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χιλιάς

chiliás

G5505 noun

SILEX Entry

Root χίλι- to count in thousands, to designate a group of a thousand, to reckon numerically

Definition

A group or set consisting of one thousand units; a numerical designation signifying the quantity 'one thousand.' In literary and historical contexts, often used for counting people, soldiers, monetary sums, or other discrete items. Can also mean a military division or regiment of one thousand (especially in Hellenistic and Roman contexts), or an indefinite large quantity (rarely, in figurative language).

Semantic Range

a group of one thousand, thousand units, military or tribal group of a thousand, large but countable quantity

Root / Etymology

From the cardinal numeral χίλιοι ('thousand'), with the feminine suffix -ᾱς, forming an abstract noun for counting or units of a thousand.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical and Hellenistic Greek, χιλιάς regularly denotes a group of one thousand, most commonly people or soldiers, such as a military cohort or division ('chiliad'). In the Septuagint, it translates the Hebrew אֶלֶף (ʾéleph), used both for the number 'thousand' and for clan or military unit, making the context significant for interpretation. In the New Testament, χιλιάς typically means 'one thousand' without an inherent military or tribal sense, though context may imply a specific grouping (e.g., Revelation's enumeration of thousands). English translations almost always render χιλιάς as 'thousand', but this can obscure potential allusions to organized groups or traditional divisions found in earlier biblical usage. Unlike μυριάς ('ten thousand' or 'myriad'), which can also express an indefinitely large quantity, χιλιάς is almost always a specific, countable number.

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from χίλιοι; one thousand ("chiliad"):--thousand.

Root Family

χιλιάς (chiliás) — group of a thousand, thousand units, counted thousands

Word Forms

3 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 Occurrences
G5505-01 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousand thousands 19
G5505-02 χιλιάδων chiliadon N GEN F PL thousand of thousands 3
G5505-03 χιλιάσιν chiliasin N DAT F PL thousand to thousands 1

Occurrences in Scripture

23 total occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1
G5505-03 Luke 14:31 χιλιάσιν chiliasin N DAT F PL thousand to thousands
G5505-02 Luke 14:31 χιλιάδων chiliadon N GEN F PL thousands of thousands
G5505-01 Acts 4:4 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousands thousands
G5505-01 1 Corinthians 10:8 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousand thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 5:11 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousands
G5505-02 Revelation 5:11 χιλιάδων chiliadon N GEN F PL of thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:4 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:5 χιλιάδες chiliades N NOM F PL thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:5 χιλιάδες chiliades-2 N NOM F PL thousands
G5505-01 Revelation 7:5 χιλιάδες chiliades-3 N NOM F PL thousands
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