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πηλίκος

pēlíkos

G4080 determiner

SILEX Entry

Definition

Of what size or magnitude; denotes the extent, degree, or greatness of something in terms of quantity, dimension, or importance. Used both in literal contexts (referring to physical size or amount) and figuratively (referring to degree, greatness, or gravity of a quality or action).

Semantic Range

of what size, how large, how great, how important, of what extent, of what degree

Root / Etymology

From the root πη- (found in the interrogative ποῦ, 'where?'), with the addition of the suffix -λίκος indicating 'of what sort or size'; parallels Latin 'qualis'; the precise formation is obscure but related to Greek interrogative adjectives.

Historical & Contextual Notes

πήλικος is a Koine and later Greek interrogative or exclamatory adjective, appearing rarely in classical sources but attested in Hellenistic and Roman-period texts. In the New Testament, it occurs in Galatians 6:11 and Hebrews 7:4, both times expressing a sense of notable size, extent, or importance ("See with what large letters"; "Consider how great this man was"). It may correspond to a more specific inquiry about magnitude or degree than other general Greek interrogatives such as πόσος (how much) or ποῖος (of what kind). English translations often render πήλικος as "how large," "how great," or "how much," but these may not fully capture the sense of emphasis or estimation in the original context. It does not strictly indicate a numerical amount, but rather qualitative magnitude or impressive size/degree, whether literal or metaphorical.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

a quantitative form (the feminine) of the base of πού; how much (as an indefinite), i.e. in size or (figuratively) dignity:--how great (large).

Root Family

πηλίκος (pēlikos) — of what size, of what magnitude, of what degree

Root πη- of what size, of what magnitude, of what degree

Word Forms

2 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G4080-01 πηλίκοις pelikois DET DAT N PL large to what magnitudes how great 1
G4080-02 πηλίκος pelikos DET NOM M SG how great of what size of what size 1

Occurrences in Scripture

2 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G4080-01 Galatians 6:11 πηλίκοις pelikois DET DAT N PL large to what magnitudes how great
G4080-02 Hebrews 7:4 πηλίκος pelikos DET NOM M SG how great of what size of what size
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