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τρεῖς

treîs

G5140 determiner

SILEX Entry

Definition

a cardinal numeral denoting the quantity 'three' (3); designates a set, group, or amount of three persons, items, events, or periods. Used both literally for counting and enumerating, and at times symbolically or idiomatically as part of fixed expressions or formulaic lists.

Semantic Range

three (as a cardinal number), a group of three, threefold, third in a sequence (in derivative forms), used in idiomatic expressions, symbolic reference to completeness or sufficiency (contextual)

Root / Etymology

Greek τρεῖς, cardinal number, common to Indo-European languages (cf. Latin tres, Sanskrit tri-); derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *trei̯es. Not derived from any other Greek term; serves as the basic word for the number 'three.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

τρεῖς (masculine and feminine; neuter: τρία) is the standard Koine and classical Greek term for the numeral 'three.' It appears throughout Greek literature from the earliest periods (Homeric, classical) through Hellenistic and Koine Greek, including the Septuagint and New Testament, in literal counting and narrative enumeration. In legal, ritual, and literary contexts, numbers like τρεῖς could carry symbolic or conventional value, sometimes indicating completeness, sufficiency, or particular structural features (e.g., three days, three persons, three times). In some contexts, the use of τρεῖς/τρία may have idiomatic or symbolic force, but its primary use in the New Testament and Septuagint is straightforward numeration. The English 'three' captures the meaning fully, though it should be noted that the Greek term, like its counterparts in other languages, could be used both for literal numeration and, rarely, for symbolic or formulaic purposes (e.g., 'on the third day,' 'three times'). There are no significant differences between Septuagint and New Testament usage beyond the context-specific functions of the numeral. Related terms include the ordinal τρίτος ('third').

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary (plural) number; "three":--three.

Root Family

τρεῖς (treis) — three, to count three, to be threefold

Root τρε- three, to count three, to be threefold

Word Forms

4 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5140-01 τρεῖς treis DET ACC F PL three three three 43
G5140-03 τριῶν trion DET GEN M PL three of three three 11
G5140-02 τρία tria DET ACC N PL three three three 9
G5140-04 τρισὶν trisin DET DAT F PL three to three three 6

Occurrences in Scripture

69 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5140-01 Matthew 12:40 τρεῖς treis DET ACC F PL three three three
G5140-01 Matthew 12:40 τρεῖς treis-2 DET ACC F PL three three three
G5140-01 Matthew 12:40 τρεῖς treis-3 DET ACC F PL three three three
G5140-01 Matthew 12:40 τρεῖς treis-4 DET ACC F PL three three three
G5140-02 Matthew 13:33 τρία tria DET ACC N PL three three three
G5140-01 Matthew 15:32 τρεῖς treis DET NOM F PL three three three
G5140-01 Matthew 17:4 τρεῖς treis DET ACC F PL three three three
G5140-03 Matthew 18:16 τριῶν trion DET GEN M PL three of three three
G5140-01 Matthew 18:20 τρεῖς treis ADJ.P NOM M PL three three three
G5140-03 Matthew 26:61 τριῶν trion DET GEN F PL three of three of three
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