ἑβδομηκοντάκις

Pronunciation Guide: heb-dom-ay-kon-TAH-kis (emphasis on the “TAH” syllable)

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1441: Ἑβδομηκοντάκις (hebdomēkontakis) means “seventy times seven” or “seventy-seven times,” expressing an unlimited or complete measure of something, particularly forgiveness. This numerical adverb appears only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 18:22, where Yeshua (Jesus) uses it to illustrate the boundless nature of forgiveness His followers should demonstrate. The term represents not merely a specific quantity but an attitude of limitless grace that mirrors God’s own character.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of Speech: Numerical adverb
• Root Components: Derived from ἑβδομήκοντα (hebdomēkonta, “seventy”) + the adverbial suffix -κις (-kis, “times”)
• Language Origin: Greek
• Primary Usage: Teaching/didactic contexts
• Frequency: Extremely rare (hapax legomenon) – appears only once in the New Testament
• Register: High/formal speech, used in teaching about Kingdom principles

Ἑβδομηκοντάκις Morphology:

• ἑβδομηκοντάκις (adverbial form) – seventy times seven/seventy-seven times

Origin & History

The term ἑβδομηκοντάκις emerges from Greek numerical constructions, where the suffix -κις (-kis) transforms cardinal numbers into adverbs of frequency (“times”). The root ἑβδομήκοντα (hebdomēkonta, “seventy”) combined with this suffix creates the meaning of “seventy times.” In classical Greek literature, numerical adverbs with the -κις suffix were commonly used for precise mathematical expressions, but in biblical contexts, they often carried symbolic significance beyond literal counting.

The Septuagint (LXX) provides important background for understanding this term. In Genesis 4:24, the Greek translation uses related numerical language when rendering Lamech’s boast: “If Cain is avenged sevenfold, then Lamech seventy-sevenfold” (ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά). This Old Testament precedent likely informed Yeshua’s deliberate use in Matthew 18:22, creating a powerful contrast between the vengeful multiplication in Lamech’s statement and the merciful multiplication Yeshua commands of His followers.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• Symbolic Completeness – Representing fullness of forgiveness beyond counting; forgiveness without limit
• Numerical Magnitude – Literal “seventy times seven” (490 times) or “seventy-seven times”
• Theological Contrast – Deliberate reversal of Lamech’s vengeful seventy-sevenfold punishment (Genesis 4:24)
• Kingdom Standard – Expression of the new covenant’s higher standard of interpersonal relations

Ἑβδομηκοντάκις Translation Options:

• “Seventy times seven” – Emphasizes the mathematical multiplication (70×7=490) suggesting an uncountable magnitude; preferred in many traditional translations and emphasizes the hyperbolic nature of Jesus’ statement
• “Seventy-seven times” – Alternative translation that connects more directly with Genesis 4:24; preferred by some modern translations based on grammatical structure
• “Unlimited times” – Dynamic equivalent that captures the intended meaning rather than the literal wording
• “Always” – Functional equivalent that conveys the perpetual nature of forgiveness without numerical reference

Biblical Usage

Ἑβδομηκοντάκις appears exclusively in Matthew 18:22, where Peter asks Yeshua how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting seven times as a generous measure. Yeshua responds, “I do not say to you seven times, but ἑβδομηκοντάκις (seventy times seven).” This statement comes within the broader discourse on forgiveness in Matthew 18, immediately preceding the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant, which further illustrates the unlimited nature of forgiveness expected from those who have received God’s boundless mercy.

While the specific term ἑβδομηκοντάκις appears only once, its theological significance resonates with other biblical teachings on forgiveness. This singular usage makes it particularly striking, as Yeshua introduces this numerical hyperbole specifically to shatter limited conceptions of forgiveness and establish an impossible-to-track standard that effectively means “always forgive.”

The number seventy itself carries symbolic significance throughout Scripture, often representing completeness or divine appointment:

• **”Then Peter came up and said to him, ‘Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?’ Jesus said to him, ‘I do not say to you seven times, but **ἑβδομηκοντάκις (seventy times seven)‘.” Matthew 18:21-22

Cultural Insights

In Jewish tradition, the number seven represented completeness and perfection, deriving from the seven days of creation. By suggesting “seven times” as a measure of forgiveness, Peter was actually proposing what he considered a complete and perfect standard. The rabbinical teaching of the day, based on passages like Amos 1:3, Amos 2:6, and Job 33:29-30, generally held that three times was sufficient to forgive someone. Peter’s proposal of seven times was therefore already generous by contemporary standards.

Yeshua’s response using ἑβδομηκοντάκις dramatically expanded this measure to a degree that would have shocked His hearers. By multiplying seven (completeness) by seventy or suggesting seventy-seven times, He invoked a scale of forgiveness that essentially rendered counting impossible. This statement also deliberately recalled and reversed Lamech’s vengeful boast in Genesis, replacing a multiplication of violence with a multiplication of mercy. The ancient listener would have immediately recognized this contrast and understood that Yeshua was establishing a radically different covenant based on grace rather than retribution.

Furthermore, some scholars note connections to Daniel’s prophecy of seventy weeks (shavuim) in Daniel 9:24, which uses multiples of seven to mark the time until the coming of the Messiah and the forgiveness of sins. By using ἑβδομηκοντάκις, Yeshua may have been subtly connecting His teaching on interpersonal forgiveness to the cosmic forgiveness His messianic mission would accomplish.

Theological Significance

Ἑβδομηκοντάκις encapsulates a profound theological truth about the kingdom of God: forgiveness in God’s economy is not a finite resource to be carefully measured and dispensed, but an infinite wellspring that flows from His character and through His people. Yeshua’s use of this term establishes forgiveness as a defining characteristic of His followers, marking a sharp contrast with both natural human inclinations and prevailing religious standards of His day.

This command to forgive ἑβδομηκοντάκις reveals the heart of the gospel message. The Messiah’s standard of forgiveness is impossible for humans to fulfill through their own strength or moral effort, pointing to our need for divine transformation. Just as we cannot track 490 instances of forgiveness, we cannot quantify God’s mercy toward us. The astronomical number serves to illustrate that in יהוה’s (Yahweh’s) kingdom, forgiveness operates on an entirely different scale than human systems of justice and retribution.

Moreover, the context of Matthew 18 reveals that this unlimited forgiveness is not merely an ideal but a requirement for those who have experienced God’s forgiveness. The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant that follows makes clear that our willingness to forgive ἑβδομηκοντάκις is directly proportional to our recognition of how much we have been forgiven. This creates a profound theological link between vertical reconciliation (God-human) and horizontal reconciliation (human-human) that lies at the heart of covenant community.

Personal Application

Ἑβδομηκοντάκις challenges us to examine our own forgiveness “accounting system.” Most of us, like Peter, have an internal calculator that tracks offenses and considers what is reasonable forgiveness. Yeshua’s command shatters this calculator entirely, calling us instead to forgive without keeping record of wrongs—just as He forgives us.

This word invites us to practice what might be called “preemptive forgiveness,” choosing in advance to extend grace without limit. When we encounter difficult relationships where repeated offenses occur, ἑβδομηκοντάκις reminds us that the question is never “Have I forgiven enough?” but “Am I reflecting the boundless forgiveness I’ve received?” Each opportunity to forgive becomes not a burden but a privilege—a chance to participate in the divine nature and demonstrate the reality of God’s transforming work in our hearts.

Related Words

• ἑπτάκις (heptakis) – “seven times”; the number Peter suggested as sufficient for forgiveness, representing a complete measure by human standards. ἑπτάκις appears in the same verse as ἑβδομηκοντάκις, creating a powerful contrast between human and divine standards. See G2034
• ἀφίημι (aphiēmi) – “to forgive, release, let go”; the actual verb for forgiveness that accompanies ἑβδομηκοντάκις in Matthew 18:22. While ἑβδομηκοντάκις describes how often we should forgive, ἀφίημι describes the act of forgiveness itself—releasing another from debt or obligation. See G863
• χαρίζομαι (charizomai) – “to show favor, give freely”; often translated as “forgive” but with emphasis on the gracious aspect of forgiveness as a gift rather than an obligation. While ἑβδομηκοντάκις focuses on frequency, χαρίζομαι highlights the generous spirit in which forgiveness should be offered. See G5483
• ἔλεος (eleos) – “mercy, compassion”; the quality that underlies the practice of ἑβδομηκοντάκις-level forgiveness. Mercy motivates us to forgive beyond reasonable human limits, reflecting God’s character. See G1656
• καταλλάσσω (katallassō) – “to reconcile, change from enmity to friendship”; the ultimate goal of the unlimited forgiveness described by ἑβδομηκοντάκις. True forgiveness leads to restored relationship, not merely the absence of revenge. See G2644

Did you Know?

• Did you know? The rabbinical schools in Yeshua’s time debated the proper number of times to forgive someone, with the consensus being three times based on passages like Amos 1:3. Peter’s suggestion of “seven times” was already more than double the conventional standard, making Yeshua’s reply of “seventy times seven” all the more shocking to His original audience.
• Did you know? Ἑβδομηκοντάκις creates a direct contrast with Lamech’s boast in Genesis 4:24. Lamech, a descendant of Cain, bragged about multiplying vengeance seventy-sevenfold, representing the escalation of violence in pre-flood civilization. Yeshua deliberately inverts this paradigm, calling His followers to multiply forgiveness instead of vengeance, thus establishing forgiveness as a distinguishing mark of the new covenant community versus the violent world.
• Did you know? The mathematical product of ἑβδομηκοντάκις (70×7=490) has been connected by some scholars to Daniel’s prophecy of 490 years (70 weeks of years) until the time of the Messiah in Daniel 9:24-27. This creates a fascinating link between Yeshua’s teaching on forgiveness and His messianic mission—suggesting that the forgiveness He commands us to extend to others is calibrated to the same divine timetable as God’s plan of cosmic redemption through the Messiah.

Remember This

Ἑβδομηκοντάκις reveals that in the Messiah’s kingdom, forgiveness is not measured by a reasonable standard but by an impossible one—impossible for man, but made possible through the transforming power of God’s Spirit dwelling within those who have experienced His own boundless mercy.