Lexical Summary eutheós: Immediately, straightway, at once Original Word: εὐθέως Strong's Exhaustive Concordance as soon as, forthwith, immediatelyAdverb from euthus; directly, i.e. At once or soon -- anon, as soon as, forthwith, immediately, shortly, straightway. see GREEK euthus NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originadverb from euthus Definition at once, directly NASB Translation immediately (32), shortly (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2112: εὐθέωςεὐθέως, adverb (from εὐθύς), straightway, immediately, forthwith: Matthew 4:20, 22; Matthew 8:3, and often in the historical books, especially Mark's Gospel (where, however, T Tr WH have substituted εὐθύς in some 35 out of 41 cases); elsewhere only in Galatians 1:16; James 1:24; Revelation 4:2, (for פִּתְאֹם, Job 5:3). shortly, soon: 3 John 1:14. (From Sophocles down.) Topical Lexicon Overview of New Testament Usage The word translated “immediately,” “at once,” or “straightway” occurs eighty-seven times in the Greek New Testament. Its concentration in the Gospel of Mark gives that Gospel its rapid, action-oriented pace, yet the term appears in every narrative stratum—from the Synoptics to Revelation—linking decisive divine action with equally decisive human response. Narrative Function and Literary Distribution 1. Synoptic Gospels Immediate Obedience in Discipleship The first disciples “left their nets and followed Him” (Matthew 4:20). Their response sets a paradigm: when the authoritative call of Christ is heard, delay is disobedience. This motif runs through Mark 1:18-20, Acts 9:20, and Galatians 1:16. Ministry application: gospel workers invite hearers to respond without procrastination, echoing Isaiah 55:6. Instantaneous Divine Intervention Miracles consistently unfold without lapse. “Jesus reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be cleansed.’ And immediately his leprosy was cleansed” (Matthew 8:3). Such immediacy attests: Theological implication: salvation, like healing, is a momentary act of grace (Ephesians 2:5), though sanctification is lifelong. Urgent Evangelism and Mission “Immediately we sought to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel” (Acts 16:10). Spirit-guided strategy tolerates no lethargy. Churches derive a pattern: discern God’s direction, then move without hesitation. Eschatological Suddenness Matthew 24:29 links the word with the cosmic upheaval that follows the tribulation “immediately.” Believers anticipate swift fulfillment of prophecy; scoffers forget the Lord can “act suddenly” (cf. Malachi 3:1). The term underlines both comfort and warning: Christ’s return will leave no time for a last-minute change of heart. Mark’s Theological Emphasis on Authority By repeating the adverb, Mark compresses events: baptism, temptation, kingdom proclamation, exorcism, and healing unfold “immediately.” The literary tempo mirrors the inbreaking kingdom, demonstrating that where the King is present, no barrier endures. Pastoral and Devotional Implications 1. Cultivate prompt obedience; delayed holiness is disobedience in seed form. Historical Reception Early Church Fathers noticed Mark’s repeated εὐθύς, interpreting it as evidence of Peter’s eyewitness tempo (Papias). Reformers cited the word to stress sola fide—justification occurs at once. Revivalists such as Charles Spurgeon heralded the immediacy of new birth, echoing Acts 16:33, where the jailer was baptized the same night. Summary Throughout Scripture, the adverb translated “immediately” signals the swift execution of God’s purposes and calls for an equally swift human response. Whether narrating miracles, discipleship, mission, or the consummation of all things, the term underscores the living God’s capacity to act without delay and the believer’s calling to follow without hesitation. Forms and Transliterations ευθές ευθεως ευθέως εὐθέως ευθή ευθηνήσαν ευθηνία ευθηνίας ευθηνούν ευθηνούντες ευθηνούντων ευθηνούσα ευθηνούσι ευθηνών ευθής ευθούς ευθυνούσιν ευθυς ευθύς εὐθύς εὐθὺς eutheos eutheōs euthéos euthéōs euthus euthys euthýs euthỳsLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 3:16 AdvGRK: ὁ Ἰησοῦς εὐθὺς ἀνέβη ἀπὸ INT: Jesus immediately went up from Matthew 4:20 Adv Matthew 4:22 Adv Matthew 8:3 Adv Matthew 13:5 Adv Matthew 13:20 Adv Matthew 13:21 Adv Matthew 14:22 Adv Matthew 14:27 Adv Matthew 14:31 Adv Matthew 20:34 Adv Matthew 21:2 Adv Matthew 21:3 Adv Matthew 24:29 Adv Matthew 25:15 Adv Matthew 26:49 Adv Matthew 26:74 Adv Matthew 27:48 Adv Mark 1:10 Adv Mark 1:12 Adv Mark 1:18 Adv Mark 1:20 Adv Mark 1:21 Adv Mark 1:23 Adv Mark 1:28 Adv Strong's Greek 2112 |
    |