ἕβδομος (hebdomos)
hebdomos
seventh
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective hebdomos simply means "seventh," serving as the ordinal form of the number seven. In the New Testament, it appears in only eight verses, primarily within the writings of John and Paul, as well as in Jude. Its usage is straightforward, marking a specific position in a sequence rather than carrying complex metaphorical weight on its own.
Most occurrences anchor biblical narratives to the Old Testament background. For instance, Hebrews 4:4 cites Genesis to describe God’s rest on the seventh day, while Jude 14 references Enoch as the "seventh" from Adam, linking early human history to prophetic tradition. In Revelation, it structures apocalyptic visions, such as the seven seals and trumpets, reinforcing the completeness associated with the number seven.
The word derives directly from hebdom (seven), maintaining a clear numerical identity without shifting meaning. Translators consistently render it as "seventh" because its function is to establish chronological or ordinal order. This precision helps readers track the structured unfolding of divine events in Revelation and the theological argument in Hebrews.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hebdomos simply marks the seventh position in a sequence. It does not carry hidden metaphors but anchors stories to clear timelines. In Revelation, it structures visions of seals and trumpets, showing how divine events unfold in order. Hebrews uses it to recall God’s rest on the seventh day, linking creation to our spiritual peace. Jude mentions Enoch as the seventh from Adam, connecting early history to prophecy.
For your faith, this precision matters. It reminds us that God works in patterned ways, not chaos. When you face uncertainty, knowing that Scripture tracks time and events carefully can bring comfort. The number seven often signals completeness or fulfillment in biblical thought. Hebdomos helps readers see where they are in that story.
You might find hope in how these verses tie past promises to future hope. Whether it is the silence after a seal or the final kingdom proclamation, each seventh moment points to God’s control. This word invites you to trust the sequence of His plan, even when details seem distant.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- seventh6×
- seventh,1×
- seventh [day]1×
- [the] seventh1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἕβδομος4×
- ἑβδόμῃ1×
- ἑβδόμου1×
- ἑβδόμης1×
- ἑβδόμην,1×
- ἑβδόμην1×
Key Verses
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Revelation of John 8:1
When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
This verse marks a pause in judgment as heaven falls silent after the sixth seal, highlighting the weight of what follows.
-
Hebrews 4:4
For he has said this somewhere about the seventh day, “God rested on the seventh day from all his works;”
Here the word connects God’s rest at creation to the spiritual rest believers are invited to enter today.
-
Jude 1:14
About these also Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied, saying, “Behold, the Lord came with ten thousands of his holy ones,
It identifies Enoch as the seventh generation from Adam, linking ancient lineage to prophetic warning.
-
Revelation of John 11:15
The seventh angel sounded, and great voices in heaven followed, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ. He will reign forever and ever!”
The sounding of the seventh angel announces the final establishment of God’s kingdom over all earthly rule.