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Καὶ ἐγένετο ἄφνω ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἦχος ὥσπερ φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας, καὶ ἐπλήρωσεν ὅλον τὸν οἶκον οὗ ἦσαν καθήμενοι.
RBT Greek Interlinear:
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 1096  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
egeneto
ἐγένετο
has become
V-AIM-3S
Strongs 869  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
aphnō
ἄφνω
suddenly
Adv
Strongs 1537  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ek
ἐκ
from out
Prep
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
tou
τοῦ
the
Art-GMS
Strongs 3772  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ouranou
οὐρανοῦ
heaven
N-GMS
Strongs 2279  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ēchos
ἦχος
echo
N-NNS
Strongs 5618  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
hōsper
ὥσπερ
just as
Adv
Strongs 5342  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
pheromenēs
φερομένης
she who is being rushed
V-PPM/P-GFS
Strongs 4157  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
pnoēs
πνοῆς
of a wind
N-GFS
Strongs 972  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
biaias
βιαίας
violent
Adj-GFS
Strongs 2532  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kai
καὶ
and
Conj
Strongs 4137  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
eplērōsen
ἐπλήρωσεν
has filled
V-AIA-3S
Strongs 3650  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
holon
ὅλον
entirely
Adj-AMS
Strongs 3588  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ton
τὸν
the
Art-AMS
Strongs 3624  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
oikon
οἶκον
house
N-AMS
Strongs 3757  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
hou
οὗ
where
Adv
Strongs 1510  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
ēsan
ἦσαν
were
V-IIA-3P
Strongs 2521  [list]
Λογεῖον
Perseus
kathēmenoi
καθήμενοι
those who are sitting
V-PPM/P-NMP
RBT Hebrew Literal:
And the Winds Blew
And she has become suddenly, from out of the Heavenly One, an echo, even as of a violent exhale of her who is being carried, and she filled full the entire Household where they were being those who are seated.7
Julia Smith Literal 1876 Translation:
And suddenly was a sound from heaven as of a wind moving violently, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.
LITV Translation:
And suddenly a sound came out of the heaven, as being borne along by a violent wind! And it filled all the house where they were sitting.
ESV Translation:
Error retrieving verse.

Footnotes

7

Breath/Exhale

The Greek noun πνοή (pnoē, fem.) is frequently glossed as "wind" in translations, but this is an imprecise rendering. Deriving from the verb πνέω ("to blow" or "to breathe"), πνοή more accurately denotes a blast, breath, exhalation, or current of air, typically associated with a source or agent. Unlike ἄνεμος, which refers specifically to natural or meteorological wind, πνοή connotes directed or purposeful motion of air—such as the breath of a living being, the blast of bellows, the exhalation of fire or incense, or airflow through musical instruments (e.g., Pi. N. 3.79; Il. 21.355; Eur. Tr. 815).

In poetic and philosophical contexts, it may also serve metaphorically for divine inspiration or spiritual force. For instance, here in Acts 2:2 (ἦχος... ὥσπερ φερομένης πνοῆς βιαίας), the phrase is better rendered not as "a rushing wind" but as "a violent exhalation" or "a mighty blast." See LSJ s.v. πνοή.

Carried (Like an Ark)

The participle φερομένης "she who is carried" derives from φέρω, which classically denotes “to bear,” “to carry,” or “to be borne” (cf. LSJ s.v. φέρω). The participle in the passive or middle voices (as here) connotes being transported or moved with no implication of speed or force. The rendering of φερομένης as “rushing” in the modern translations reflects interpretive interpolation based on the modifying adjective βιαίας (“violent”), rather than lexical integrity or necessity. There is no inherent sense of “rushing” in φέρω or its participial forms absent contextual augmentation.

Rushing?

"Rushing" is an english idiomatic rendering of a usage of φερόμενοι in participial form combined with other verbs of motion, denoting a sweeping away, a rapid or forceful approach or fall:

  • φερόμενοι ἐσέπιπτον ἐς τοὺς Αἰγινήτας, "they fell into their hands with a rush, at full speed" (Hdt. 8.91), literally "carried along, falling upon"

  • φερόμενος ὑπ’ ὀργῆς (carried by anger, D.H. Comp. 18) — implying impulsive, forceful movement motivated by emotion.
  • δρόμῳ φέρεσθαι πρός τινα, "to rush toward someone" (Xen. HG 4.8.37), literally "carried (or borne) by running towards someone"

(cf. LSJ φέρω B.I.2)