← G5504 G5506 →

χιλιάς

chiliás

G5505 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A group or set consisting of one thousand units; a numerical designation signifying the quantity 'one thousand.' In literary and historical contexts, often used for counting people, soldiers, monetary sums, or other discrete items. Can also mean a military division or regiment of one thousand (especially in Hellenistic and Roman contexts), or an indefinite large quantity (rarely, in figurative language).

Semantic Range

a group of one thousand, thousand units, military or tribal group of a thousand, large but countable quantity

Root / Etymology

From the cardinal numeral χίλιοι ('thousand'), with the feminine suffix -ᾱς, forming an abstract noun for counting or units of a thousand.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, χιλιάς regularly denotes a group of one thousand, most commonly people or soldiers, such as a military cohort or division ('chiliad'). In the Septuagint, it translates the Hebrew אֶלֶף (ʾéleph), used both for the number 'thousand' and for clan or military unit, making the context significant for interpretation. In the New Testament, χιλιάς typically means 'one thousand' without an inherent military or tribal sense, though context may imply a specific grouping (e.g., Revelation's enumeration of thousands). English translations almost always render χιλιάς as 'thousand', but this can obscure potential allusions to organized groups or traditional divisions found in earlier biblical usage. Unlike μυριάς ('ten thousand' or 'myriad'), which can also express an indefinitely large quantity, χιλιάς is almost always a specific, countable number.

Translation Consistency

primary "thousand" 23 occurrences

Chíliás denotes the numeral or unit 'one thousand' and is most naturally rendered by the count noun 'thousand.' This base form cleanly covers the primary senses (a group of one thousand, a military unit, a sum) and can be inflected or pluralized ('thousands') in context for natural English while keeping consistent wording across all forms.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from χίλιοι; one thousand ("chiliad"):--thousand.

Root Family

χιλιάς (chiliás) — group of a thousand, thousand units, counted thousands

Root χίλι- to count in thousands, to designate a group of a thousand, to reckon numerically

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G5505-01 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousand thousands thousands 19
G5505-02 χιλιάδων chiliadon N GEN F PL of thousands of thousands thousands 3
G5505-03 χιλιάσιν chiliasin N DAT F PL thousand to thousands thousand 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G5505-03 Luke 14:31 χιλιάσιν chiliasin N DAT F PL thousand to thousands thousand
G5505-02 Luke 14:31 χιλιάδων chiliadon N GEN F PL thousands of thousands thousands
G5505-01 Acts 4:4 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousands thousands thousands
G5505-01 1 Corinthians 10:8 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousand thousands thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 5:11 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousands thousands thousands
G5505-02 Revelation 5:11 χιλιάδων chiliadon N GEN F PL of thousands of thousands of thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:4 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousand thousands thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:5 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousand thousands thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:5 χιλιάδες chiliades-2 N NOM F PL thousand thousands thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:5 χιλιάδες chiliades-3 N NOM F PL thousand thousands thousands
← G5504 Greek Lexicon G5506 →