δισχίλιοι (dischilioi)
dischilioi
two thousand
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word dischilioi is a straightforward numerical adjective meaning two thousand. It appears only once in the New Testament, in Mark 5:13, where it describes the number of pigs that rushed down the steep bank into the sea after the demons left the Gerasene demoniac.
Its formation combines the prefix for "two" with the root for "thousand," making its meaning transparent to any reader familiar with Greek numbers. Unlike more complex terms that carry theological weight or metaphorical depth, this word serves a purely descriptive function in the narrative, quantifying the loss incurred by the local owners and emphasizing the scale of the miracle.
Translators consistently render it as "two thousand" without variation, as there is no ambiguity in its usage. The simplicity of the term allows the focus to remain on the dramatic event itself rather than on linguistic nuance, grounding the supernatural account 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 dischilioi appears just once in the New Testament, marking a specific moment in Mark 5:13. It simply counts two thousand pigs that rushed into the sea after demons left a man. This number is not abstract; it represents a real economic loss for the local owners and a tangible sign of the power Jesus holds over spiritual forces.
When you read this story, the focus stays on the miracle itself rather than the mathematics. The sheer size of the herd shows how much freedom was bought for one person. It reminds us that God’s work often comes with costs to the old ways of life, yet it brings profound relief to those who are suffering.
This concrete detail grounds the supernatural event in reality. You do not need to overthink the number to understand its purpose. It serves as evidence of the magnitude of the deliverance Jesus provided, offering a clear picture of grace that disrupts the status quo for the sake of human restoration.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- two thousand1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- δισχίλιοι1×
Key Verses
-
Mark 5:13
At once Jesus gave them permission. The unclean spirits came out and entered into the pigs. The herd of about two thousand rushed down the steep bank into the sea, and they were drowned in the sea.
This occurrence quantifies the herd to emphasize the scale of the demons' departure and the tangible cost of the man's healing.