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ἑπτάκις

heptákis

G2034 adverb

SILEX Entry

Root ἑπτά seven, to occur, to do

Definition

An adverb meaning 'seven times'; used to indicate that an action occurs on seven occasions or is repeated seven-fold. The word denotes the precise number of repetitions (seven) and is most often employed for emphasis or as a literal numerical count in narrative or proverbial contexts.

Semantic Range

seven times; on seven occasions; sevenfold; repeatedly (seven times)

Root / Etymology

Formed from ἑπτά ('seven') with the adverbial suffix -κις indicating repetition or multiplicity.

Historical & Contextual Notes

ἑπτάκις appears primarily in Koine and post-classical Greek, with New Testament usage highlighting Jesus' teaching about forgiveness (e.g. Matthew 18:21–22, where the phrase expresses a hyperbolic or idealized frequency rather than literal mathematical reckoning). The adverbial -κις suffix is paralleled in other numeric adverbs such as ἑπτακισχίλιοι (seven thousand times) and τρισάκις (three times). While 'seven times' is the standard translation, contemporary readers should recognize both its literal numeric function and, in certain Jewish and Greco-Roman contexts, its symbolic evocation of completeness or perfection (as with the number seven in Hebrew tradition). In the Septuagint and Hellenistic texts, similar constructions may emphasize thoroughness or ritual purity. Standard English translations accurately convey the numerical sense but may not always register the potential symbolic overtones present for ancient audiences.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

adverb from ἑπτά; seven times:--seven times.

Root Family

ἑπτάκις (heptakis) — seven, seven times, sevenfold repetition

Word Forms

1 distinct form

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G2034-01 ἑπτάκις eptakis ADV seven times seven times 4

Occurrences in Scripture

4 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G2034-01 Matthew 18:21 ἑπτάκις eptakis ADV seven times
G2034-01 Matthew 18:22 ἑπτάκις eptakis ADV seven times
G2034-01 Luke 17:4 ἑπτάκις eptakis ADV seven times seven times
G2034-01 Luke 17:4 ἑπτάκις eptakis-2 ADV seven times seven times
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