Divine Timing: τότε (Strong’s G5119: tote) Marks God’s Appointed Moments

Strong’s G5119: A temporal adverb meaning “then,” “at that time,” or “thereupon.” In biblical narratives, it often marks decisive moments in salvation history, highlighting God’s perfect timing in fulfilling His purposes and promises through specific events.

U – Unveiling the Word

τότε serves as a crucial marker in biblical narratives, particularly in Matthew’s Gospel, where it appears frequently to highlight significant moments in God’s redemptive plan. First appearing in Matthew 2:7, it marks the moment when Herod secretly summons the wise men, setting in motion events that fulfill prophecy. The early church recognized τότε as more than just a temporal marker; it signified God’s sovereign timing in salvation history. Today, it reminds us that God works through specific moments and appointed times to accomplish His purposes, encouraging believers to trust His perfect timing.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: τότε, tote, /ˈto.te/
• Detailed Pronunciation: TOH-teh (where ‘oh’ is like in “go”)
• Part of Speech: Adverb

Etymology:

• From Proto-Indo-European *tod-ke
• Root: το- (to-) demonstrative element
• Suffix: -τε (-te) indicating time

D – Defining Meanings

• Then
• At that time
• Thereupon
• Subsequently

For compound words: Not applicable as τότε is a simple adverb

Translation Options:

• “then” – marking sequence
• “at that time” – emphasizing specific moment
• “thereupon” – indicating immediate consequence

E – Exploring Similar Words

• νῦν (nun) /nyn/ – now, at present See G3568
• ἔπειτα (epeita) /ˈe.pei.ta/ – then, thereafter See G1899
• εὐθύς (euthus) /eu.ˈtʰys/ – immediately See G2117

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

As an adverb, τότε is indeclinable, meaning it maintains the same form regardless of its position or function in a sentence. It doesn’t change for:

• Case
• Number
• Gender
• Person

Cross-references: Used with various tenses to indicate temporal relationships

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

The lexicons provide comprehensive understanding of τότε. BDAG emphasizes its function in marking significant narrative transitions. Thayer’s notes its use in both temporal sequence and logical consequence. LSJ documents its classical usage in historical narratives. Vine’s highlights its importance in prophetic fulfillment. Strong’s connects it to decisive moments in biblical history. Moulton and Milligan cite extensive papyri showing its common usage. LEH notes its frequent appearance in the Septuagint marking divine interventions.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:

“Then Herod secretly called the wise men and determined from them what time the star appeared.” Matthew 2:7

Additional References:
Matthew 3:5
Matthew 4:1
Luke 21:10
John 11:14
Acts 1:12

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

τότε powerfully demonstrates God’s sovereignty over time and events. Its frequent use in Matthew’s Gospel particularly highlights how God orchestrates history to fulfill His promises. The good news of King Jesus unfolds in God’s perfect timing, with each τότε marking a step toward the ultimate fulfillment of His redemptive plan. This word reminds us that God’s timing is never random but purposeful, bringing hope and assurance to believers waiting on His promises.

D – Did You Know?

• τότε appears over 90 times in Matthew’s Gospel alone
• It often marks fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies
• Early Christian writers used it to structure their historical accounts of Jesus’ life

Strong’s G5119: A temporal adverb meaning “then,” “at that time,” or “thereupon.” In biblical narratives, it often marks decisive moments in salvation history, highlighting God’s perfect timing in fulfilling His purposes and promises through specific events.

Part of speech: Adverb

Tags: timing, sequence, fulfillment, prophecy, narrative, divine-timing, matthew, salvation-history, chronology, appointed-time, providence, sovereignty​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​