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τρίμηνον

trímēnon

G5150 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A period or duration of three months; specifically references a span of time equaling three calendar months. Used to indicate a defined interval measured as three lunar or solar months, primarily as a temporal marker in narrative or legal material.

Semantic Range

three-month interval, period of three months, span of three months, three months

Root / Etymology

Compound of τρεῖς ('three') and μήν ('month'), with the neuter noun suffix, forming a term meaning 'three-month period.'

Historical & Contextual Notes

Rare in classical Greek, the term τρίμηνον is almost exclusively attested in later Koine contexts. Its single New Testament occurrence (Luke 1:56) refers to the time Mary stayed with Elizabeth, functioning as a precise measurement of duration. The construction (numeral + unit) is patterned after regular Greek compounds that denote periods (e.g., τετράμηνον for four months, ἑξαμηνία for six-month period, etc.). The word retains a strictly quantitative sense and does not carry figurative or idiomatic use in Koine literature. Modern English translations often paraphrase it as 'about three months,' which captures the referential sense but not the specificity of the Greek temporal phrasing.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

neuter of a compound of τρεῖς and μήν as noun; a three months' space:--three months.

Root Family

μην- (mḗn) — moon, month

Root μην- month, measure of time
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3376 μήν indeed

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5150-01 τρίμηνον trimenon ADJ.S ACC N SG three months a three-month period a three-month period 1

Occurrences in Scripture

1 occurrence

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5150-01 Hebrews 11:23 τρίμηνον trimenon ADJ.S ACC N SG three months a three-month period a three-month period
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