← G3462 G3464 →

μύριοι

mýrioi

G3463 determiner

SILEX Entry

Definition

A very large number, most commonly denoting 'ten thousand' as a specific quantity, but often used more generally to indicate a vast, countless, or innumerable amount. In numeric contexts, indicates the literal number 10,000; in figurative or hyperbolic expressions, denotes an unquantifiably great multitude.

Semantic Range

ten thousand, myriad, countless, numberless, an immense quantity, a host or multitude, an uncountable number

Root / Etymology

From the root μυρ-, etymology uncertain, but possibly pre-Greek or from an older Indo-European base indicating a large number or multitude. This form is the plural of μύριος (mýrios).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In Classical Greek, μύριοι frequently denotes exactly 10,000, which was both a literal number and a poetic term for a great host (e.g., Herodotus, Xenophon). In Hellenistic and Koine usage—including the Septuagint and New Testament—μύριοι can retain the specific numerical value but more often functions hyperbolically to describe an innumerable or unfathomably large quantity. The same word is the basis for the English 'myriad.' English translations often render it as 'ten thousand'; however, such translations may miss its connotation of 'countless' or 'innumerable' in many Greek contexts. In the Septuagint, μύριοι frequently translates Hebrew רִבּוֹת (revavot, 'myriads'). In non-numeric contexts, μύριοι may function as an adjective ('countless'), a substantive ('multitudes'), or a collective numeral. The term does not ordinarily carry the concept of perfection or completeness found in some numbers, but simply denotes magnitude or impressiveness by means of size.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

plural of an apparently primary word (properly, meaning very many); ten thousand; by extension, innumerably many:--ten thousand.

Root Family

μυρ- (myrízō) — to perfume, to anoint with aromatic oil, to smear with ointment

Root μυρ- countless, innumerable, ten thousand
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G3462 μυρίζω to anoint with fragrant ointment
G3464 μύρον perfumed ointments

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3463-02 μυρίους murious DET ACC M PL ten thousand ten thousand ten thousand 2
G3463-01 μυρίων murion DET GEN N PL ten thousand of countless of ten thousand 1

Occurrences in Scripture

3 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3463-01 Matthew 18:24 μυρίων murion DET GEN N PL ten thousand of countless of ten thousand
G3463-02 1 Corinthians 4:15 μυρίους murious DET ACC M PL ten thousand ten thousand ten thousand
G3463-02 1 Corinthians 14:19 μυρίους murious DET ACC M PL ten thousand ten thousand ten thousand
← G3462 Greek Lexicon G3464 →