διετής (dietēs)
dietēs
two years old
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective dietēs simply means "two years old" or "lasting two years." It is a straightforward compound word, combining the prefix for "two" with the root for "year," leaving little room for ambiguity in its definition.
This term appears only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 2:16. There, it describes the age of the children killed by Herod’s order in Bethlehem. The text specifies that Herod acted against boys who were two years old and under, based on the time he had learned from the wise men.
Its singular usage highlights a specific historical detail rather than offering broad theological symbolism. By setting this precise age limit, the narrative underscores the thoroughness of Herod’s fear and the tragedy of the event, anchoring the story in a concrete, measurable reality.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dietēs appears only once in the New Testament, marking a specific age in Matthew 2:16. It describes the children targeted by Herod’s order, setting a precise boundary for that tragic event. This single usage anchors the narrative in historical reality rather than abstract symbolism.
For your faith, this detail reminds us of the real stakes involved in spiritual conflict. The enemy often targets the most vulnerable to disrupt God’s plans. Yet, even in such darkness, God’s purpose remains secure. Herod’s fear shows how seriously he viewed the threat Jesus posed from infancy.
We can find comfort in knowing that God protects His own. While the world may seem chaotic and dangerous, divine sovereignty holds all things together. This word highlights the severity of the opposition but also the precision of God’s timing and protection over His Son.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- two years old1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- διετοῦς1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 2:16
Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked by the wise men, was exceedingly angry, and sent out and killed all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding countryside, from two years old and under, according to the exact time which he had learned from the wise men.
This verse uses dietēs to define the specific age range of the victims, showing Herod's attempt to eliminate a perceived threat based on the wise men's timeline.