"pr. fitness, proportion, suitableness; a fitting situation, suitable place, 1 Pet. 4:17; a limited period of time marked by a suitableness of circumstances, a fitting season, 1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Tim. 2:6; 6:15; Tit. 1:3; opportunity, Acts 24:25; Gal. 6:10; Heb. 11:15; a limited period ..."
Definition and meaning
pr. fitness, proportion, suitableness; a fitting situation, suitable place, 1 Pet. 4:17; a limited period of time marked by a suitableness of circumstances, a fitting season, 1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Tim. 2:6; 6:15; Tit. 1:3; opportunity, Acts 24:25; Gal. 6:10; Heb. 11:15; a limited period of time marked by characteristic circumstances, a signal juncture, a marked season, Mt. 16:3; Lk. 12:56; 21:8; 1 Pet. 1:11; a destined time, Mt. 8:29; 26:18; Mk. 1:15; Lk. 21:24; 1 Thess. 5:1; a season in ordinary succession, equivalent to ὥρα, Mt. 13:30; Acts 14:17; in NT a limited time, a short season, Lk. 4:13; simply, a point of time, Mt. 11:25; Lk. 13:1
In the original Greek the word is written: καιρός
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of kairos (G2540) across the King James Bible.
And, behold, they cried out, saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? art thou come hither to torment us before the time?
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.
At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat.
Let both grow together until the harvest: and in the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, Gather ye together first the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.
At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus,
And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowring. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times?
And when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it.
They say unto him, He will miserably destroy those wicked men, and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall render him the fruits in their seasons.
Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
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Common questions
Strong's G2540 (kairos) is a Greek word that means: pr. fitness, proportion, suitableness; a fitting situation, suitable place, 1 Pet. 4:17; a limited period of time marked by a suitableness of circumstances, a fitting season, 1 Cor. 4:5; 1 Tim. 2:6; 6... It appears 79 times in the King James Bible.
The word kairos (G2540) appears 79 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2540 is kairos, a Greek word defined as: pr. fitness, proportion, suitableness; a fitting situation, suitable place, 1 Pet. 4:17; a limited period of time marked by a suitableness of circumst. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
kairos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.