Brief Overview of δισχίλιοι (G1367: dischilioi)

Word Details

• Transliteration: δισχίλιοι (dischilioi)
• Etymology: The word δισχίλιοι is a compound of two Greek elements: “δίς” (dis), meaning “twice” or “double,” and “χίλιοι” (chilioi), meaning “a thousand.” Together, these components form the number “two thousand.”
• Part of Speech: Adjective (used substantively in some contexts to indicate a specific number)
• The F.O.G Word Choice: Coming Soon

Primary Meanings

• Two Thousand: The primary and most straightforward meaning of δισχίλιοι is “two thousand.” It is used to refer to a quantity or number, particularly in contexts where specific counting or enumeration is important.
• Numerical Description: In both classical and biblical Greek, δισχίλιοι is employed to provide an exact count, often related to people, soldiers, or other quantifiable entities.

Further Insights

• Morphology: δισχίλιοι is an adjective that aligns with Greek numerical adjectives and can function substantively when indicating a precise number. The prefix “δίς” (dis) signifies the dual nature or doubling, while “χίλιοι” (chilioi) directly references the number one thousand. Together, they form a precise term used for counting or describing a group of two thousand entities.
• Grammatical Agreement: As an adjective, δισχίλιοι must agree in gender, number, and case with the noun it modifies. It typically appears in contexts that involve counting or enumeration, such as in historical records or descriptions of groups or quantities.
• Usage Context: The word is specifically used in contexts where exact numbers are needed, such as in census data, military accounts, or when describing quantities in a narrative. Its usage is straightforward, without metaphorical or symbolic implications, focusing purely on the numerical aspect.

Lexicon Descriptions

BDAG (Bauer, Danker, Arndt, and Gingrich):

• BDAG defines δισχίλιοι simply as “two thousand,” emphasizing its use in contexts where an exact numerical count is required. The word is presented as part of the broader category of numerical adjectives.
• Scripture Reference: Mark 5:13 – “And forthwith Jesus gave them leave. And the unclean spirits went out, and entered into the swine: and the herd ran violently down a steep place into the sea, (they were about two thousand (δισχίλιοι);) and were choked in the sea.”

Thayer’s Greek Lexicon:

• Thayer’s Lexicon concurs with the primary definition of δισχίλιοι as “two thousand.” It highlights the word’s straightforward numerical function in the Greek language, particularly in the New Testament where counting specific groups or quantities was necessary.
• Scripture Reference: Revelation 11:13 – “And the same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand (ἑπτὰ χιλιάδες): and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.”

Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance:

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• Strong’s Concordance identifies δισχίλιοι (G1367) as the Greek word for “two thousand,” specifically noting its use in the New Testament to describe quantities.
• Scripture Reference: Acts 19:19 – “Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”

Vine’s Expository Dictionary:

• Vine’s Dictionary notes the numerical role of δισχίλιοι, emphasizing its practical use in counting and describing groups or amounts. It is categorized under numerical adjectives and used when specific quantities need to be expressed.
• Scripture Reference: Luke 14:31 – “Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand (δισχίλιοι) to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?”

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

• Herodotus’ Histories: While δισχίλιοι is not frequently used in surviving classical texts, similar numerical adjectives are common in historical records, where they were used to enumerate soldiers, citizens, or other large groups. Herodotus, for example, often details numbers of troops in his accounts.
• Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War: Thucydides also uses numerical descriptions when recounting battles or the size of armies. While not specifically δισχίλιοι, similar terms are used to provide exact counts, essential for historical accuracy.
• Xenophon’s Anabasis: Xenophon often gives detailed accounts of the numbers of men in his army, where similar numerical terms are used to convey the size and strength of forces.

Summary

The Greek adjective δισχίλιοι (G1367) serves a straightforward but essential role in both classical and biblical Greek as the term for “two thousand.” It is used to describe exact quantities, particularly in contexts where counting or enumeration is crucial. δισχίλιοι aligns with other Greek numerical adjectives in morphology and function, and its use in biblical texts provides specificity in narratives that require precise numerical descriptions. Whether in military records, census data, or descriptive passages, δισχίλιοι plays a key role in conveying exact numbers in the Greek language.