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ἐννέα

ennéa

G1767 substantive adjective

SILEX Entry

Definition

A cardinal numeral denoting the quantity 'nine.' The primary lexical meaning is the number nine, used to count or indicate a set of nine objects, entities, or persons. In some contexts, it specifically refers to the ninth hour of the day or a sequence marked as ninth.

Semantic Range

nine (as a numeral), the ninth hour (in time reckoning), a group or set of nine

Root / Etymology

From the Greek numerical stem ἐννεα-, meaning 'nine'; related to Proto-Indo-European *h₁newn̥. Cognate with Latin novem, Sanskrit nava, and Old English nigon. Not derived from another Greek term but represents the inherited form for the number nine in Indo-European languages.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical and Hellenistic Greek, ἐννέα is the standard cardinal numeral for 'nine,' frequently appearing in both literary and documentary sources wherever counting or enumeration is required. It is used without variation throughout ancient Greek, including in the Septuagint and the New Testament (e.g., indicating the ninth hour: Acts 3:1). The usage is strictly numerical and does not carry symbolic or metaphorical significance in most cases. Compared to later translations that may ascribe symbolic meaning to numbers, the Greek term is primarily literal. English translations render ἐννέα as 'nine', which fully captures its meaning; there is no theological or additional nuance lost in translation. Contrasts with ordinal forms (ἐνατος, 'ninth').

Translation Consistency

primary "nine" 5 occurrences

The lemma's primary lexical meaning is the cardinal number nine. 'Nine' is the natural, common English rendering for counting and for sets; contexts like the 'ninth hour' are routinely expressed in English with 'nine' (e.g. 'the ninth hour' or 'nine o'clock'), so using 'nine' provides a consistent, natural base form across all occurrences.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a primary number; nine:--nine.

Root Family

ἐννέα (ennea) — nine, a set of nine, ninth (in time reckoning)

Root ἐννεα- nine, to count nine

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G1767-01 ἐννέα ennea ADJ.S ACC N PL nine nine nine 5

Occurrences in Scripture

5 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G1767-01 Matthew 18:12 ἐννέα ennea ADJ.S ACC N PL nine nine nine
G1767-01 Matthew 18:13 ἐννέα ennea ADJ.S DAT N PL nine nine nine
G1767-01 Luke 15:4 ἐννέα ennea ADJ.S ACC N PL nine nine nine
G1767-01 Luke 15:7 ἐννέα ennea DET DAT M PL nine nine nine
G1767-01 Luke 17:17 ἐννέα ennea ADJ.S NOM M PL nine nine nine
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