διακόσιοι (diakosioi)
diakosioi
two hundred
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word diakosioi is a numeral adjective that simply means two hundred. It functions as a precise count, appearing in the New Testament to quantify specific amounts or groups. In Mark 6:37, for example, it is used when the disciples calculate that they would need two hundred denarii to feed the crowd, highlighting the sheer scale of the miracle Jesus was about to perform.
Its formation combines the root for "two" with a suffix indicating hundreds, making its meaning transparent and unambiguous. The sources note its occurrence in seven verses, primarily in the Gospels and Acts, where it often serves to ground narrative details in concrete reality. By using this specific number rather than a vague term like "many," the biblical writers emphasize the tangible nature of the events described.
Translators consistently render diakosioi as "two hundred," preserving the exact numerical value without adding interpretive layers. This precision helps readers understand the magnitude of situations, such as the size of a group or the cost of an item. The word’s straightforward utility allows the surrounding narrative to carry the theological weight, whether it describes a logistical challenge or a historical detail.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word diakosioi simply means two hundred. It is a precise number used in the New Testament to ground stories in reality. When the disciples worried about feeding five thousand people, they calculated that two hundred denarii would not be enough (Mark 6:37). This specific count highlights how small their resources seemed compared to the need before them.
Seeing these exact numbers helps us trust God with our own situations. He knows the details of your life, just as He knew the cost of bread or the number of people on a ship (Acts 27:37). You do not need to guess His care; it is measured and real.
God’s provision often exceeds what we can calculate. Whether you face a large task or a small need, remember that He sees everything clearly. Rest in the knowledge that your Father knows exactly what you require.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- two hundred7×
- Two hundred1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διακοσίων3×
- διακοσίους2×
- διακοσίας2×
- διακόσιαι1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 6:37
But he answered them, “You give them something to eat.” They asked him, “Shall we go and buy two hundred denarii worth of bread and give them something to eat?”
This verse shows the disciples measuring their limited resources against a massive need, highlighting the scale of the miracle to come.
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John 6:7
Philip answered him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may receive a little.”
Philip uses this number to express doubt about sufficiency, setting the stage for Jesus’ supernatural provision.
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Acts 27:37
In all, we were two hundred seventy-six souls on the ship.
The precise count of two hundred seventy-six souls underscores the reality of the peril and the specific care God provided during the storm.