εἴκοσι

Pronunciation Guide: eye-KO-see

Basic Definition

Strong’s G1501: The Greek word εἴκοσι (eikosi) is the cardinal number twenty. It represents a numerical value used throughout the New Testament to indicate a precise quantity of people, objects, or measurements. As a numerical term, it carries both literal counting significance and, in certain contexts, symbolic meaning within biblical numerology.

Etymology and Morphology

• Part of speech: Numeral, indeclinable
• Origin: Greek
• Usage: Primarily in narrative passages and historical accounts
• Type: Cardinal number
• Occurs: 11 times in the New Testament
• Context: Often in measurements, counting people, or temporal references

εἴκοσι Morphology:

• εἴκοσι – indeclinable cardinal number that remains the same in all grammatical cases

Origin & History

The Greek numeral εἴκοσι has ancient roots in Indo-European languages. It evolved from Proto-Indo-European *wī́ḱm̥ti, which formed the base for numerals meaning “twenty” across many language families. In classical Greek literature, εἴκοσι appears frequently in works by Homer, Herodotus, and Thucydides when describing military forces, distances, or time periods.

In the Septuagint (LXX), the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, εἴκοσι translates the Hebrew עֶשְׂרִים (esrim) and appears in numerous contexts—particularly in Exodus and Numbers during census counts, measurements for the Tabernacle, and in genealogical records. The consistency between Hebrew and Greek numerical systems allowed for straightforward translation, maintaining the numeric precision of the original text while preserving any symbolic significance attached to the number twenty in ancient Hebrew thought.

Expanded Definitions & Translation Options

• A cardinal number representing exactly twenty units
• A symbolic number sometimes associated with preparation, waiting, or redemption in biblical contexts
• A round number used in approximate counting or estimations
• A component in composite numbers (such as twenty-three, twenty-five)

εἴκοσι Translation Options:

• Twenty – The standard direct translation used in counting contexts
• Score – An archaic English measurement term meaning twenty (as in “threescore” for sixty)
• Vicenary – A technical term relating to the number twenty, used in mathematical contexts
• A score – In poetic or stylized translations that emphasize Hebrew parallelism and literary style

Biblical Usage

In the New Testament, εἴκοσι appears in several significant contexts. Its first appearance in Luke 14:31 occurs within a parable where Yeshua speaks of a king considering whether he can face an enemy with twice his forces: “Or what king, going to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and deliberate whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand?” This reference uses the number to emphasize overwhelming odds and the wisdom of counting the cost.

The most theologically significant uses of εἴκοσι appear in Revelation, where the twenty-four elders represent the completed church (possibly symbolizing the twelve tribes of Israel combined with the twelve apostles). Additionally, εἴκοσι contributes to precise measurements in John’s gospel and Acts, demonstrating the historical reliability and eyewitness nature of these accounts.

• “Or what king, going to make war against another king, does not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty [εἴκοσι] thousand?” Luke 14:31
• “Then Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken. They were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits (about twenty-five [εἴκοσι πέντε] or thirty yards).” John 21:11-12
• “Around the throne were twenty-four [εἴκοσι τέσσαρες] thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four [εἴκοσι τέσσαρες] elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.” Revelation 4:4
• “The twenty-four [εἴκοσι τέσσαρες] elders fall down before Him who sits on the throne and worship Him who lives forever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne.” Revelation 4:10
• “The twenty-one [εἴκοσι μία] gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl.” Revelation 21:14-21

Cultural Insights

In ancient Hebrew culture, the number twenty carried significant meaning as the age when young men became eligible for military service, as recorded in Numbers 1:3: “from twenty years old and above—all who are able to go to war in Israel.” This threshold represented the transition to full adulthood and responsibility within the community. The Hebrew Temple shekel system was also based on units of twenty gerahs, establishing an economic standard that would have been familiar to first-century Jews hearing Yeshua’s teachings involving numerical values.

The symbolism of twenty in Jewish tradition includes themes of preparation and waiting. Jacob served twenty years for his wives and flocks (Genesis 31:38), and the Israelites wandered twenty years before the period of the judges. These cultural associations would not have been lost on the original audience of the New Testament, particularly when hearing Yeshua’s parables that incorporated numerical symbolism. For a first-century Jewish listener, the number twenty could evoke ideas of completed service, fulfilled obligation, or the transition from one spiritual state to another.

Theological Significance

The theological import of εἴκοσι emerges most prominently in Revelation’s vision of the twenty-four elders surrounding Yahweh’s throne. This symbolic number represents the completeness of Yahweh’s covenant people—likely twelve patriarchs and twelve apostles united in worship. This imagery powerfully illustrates the unity of Old and New Covenant believers under the Messiah’s redemptive work, demonstrating how Yahweh has maintained a single plan of salvation throughout biblical history while bringing it to fulfillment through Yeshua.

In the context of Luke’s parable about the king with twenty thousand soldiers, we see an illustration of overwhelming divine power. When Yeshua uses this numerical comparison (ten thousand versus twenty thousand), He invites reflection on our human limitations before a holy Yahweh. The theological lesson emphasizes humility, proper assessment of spiritual resources, and the wisdom of reconciliation with Yahweh while opportunity remains. Thus, even in seemingly straightforward numerical references, εἴκοσι serves the deeper purpose of revealing Yahweh’s character and our proper response to His majesty.

Personal Application

When we encounter εἴκοσι in Scripture, we are invited to consider the precision of Yahweh’s divine plan. Just as He ordered creation with exact measurements and specifications, so He works in our lives with purpose and design. The recurring appearance of twenty in contexts of preparation and transition encourages us to recognize seasons in our spiritual journey—times of waiting, preparation, and ultimately, fulfillment.

The twenty-four elders of Revelation remind us that we are part of a greater worship community that transcends time, uniting believers from all ages before Yahweh’s throne. When life feels fragmented or purposeless, meditating on the mathematical exactitude of biblical numbers like εἴκοσι can reassure us that Yahweh leaves nothing to chance, counting every hair on our heads and every tear that falls. His attention to numerical detail in Scripture reflects His intimate care for each aspect of our lives.

Related Words

• δέκα (deka) – “ten” – The basic unit that, when doubled, forms εἴκοσι. Often used in parallel with twenty to create numerical contrasts in Scripture. See G1176
• τεσσαράκοντα (tessarakonta) – “forty” – Twice twenty, this number carries significant biblical symbolism of testing and preparation (as in the forty days of Yeshua’s wilderness temptation). See G5062
• χίλιοι (chilioi) – “thousand” – Often combined with εἴκοσι to form larger numbers in apocalyptic literature, particularly in Revelation’s symbolic numbering. See G5507
• ἑκατόν (hekaton) – “hundred” – Frequently appears alongside εἴκοσι in precise biblical measurements, emphasizing exactitude in biblical narratives. See G1540
• πέντε (pente) – “five” – Often combined with εἴκοσι to form twenty-five, a number with special significance in Temple measurements. See G4002

Did you Know?

• Did you know that in ancient Greek mathematics, twenty (εἴκοσι) was considered a “perfect” number by some philosophers because it represented the sum of human fingers and toes? This connection between the human body and numerical systems would have been familiar to educated Hellenistic Jews in the first century, potentially adding depth to New Testament references involving εἴκοσι.
• Did you know that the Essene community at Qumran organized their leadership structure around councils of twenty men? Archaeological evidence from the Dead Sea Scrolls reveals this organizational pattern, which offers fascinating context for understanding how the early Messianic communities might have structured themselves when hearing teachings involving the number twenty.
• Did you know that in modern Greek, the legacy of εἴκοσι continues as είκοσι, and Greeks celebrate “Eikosti Prōtou,” or the 21st of March, as a significant national holiday commemorating their independence? This linguistic continuity demonstrates how biblical Greek numbers have maintained their form and significance across centuries into contemporary usage.

Remember This

εἴκοσι reminds us that in Yahweh’s kingdom, numbers are never merely quantities—they are divine signatures woven into the fabric of Scripture, revealing the meticulous precision with which our Creator orders both the cosmos and our individual lives.