ESTUDIO DE LA PALABRA GRIEGA
Nyn (νῦν) — Meaning & Usage in the Bible
νῦν (n�n, Strong's G3568) is a Greek adverb meaning 'now,' used to mark the present moment, contrast with past or future, and signal logical transitions in discourse.
Significado de la palabra
νῦν (nŷn) is a primary Greek adverb that fundamentally means 'now' — referring to the present point in time. According to the lexicon, it functions as an adverb of date, but it can also serve as a noun or adjective to indicate something 'present' or 'immediate.' The term translates the Hebrew עַתָּה (attah) in the Septuagint, making it the standard Greek counterpart for expressing the current moment.
Beyond simple time reference, νῦν carries strong emphatic and transitional force. The lexicon notes it can mean 'just now' when paired with a past tense (as in Matthew 26:65, 'behold, now ye have heard'), or 'presently, forthwith' when paired with a present or future tense (John 12:31). When used with the article (ὁ, ἡ, τὸ νῦν), it forms the noun phrase 'the present,' referring to the current state of affairs rather than a specific moment.
The word also functions in logical sequence, acting like 'therefore' or 'however' to mark a shift in argument. This logical use is often hard to distinguish from the temporal sense, but constructions such as νῦν δέ ('but now,' John 8:40; 1 Corinthians 5:11) and καὶ νῦν ('and now,' Acts 3:17) show how the word draws attention to a new point or conclusion.
Uso en las Escrituras
Across the New Testament, νῦν appears about 114 times. It commonly contrasts the present with the past — emphasizing the ongoing fulfillment of God's plan (Acts 7:52) or the urgency of the current moment (Luke 6:21–25, where Jesus blesses those who hunger 'now' and warns those who are full 'now'). It is also used in eschatological contexts to mark the decisive 'now' of crisis or salvation, as in Matthew 24:21 and Mark 13:19, where unparalleled tribulation is measured 'until now.'
The word frequently appears in compound phrases with prepositions: ἀπὸ τοῦ νῦν ('from henceforth,' Luke 1:48), ἕως τοῦ νῦν ('until now,' Matthew 24:21), and ἄχρι τοῦ νῦν ('until the present,' Romans 8:22). In the Gospels, νῦν often carries an emphatic urgency — as in the mockers' challenge at the crucifixion: 'Let him now come down from the cross' (Matthew 27:42; Mark 15:32). In the Epistles, Paul and others use it to contrast former conditions with the new reality brought by Christ.
La palabra en detalle
- G3568 νῦν (nŷn) is an indeclinable adverb serving as the primary Greek word for 'now.' Its flexibility allows it to function as adverb, noun, or adjective, and its emphatic force makes it a key tool for marking contrast with the past, urgency in the present, and logical transitions in argument.
Versículos de ejemplo
- Matthew 24:21 νῦν marks the endpoint of past tribulation: 'from the beginning of the world until now,' emphasizing unprecedented severity.
- Matthew 26:65 Used with a past tense, νῦν here means 'just now' — the high priest urges immediate recognition of the alleged blasphemy.
- Matthew 27:42 The mockers' 'let him now come down' uses νῦν for emphatic urgency, challenging Jesus to prove his kingship immediately.
- Luke 11:39 With the article (Νῦν capitalized at sentence start), it functions as a discourse marker — 'Now ye the Pharisees' — introducing Jesus' rebuke.
Preguntas frecuentes
Is νῦν always about time?
No. While it primarily marks the present moment, the lexicon notes a logical use where νῦν functions like 'therefore' or 'however' to signal a transition in argument. This logical sense can be difficult to separate from the temporal one.
What is the difference between νῦν and ἤδη?
νῦν emphasizes the current point or a contrast with past/future, while ἤδη focuses more on the idea of 'already' — that something has occurred or is in progress. They can overlap (cf. 1 John 4:3: νῦν ἤδη) but have distinct emphases.
How many times does νῦν appear in the New Testament?
νῦν occurs approximately 114 times across 110 distinct verses in the New Testament, making it one of the more common temporal adverbs in the Greek text.