τετρακισχίλιοι (G5070) — Greek Lexicon

τετρακισχίλιοι

tetrakischílioi

G5070 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A cardinal numeral adjective signifying 'four thousand' (i.e., a group or quantity numbering four thousand). Primarily used to specify a total count or sum of items, people, or units measured in thousands, especially in enumerative contexts.

Semantic Range

four thousand (quantity); a group numbering 4000; used in narrative enumerations, census counts, or reports of crowds

Root / Etymology

Formed from the numeral adverb τετράκις ('four times') and the plural form of χίλιοι ('thousands'), thus denoting 'four times a thousand.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

τετρακισχίλιοι is a compound numeral used for precise quantification, occurring in the New Testament (e.g., Mark 8:9; Matthew 15:38) to count groups of people. The construction follows standard Greek compound number formation, with τετράκις as a multiplicative prefix and χίλιοι denoting the base of a thousand. This construction is rare outside enumerative contexts and typically appears in biblical or official records rather than in ordinary speech. The English translation 'four thousand' accurately reflects its numerical value. In Koine Greek, such numerals served an important administrative and narrative function when recording crowds, amounts of money, or other large counts. No significant semantic variation is attested between classical, Hellenistic, and Koine usage in this form, but compounds with different numerals exist.

Translation Consistency

primary "four thousand" 5 occurrences

τετρακισχίλιοι is a cardinal numeral meaning specifically a quantity or group numbering 4,000. Using the explicit phrase “four thousand” is the most natural, unambiguous English rendering for all occurrences (counts, crowds, census figures) and provides consistent, clear translation across forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from the multiplicative adverb of τέσσαρες and χίλιοι; four times a thousand:--four thousand.

Root Family

τετρακισχίλιοι (tetrakischilioi) — four times, thousand, four thousand

Root τετράκισ-; χιλιο- to multiply by four, thousand

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G5070-03`	τετρακισχιλίους	tetrakischilious	`ADJ.S ACC M PL`	four thousand	four thousand (masculine accusative plural)	four thousand	2
`G5070-01`	τετρακισχίλιοι	tetrakischilioi	`DET NOM M PL`	four thousand	four thousand	four thousand	2
`G5070-02`	τετρακισχιλίων	tetrakischilion	`ADJ.S GEN M PL`	four thousand	of four thousand	four thousand	1

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G5070-01`	Matthew 15:38	τετρακισχίλιοι	tetrakischilioi	`DET NOM M PL`	four thousand	four thousand	four thousand
`G5070-02`	Matthew 16:10	τετρακισχιλίων	tetrakischilion	`ADJ.S GEN M PL`	four thousand	of four thousand	four thousand
`G5070-01`	Mark 8:9	τετρακισχίλιοι	tetrakischilioi	`ADJ.S NOM M PL`	four thousand	four thousand	four thousand
`G5070-03`	Mark 8:20	τετρακισχιλίους	tetrakischilious	`ADJ.S ACC M PL`	four thousand	four thousand (masculine accusative plural)	four thousand
`G5070-03`	Acts 21:38	τετρακισχιλίους	tetrakischilious	`DET ACC M PL`	four thousand	four thousand (masculine accusative plural)	four thousand

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