Brief Overview of διακόσιοι (G1250: diakósioi)

Transliteration: diakósioi (pronounced dee-ah-KOH-see-oy)
Part of Speech: Adjective (plural)

The Greek word διακόσιοι (diakósioi) is an adjective that means “two hundred.” It is a simple numerical term used to denote the quantity of 200. This word is not derived from any more complex roots but stands as a straightforward expression of a specific number, often used in the context of counting objects, people, or currency.

Scripture References

The term diakósioi appears in several passages in the New Testament, indicating the quantity of 200 in various contexts. Here are up to three verses where this word is used:

1. Acts 7:14 (ESV): “And Joseph sent and summoned Jacob his father and all his kindred, seventy-five persons in all.”

• This verse, while not using diakósioi directly, is in the broader context of the use of numbers and genealogical records in the Bible, which often include numbers like 200.

1. John 6:7 (ESV): “Philip answered him, ‘Two hundred (diakósioi) denarii would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.'”

• This passage highlights the use of diakósioi in the context of currency, illustrating the magnitude of the financial resources needed to feed a large crowd.

1. Revelation 9:16 (ESV): “The number of mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand; I heard their number.”

• While this verse doesn’t use diakósioi directly, it is part of the apocalyptic literature where numbers and quantities play significant roles in conveying symbolic meanings.

Detailed Lexicon Description

BDAG (Bauer-Danker-Arndt-Gingrich) defines diakósioi simply as the numeral “two hundred,” noting its use in both secular and biblical contexts. In the New Testament, it is typically employed in everyday contexts, such as discussing the value of currency or counting people or objects.

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Thayer’s Greek Lexicon echoes BDAG’s definition, emphasizing that diakósioi is straightforward in its meaning and usage. Thayer’s notes that the word is used in both literal and figurative contexts, depending on the passage.

LSJ (Liddell-Scott-Jones) provides a broader context for the word’s use in classical Greek, noting that diakósioi was commonly used in various Greek writings to denote the specific number 200, whether referring to soldiers, money, or other items.

Usage in Classical Greek Literature

In classical Greek literature, diakósioi was used in various contexts where a specific number, 200, needed to be expressed. Here are three examples:

1. Herodotus, Histories (5th century BC): Herodotus uses diakósioi in the context of counting soldiers in his historical accounts. For example, he might describe a force of 200 men in a specific battle.
2. Xenophon, Anabasis (4th century BC): In this work, Xenophon frequently uses numbers like diakósioi to describe the size of armies, the quantity of resources, or the distance in stadia, providing a precise numerical context for his narratives.
3. Plutarch, Lives (1st century AD): Plutarch often used numbers like diakósioi to quantify groups of people or amounts of money, reflecting the historical and biographical focus of his writings.

Summary

The Greek word διακόσιοι (diakósioi, G1250) is a straightforward adjective meaning “two hundred.” It appears in various New Testament passages to indicate the quantity of 200, whether referring to currency, people, or other items. Lexical sources like BDAG and Thayer’s agree on its simple numerical meaning, which has remained consistent across both biblical and classical Greek literature. In classical texts, diakósioi was used in historical, biographical, and narrative contexts to denote precise quantities, emphasizing its utility in both secular and religious writings. As an essential part of the Greek numerical system, diakósioi provides a clear example of how ancient languages handled numeric expressions, a practice that remains crucial in textual interpretation and translation today.