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μυριάς

myriás

G3461 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A group or set of ten thousand; by extension, a very large, innumerable, or countless quantity. The primary sense refers numerically to 'ten thousand,' but the term is frequently employed in Greek literature and the New Testament to denote a vast multitude, often as an indefinite hyperbolic expression for 'very many.'

Semantic Range

a set of ten thousand, myriad (innumerable host), countless multitude, very large number, indefinite host

Root / Etymology

Derived from the Greek adjective μύριοι, meaning 'ten thousand.' μυριάς is a feminine noun formed on this numerical base, literally denoting a unit or set of ten thousand.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, μυριάς frequently refers to the precise number 10,000, especially in military, census, and poetic contexts (e.g. Herodotus, Xenophon). However, it is also deployed idiomatically to express a very great or countless quantity, emphasizing abundance rather than precise count (akin to 'thousands upon thousands' or 'myriad' in English). In the Septuagint and later Koine, the indefinite usage becomes common (e.g., Daniel 7:10; 1 Maccabees 4:15). In the New Testament, μυριάς sometimes indicates a literal innumerable multitude—such as huge crowds, massive groups of angels or people (e.g. Hebrews 12:22, Acts 21:20, Revelation 5:11)—more often with the sense of 'tens of thousands' than a literal arithmetic value. Standard English Bible translations frequently render the word as 'ten thousand' for literal senses, but also as 'myriad(s)' or 'multitude' for the indefinite meaning. This flexibility mirrors the breadth of the term's Greek usage.

Translation Consistency

primary "myriad" 8 occurrences

Myriad captures both the primary numeric sense (a grouping of ten thousand) and the common NT/Greek usage as a very large or countless host. It matches the majority of existing renderings ("myriads"), is natural English, and can be consistently inflected for number/context in the SIBI translation.

Alternatives (1 occurrence):
"ten-thousands" (1x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from μύριοι; a ten-thousand; by extension, a "myriad" or indefinite number:--ten thousand.

Root Family

μυριάς (myrias) — ten thousand, countless multitude, vast number

Root μυρι- ten thousand, countless

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3461-03 μυριάδων muriadon N GEN F PL multitudes of myriads of myriads 3
G3461-02 μυριάδες muriades N NOM F PL myriads ten-thousands myriads 3
G3461-04 μυριάσιν muriasin N DAT F PL myriads to myriads myriads 2
G3461-01 μυριάδας muriadas N ACC F PL ten thousands ten-thousands ten-thousands 1

Occurrences in Scripture

9 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3461-03 Luke 12:1 μυριάδων muriadon N GEN F PL multitudes of myriads of myriads
G3461-01 Acts 19:19 μυριάδας muriadas N ACC F PL ten thousands ten-thousands ten-thousands
G3461-02 Acts 21:20 μυριάδες muriades N NOM F PL thousands ten-thousands myriads
G3461-04 Hebrews 12:22 μυριάσιν muriasin N DAT F PL myriads to myriads to myriads
G3461-04 Jude 1:14 μυριάσιν muriasin N DAT F PL ten thousands to myriads myriads
G3461-02 Revelation 5:11 μυριάδες muriades N NOM F PL myriads ten-thousands myriads
G3461-03 Revelation 5:11 μυριάδων muriadon N GEN F PL of myriads of myriads of myriads
G3461-02 Revelation 9:16 μυριάδες muriades N NOM F PL ten thousands ten-thousands myriads
G3461-03 Revelation 9:16 μυριάδων muriadon N GEN F PL ten thousands of myriads of myriads
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