ἀναρίθμητος (anarithmētos)
anarithmētos
countless
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective anarithmētos describes something so vast it defies counting, meaning "innumerable" or "uncountable." It is formed from a negative prefix and a root related to numbering, creating a direct contrast with anything that can be tallied. In biblical usage, this word points to quantities that exceed human capacity to measure.
This term appears only once in the New Testament, in Hebrews 11:12. There, it modifies the descendants of Abraham, illustrating the fulfillment of God's promise that his offspring would be as numerous as the stars. The writer uses this specific word to emphasize that the resulting multitude was beyond any reasonable estimation.
The choice of anarithmētos highlights the supernatural nature of the promise. It is not merely a large number, but one that breaks the limits of arithmetic. By using this word, the text underscores that God's blessings often operate outside human calculation and expectation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word anarithmētos describes something too vast to be counted, like the stars or the sand on a beach. In Hebrews 11:12, it is used to describe Abraham’s descendants. This shows that God’s promises often go beyond human logic or calculation. What seems impossible by natural standards becomes possible through divine power.
When you face situations where outcomes seem uncertain or resources feel limited, this word reminds you that God’s plans are not bound by human limits. His blessings can multiply in ways we cannot predict or measure. Trusting in His faithfulness means resting in the assurance that He can bring abundance from scarcity.
This truth encourages us to look beyond our current circumstances. Even when things appear small or insignificant, God is at work producing results far greater than we can imagine. His grace operates outside the boundaries of what we can tally or control.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- countless.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἀναρίθμητος.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Hebrews 11:12
Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
This verse uses anarithmētos to describe Abraham’s descendants, emphasizing that God’s promise produced a multitude beyond human counting.