Brief Overview of πεντάκις (Strong’s G3999: pentakis)

Strong’s G3999: From πέντε (five); adverb meaning “five times.” Used exclusively in Paul’s account of his sufferings for Christ, specifically referring to receiving thirty-nine lashes from the Jews. Signifies repeated persecution and demonstrates Paul’s endurance for the gospel.

U- Unveiling the Word

Πεντάκις represents numerical precision in describing suffering for Christ. In NT usage, it appears in Paul’s catalog of hardships, specifically detailing Jewish punishment. Early church writers saw this as exemplifying faithful endurance under persecution. Today, it reminds us of the cost of discipleship and the reality of suffering for faith.

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N – Necessary Information

• Greek Word: πεντάκις, pentakis, [pen-TA-kis]
• Detailed pronunciation: pen-TAH-kiss
• Part of Speech: Adverb (Numerical)

Etymology:

• Root: πέντε (five)
• Suffix: -κις (times)
• Forms numerical adverb
• Indicates repetition

D – Defining Meanings

• Five times
• On five occasions
• Quintuple occurrence

For compound words:

• πέντε provides the number
• -κις indicates repetition

Translation Options:

• Five times – Direct translation
• On five occasions – Formal usage
• Five separate times – Emphasizing distinct events

E – Exploring Similar Words

• πολλάκις [pollakis, pol-LAH-kis] – many times
• ἑπτάκις [heptakis, hep-TAH-kis] – seven times
• τρίς [tris, TREES] – three times

R – Reviewing the Word’s Morphology

• Numerical Adverb
• Indeclinable
• Fixed form
• Used with cardinal numbers
• Cross-references: πέντε (five)

S – Studying Lexicon Insights

BDAG emphasizes precision in counting. Thayer’s notes Jewish punishment context. LSJ traces mathematical usage. Vine’s highlights sufferings context. Moulton and Milligan show administrative usage.

T – Tracing the Scriptures

First appearance:
“From the Jews five times [πεντάκις] I received forty stripes minus one.” (2 Corinthians 11:24)

Additional References:
No other biblical references

A – Analyzing Classical Usage

N – Noteworthy Summary

Πεντάκις reminds us that following Christ may involve repeated suffering, yet such trials demonstrate our commitment to the gospel. Paul’s example encourages believers that endurance in persecution proves the authenticity of faith and brings glory to God.

D – Did You Know?

1. Used in ancient mathematical texts
2. Common in athletic victory records
3. Important in Jewish legal documentation

Strong’s G3999: From πέντε (five); adverb meaning “five times.” Used exclusively in Paul’s account of his sufferings for Christ, specifically referring to receiving thirty-nine lashes from the Jews. Signifies repeated persecution and demonstrates Paul’s endurance for the gospel.

Part of speech: Adverb (Numerical)

Tags: #Numbers #Persecution #PaulSufferings #Endurance #JewishPunishment #Martyrdom #Faithfulness #Trials #Discipleship #BiblicalNumbers​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​