ὀγδοήκοντα

Pronunciation Guide: og-doe-AY-kon-tah

Quick Answer: ὀγδοήκοντα (ogdoēkonta) means “eighty” in Greek, representing completion of human effort and the beginning of divine intervention, seen prominently in Anna’s 84-year age when she encountered the Messiah.

What Does ὀγδοήκοντα Mean?

Strong’s G3589: ὀγδoήκοντα is the Greek cardinal number meaning “eighty.” This numeral appears in the New Testament specifically in reference to ages and time periods, most notably describing Anna the prophetess who was eighty-four years old when she encountered the infant Jesus in the temple. The word represents not merely a mathematical quantity but carries deeper significance in biblical numerology, often marking transitions between human limitation and divine providence.

Key Insight: Eighty in Scripture often represents the completion of human striving and the beginning of God’s miraculous intervention in His perfect timing.

Where Does ὀγδοήκοντα Come From?

• Part of Speech: Cardinal numeral (indeclinable)
• Root Words: Derived from ὀκτώ (okto, “eight”) with the suffix -κοντα (-konta) indicating multiples of ten
• Language Origin: Classical Greek mathematical terminology
• Primary Usage: Numerical descriptions in historical narrative and genealogical records

ὀγδoήκοντα Morphology:

This section helps readers identify how this number appears in various grammatical contexts within ancient Greek texts. As a cardinal numeral, ὀγδoήκοντα remains indeclinable, meaning it doesn’t change form based on case, gender, or number.

Morphology:

• ὀγδoήκοντα (all cases) – eighty
• Used with various case endings of accompanying nouns
• Functions attributively or predicatively with nouns

What Is the History of ὀγδoήκοντα?

The numeral ὀγδoήκοντα finds its roots in the ancient Greek decimal counting system, where multiples of ten were formed by combining the base number with the suffix -κοντα. In classical Greek literature, authors like Herodotus and Thucydides employed this numeral in historical accounts, particularly when describing ages of notable figures or durations of significant events. The Septuagint translators adopted this standard Greek numeral when rendering Hebrew numerical expressions, maintaining consistency with Hellenistic mathematical conventions.

In early church fathers’ writings, particularly those of Origen and John Chrysostom, ὀγδοήκοντα appears in discussions of biblical chronology and the significance of numbers in Scripture. These theological scholars recognized that biblical numbers often carried symbolic weight beyond their mathematical value, with eighty representing themes of completion, preparation, and divine timing in salvation history.

Historical Summary: ὀγδoήκοντα evolved from classical Greek mathematics into biblical narrative, carrying symbolic meaning beyond numerical value in theological contexts.

How Should ὀγδoήκοντα Be Translated?

• Primary meaning: The cardinal number eighty (80)
• Chronological usage: Expressing age or duration of years
• Historical context: Marking significant temporal milestones
• Symbolic application: Representing completion and divine timing

Translation Tip: Context determines whether to emphasize the literal number or its symbolic significance in biblical narrative.

ὀγδoήκοντα Translation Options:

• Eighty – Direct numerical translation maintaining mathematical precision
• Four score – Traditional English rendering emphasizing the twenty-year units
• Eighty years – Contextual translation when referring to age or duration
• The number eighty – Emphatic translation highlighting numerical significance
• Fourscore – Archaic but precise rendering reflecting Hebrew counting patterns

How Is ὀγδοήκοντα Used in the Bible?

The usage of ὀγδoήκοντα in Scripture is remarkably focused, appearing primarily in contexts involving age and the intersection of human experience with divine purpose. In the New Testament, its most significant appearance describes Anna the prophetess, whose eighty-four years of life prepared her for the pivotal moment of recognizing the Messiah. This numerical detail isn’t merely biographical but theologically significant, representing a lifetime of faithful waiting rewarded with divine revelation.

The biblical pattern shows eighty often marking transitions between human effort and divine intervention. Unlike other significant biblical numbers that appear frequently, ὀγδoήκοντα’s selective usage emphasizes quality over quantity, highlighting moments when God’s timing intersects with human preparation. The number suggests completion of natural human striving and the beginning of supernatural divine action.

Usage Summary: ὀγδoήκοντα appears strategically in Scripture to mark divine timing intersecting with human preparation and faithful waiting.

• “And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four [ὀγδoήκοντα τέσσαρα].” Luke 2:36-37

What Cultural Context Surrounds ὀγδoήκοντα?

In ancient Jewish culture, reaching eighty years represented exceptional longevity and divine blessing, as the average lifespan was significantly shorter than today. The number carried particular significance because it surpassed the biblical “threescore and ten” (seventy years) mentioned in Psalm 90:10, marking someone as having received extraordinary grace from יהוה (Yahweh). When the Gospel writer specifically mentions Anna’s age of eighty-four, he’s communicating that she had lived long enough to see multiple generations and possessed the wisdom that comes from decades of faithful service.

The cultural understanding of advanced age in the Holy Land included the expectation that elderly individuals, particularly those devoted to temple service, might receive prophetic insights or divine revelations. Anna’s eighty-plus years weren’t merely chronological markers but spiritual qualifications, demonstrating that her long faithfulness had prepared her to recognize the Messiah when others missed Him. This cultural backdrop helps explain why her age is specifically mentioned – it validates her prophetic authority and emphasizes the divine timing of her encounter with the infant Jesus.

Cultural Context: Eighty years represented exceptional divine blessing and spiritual authority in ancient Jewish society, qualifying one for prophetic recognition.

What Does ὀγδoήκοντα Teach Us About God?

The theological significance of ὀγδoήκοντα reveals God’s perfect timing and His faithfulness to those who wait patiently for His promises. Through Anna’s eighty-four years, we see that God doesn’t operate according to human timetables but orchestrates events according to His sovereign plan. Her advanced age when she encountered the Messiah demonstrates that God’s promises are worth waiting for, regardless of how long the wait might seem from our finite perspective.

This number also reveals God’s heart for the elderly and marginalized in society. In a culture that often valued youth and strength, God chose an eighty-four-year-old widow to be among the first to publicly proclaim the Messiah’s arrival. This choice demonstrates that God values faithfulness over youthful vigor and uses those whom society might overlook to accomplish His greatest purposes. The theological implication is profound: God’s kingdom operates on different principles than worldly systems, honoring patient devotion over immediate impact.

Theological Core: ὀγδoήκοντα reveals God’s perfect timing, faithfulness to patient servants, and His heart for society’s overlooked members.

How Can I Apply ὀγδoήκοντα to My Life?

The spiritual application of ὀγδoήκοντα challenges us to embrace God’s timing in our own lives, recognizing that His schedule often differs dramatically from our expectations. Like Anna, we’re called to remain faithful in our daily devotions and service, trusting that our years of preparation aren’t wasted but are qualifying us for divine appointments we cannot yet imagine. The number reminds us that spiritual maturity and readiness for God’s purposes often come through decades of consistent faithfulness rather than momentary spiritual experiences.

Additionally, ὀγδoήκοντα calls us to honor and learn from the elderly in our communities, recognizing that their years of walking with God have prepared them to see and understand things that younger believers might miss. Rather than dismissing the aged as irrelevant to contemporary ministry, we should seek their wisdom and recognize that God often uses their lifetime of experience to reveal His purposes in ways that surprise us.

Self-Examination Questions: Am I willing to wait patiently for God’s timing? Do I honor the spiritual wisdom that comes with age? How can my years of faithfulness prepare me for divine appointments?

What Words Are Similar to ὀγδoήκοντα?

• ἑβδομήκοντα (hebdomēkonta) – “seventy”; represents completeness and perfection in biblical numerology, differing from eighty’s emphasis on transition beyond completion – See G1440
• ἐνενήκοντα (enenēkonta) – “ninety”; symbolizes nearness to complete fulfillment while maintaining anticipation, contrasting with eighty’s focus on the beginning of divine intervention – See G1768
• ὀκτώ (oktō) – “eight”; represents new beginnings and resurrection power, providing the root meaning that extends into eighty’s significance of renewed divine activity – See G3638
• τέσσαρα (tessara) – “four”; symbolizes earthly completeness and material creation, often combined with eighty (as in eighty-four) to show earthly preparation meeting divine purpose – See G5064
• ἑκατόν (hekaton) – “one hundred”; represents fullness and complete divine order, showing the progression beyond eighty’s transitional significance – See G1540

Did You Know?

• What does ὀγδoήκοντα mean in modern Greek? Modern Greek still uses ὀγδόντα (ogdonta) for “eighty,” maintaining the ancient pronunciation and meaning, though the theological significance has largely been lost in secular usage.
• How did classical Greek writers use ὀγδoήκοντα? Herodotus used ὀγδoήκοντα when describing the advanced ages of wise rulers and counselors, suggesting that even in pre-Christian times, eighty represented the age of wisdom and divine favor.
• What’s the difference between ὀγδoήκοντα and ἑβδομήκοντα? While seventy (ἑβδομήκοντα) represents completion and perfection, eighty (ὀγδoήκοντα) represents what comes after completion – the beginning of new divine activity and supernatural intervention.
• Why does the Bible use ὀγδoήκοντα only in reference to Anna’s age? The New Testament’s selective use emphasizes quality over quantity, highlighting Anna’s specific role as the aged prophetess who recognized the Messiah, making her age theologically significant rather than merely biographical.
• How does ὀγδoήκοντα relate to biblical numerology? As eight multiplied by ten, ὀγδoήκοντα combines the resurrection symbolism of eight with the earthly completeness of ten, creating a number that represents resurrection power manifesting in completed earthly experience.
• What causes people to miss God’s timing today? Like those who didn’t recognize the Messiah despite Anna’s eighty-four years of preparation, we often miss God’s timing because we focus on our expectations rather than maintaining faithful readiness for His surprising interventions.

Remember This

ὀγδoήκοντα reminds us that God’s greatest revelations often come to those who have waited the longest and remained the most faithful, proving that no season of patient service is ever wasted in His eternal purposes.