Lexical Definition

‎פֶּתַע‎ pethaʻ (peh'-thah) suddenness ^H:N-M
from an unused root meaning to open (the eyes); (compare ‎פִּתְאוֹם‎)

at an instant, suddenly, [idiom] very.

• a wink, i.e. moment(used only (with or without preposition) adverbially, quickly or unexpectedly

1) suddenness, in an instant

See Greek: ἐξαίφνης · ἐξάπινα · παραχρῆμα · στιγμή

Brown-Driver-Briggs

‎פֶּתַע‎ substantive suddenness ( √ unknown: compare Assyrian ina pitti, ina pittimma, in suddenness, instantly, Dl^{HWB 553}): — Num 35:22 . . . ‎הֲדָפוֺ וְאִםבְּֿפֶתַע‎ if he have thrust him in suddenness, before he is aware what he has done (i.e. accidentally); + ‎פִּתְאֹם‎ Num 6:9 ‎וכי ימות מת עליו בפתע פתאם‎ i.e. very suddenly; ‎לְפֶתַע‎ according to (‎לְ‎, p. 5 I 6 b) suddenness, Isa 29:5 ‎והיה לפתע פתאם‎ = at an instant, suddenly, Isa 30:13 ‎שִׁבְרָהּ אשׁר פתאם לפתע יבוא‎. As adverb accusative, suddenly, Prov 6:15 (= Prov 29:1) ‎פֶּתַע יִשָּׁבֵר‎, Hab 2:7.

Brown-Driver-Briggs References