ἀχλύς

a mist, dimness

Definition

ἀχλύς refers to a mist, fog, or dimness that obscures vision. In its sole New Testament occurrence (Acts 13:11), it describes a sudden, supernatural darkness that fell upon the sorcerer Elymas, rendering him temporarily blind. This usage aligns with the word's classical sense of a physical obscuring mist, but here it is an instrument of divine judgment. The term can imply not just a natural haze, but a profound, disabling dimness of sight, often with a figurative sense of spiritual blindness or confusion.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 13:11. The apostle Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, pronounces judgment on the false prophet Elymas, saying, 'And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you will be blind, unable to see the sun for a time.' The text then states that 'immediately a mist (ἀχλύς) and darkness fell upon him.' Its usage is specific to a context of divine confrontation and punitive miracle, directly causing physical blindness as a sign.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix ἀ- (a-, meaning 'not' or 'without') and a root related to moisture or fluidity (cf. χλύζω, *chlyzō*, 'to wash over'). The core idea is of something that 'washes over' the eyes, creating an absence of clear sight. It is a poetic and somewhat rare term in ancient Greek, often used in literature for a dark mist or gloom.

Semantic Range

The use of ἀχλύς in Acts 13:11 is theologically significant. It represents God's direct intervention to counteract spiritual deception (embodied by Elymas) and to authenticate Paul's apostolic authority and message. The physical blindness mirrors the spiritual blindness Elymas was trying to inflict on the proconsul Sergius Paulus. This event underscores the biblical theme that opposing God's truth leads to darkness, while the gospel brings light (Isaiah 42:7, 2 Corinthians 4:4). Understanding this Greek term highlights the symbolic weight of the miracle.

In the Greco-Roman world, sudden blindness was often viewed as a divine omen or punishment. The specific term ἀχλύς, while meaning a physical mist, carried literary connotations of ominous gloom or a curse from the gods. Luke's use of this precise word, rather than a more common term for blindness, would resonate with his original audience, signaling a dramatic act of divine judgment recognizable in their cultural framework.

σκότος (skotos, G4655) — general 'darkness,' often moral/spiritual; ζόφος (zophos, G2217) — deep gloom, murky darkness (often of the underworld); ὁμίχλη (homichlē, G3658) — a fog or mist, more common and less ominous.

Word Details

Scripture References