δεκαδύο
dekadýo
G1177
SILEX Entry
Definition
A cardinal numeral meaning 'twelve,' being the sum of ten and two. Refers to a quantity comprising twelve individual items or persons. In various contexts, denotes an exact total of twelve whether referring to people, objects, or abstract entities.
Semantic Range
the number twelve; a group or set of twelve; twelve individuals or items (people, tribes, objects, etc.)
Root / Etymology
Compound of δέκα ('ten') and δύο ('two'), forming a regular Greek numeral by additive construction. Ancient Greek forms such regular numerals by combining the lower numbers with 'ten.'
Historical & Contextual Notes
The numeral δεκαδύο occurs commonly in both the Septuagint and the New Testament, almost always in literal counting contexts—for example, the twelve tribes of Israel, the twelve apostles, or other groupings of twelve. The form replaces older Ionic Greek dodeca (δωδέκα), though δωδεκα is also found in classical and Koine Greek (and in the LXX and NT, primarily as a declined adjective, e.g., δώδεκα). The indeclinable form δεκαδύο is sometimes used for emphasis or apposition, especially in lists or groupings. Standard English renderings ('twelve') accurately reflect its meaning, but in biblical contexts the number may signal completeness or tradition (as with groups of twelve in Second Temple period literature), which is a secondary, literary association rather than a lexical meaning. There is no significant theological nuance in the word itself; instead, its significance is contextual. The usage of δεκαδύο is consistent with Greek usage outside biblical literature, where it continues to denote the precise cardinal number twelve.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from δέκα and δύο; two and ten, i.e. twelve:--twelve.
Root Family
δεκα-, δυο- (dekadýo) — ten, two, to combine numerals
Word Forms
0 distinct forms
No word forms found for this Strong's number.
Occurrences in Scripture
0 occurrences
No occurrences found.