δίς (dis)
dis
twice
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 7 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adverb dis means simply "twice." It is a straightforward numerical term that appears only seven times in the New Testament, making it one of the shorter entries in the lexicon. Its usage is practical and specific, marking exact repetition rather than vague frequency.
Most occurrences are found in the Gospel of Mark, which records Jesus predicting Peter’s denial two times (Mark 14:30, 72). The word also appears in Luke to describe a Pharisee who fasts twice a week (Luke 18:12) and in Revelation to count the soldiers in an army of twenty thousand times ten thousand (Revelation 9:16). Paul uses it in Philippians and Thessalonians to note that he visited or attempted to visit certain communities on two separate occasions.
Because the word is so precise, translators rarely need to interpret its meaning. It functions as a clear marker of count, ensuring the reader understands that an event happened exactly two times, no more and no less. This precision helps anchor historical narratives in concrete details.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word dis simply means twice. It marks exact repetition in the New Testament. This precision helps anchor historical narratives in concrete details. When we read that Peter denied Jesus twice before the rooster crowed, we see how specific biblical accounts are.
For your faith, this clarity matters. It shows God cares about real events and human responses. Peter’s tears after remembering Jesus’ words remind us that failure is not the end. Grace meets us in our moments of weakness.
Similarly, when Paul mentions visiting communities twice, it reflects persistent love. These details invite us to trust a God who records our lives with care. His Word offers hope through honest stories of human struggle and divine faithfulness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 7 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- twice5×
- twice —1×
- twice ten thousand1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δὶς4×
- δίς,2×
- δισμυριάδες1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 14:30
Jesus said to him, “Most certainly I tell you that you today, even this night, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”
Jesus predicts Peter’s denial with specific timing, linking the rooster’s crow to the exact number of denials.
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Mark 14:72
The rooster crowed the second time. Peter remembered the words that Jesus said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” When he thought about that, he wept.
The second crow fulfills Jesus’ prediction, prompting Peter’s repentance and weeping.
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Luke 18:12
I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’
The Pharisee boasts of fasting twice a week, highlighting self-righteousness rather than genuine humility.