𐤅𐤌

pithʼôwm

H6597 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root פתע to come suddenly, to surprise, to startle

Definition

An adverb denoting suddenness, unexpectedness, or immediacy; describes an action or event occurring without prior warning, abruptly, or without preparation. Carries the sense of 'suddenly', 'unexpectedly', or 'all at once' in narrative or poetic contexts. Semantic range includes events that take place with no advance notice and often with implications of surprise or a change in circumstances.

Semantic Range

suddenly, unexpectedly, all at once, immediately, without warning; abruptness with implications of surprise or shock

Root / Etymology

Derived from the root פ-ת-ע (פֶתַע, pethá‘), which expresses the idea of something sudden or unexpected. פִּתְאוֹם is a nominal adverbial form built with the nominal ending -ōm, used to intensify the sense of abruptness.

Historical & Contextual Notes

פִּתְאוֹם appears predominantly in narrative and poetic texts of the Hebrew Bible to highlight the element of surprise or lack of foreknowledge in a situation, often implying abrupt change, disaster, or action (e.g., Numbers 6:9; Isaiah 29:5). It is most commonly used in reference to negative or threatening developments (e.g., disaster or punitive acts occurring 'suddenly'), though it can also simply signal the rapid onset of any event. The term is almost synonymous with פֶּתַע (pethá‘), which is slightly more general and may refer to an unpremeditated event rather than strictly to the manner of occurrence. English translations often render פִּתְאוֹם as 'suddenly' or 'unexpectedly,' but these may not always capture the nuance of immediacy and surprise inherent in the term. In post-biblical Hebrew, the word remains in use primarily in inherited or literary expressions. There is no evidence that the meaning shifted significantly throughout the biblical period.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

or פִּתְאֹם; from פֶּתַע; instantly; straightway, sudden(-ly).

Bantu Hebrew

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Root Family

פתע (p-t-ʿ) — suddenness, surprise, abruptness

Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
H6621 פֶּתַע in an instant

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
H6597-03 פִּתְאֹ֔ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly 20
H6597-02 פִתְאֹ֔ם fiteom HD suddenly all at once 3
H6597-04 וּ/פִתְאֹם֩ ufiteom HC/D and suddenly and suddenly 1
H6597-01 בְּ/פִתְאֹ֖ם befiteom HR/D suddenly in suddenness 1

Occurrences in Scripture

25 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
H6597-03 Numbers 6:9 פִּתְאֹ֔ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Numbers 12:4 פִּתְאֹ֗ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Joshua 10:9 פִּתְאֹ֑ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Joshua 11:7 פִּתְאֹ֑ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Isaiah 29:5 פִּתְאֹֽם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Isaiah 30:13 פִּתְאֹ֥ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Isaiah 47:11 פִּתְאֹ֛ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Isaiah 48:3 פִּתְאֹ֥ם piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-03 Jeremiah 4:20 פִּתְאֹם֙ piteom HD suddenly suddenly
H6597-02 Jeremiah 6:26 פִתְאֹ֔ם fiteom HD suddenly all at once
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