πεντάκις
pentákis
G3999 adverb
SILEX Entry
Definition
A multiplicative adverb meaning 'five times,' indicating that an act, event, or quantity occurs or is multiplied by five. In usage, marks repetition, quantity, or proportion at the level of five occurrences or units. May nuance proportion (fivefold) or frequency (on five occasions) depending on context.
Semantic Range
five times, on five occasions, fivefold, multiplied by five
Root / Etymology
From πέντε (five) + the adverbial ending -κις, used to form multiplicative adverbs (e.g., δὶς 'twice,' τρὶς 'thrice'). Constructed within Greek with no evidence of outside borrowing.
Historical & Contextual Notes
πεντάκις is rare in the New Testament corpus and contemporary Koine sources, functioning purely as a quantitative adverb. Its first attested uses are in classical and Hellenistic Greek, where such compound adverbs (e.g., τρὶς, τετράκις, δεκάκις) are employed to count repetitions or to express multiples in narrative or mathematical contexts. The word occurs in mathematical, legal, or narrative descriptions to precisely enumerate or multiply actions/events/quantities. In the Septuagint and Hellenistic literature, multiplicative adverbs like πεντάκις indicate precise repetition without qualitative connotation. English translations usually convey the meaning adequately as 'five times,' though the exact quantitative nuance should be maintained, avoiding interpretations such as 'very often' or vague idiomatic renderings.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
multiplicative adverb from πέντε; five times:--five times.
Root Family
πεντάκις (pentakis) — five, multiply by five, occur five times
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3999-01 |
πεντάκις | pentakis | ADV |
five times | five times | five times | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3999-01 |
2 Corinthians 11:24 | πεντάκις | pentakis | ADV |
five times | five times | five times |