ἑκατονταπλασίων (hekatontaplasiōn)
hekatontaplasiōn
a hundred times
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective hekatontaplasiōn describes something that is a hundred times greater in amount or degree. Derived from the Greek words for "hundred" and "shape" or "form," it conveys the idea of an amplified return, specifically one that multiplies the original input by a factor of one hundred.
In the New Testament, this term appears only three times, all within the Synoptic Gospels. It is used to describe the reward for those who have sacrificed family or property for the sake of Jesus and the gospel. In passages such as Matthew 19:29 and Mark 10:30, it promises that those who leave behind their homes or relatives will receive a hundredfold in return, both in the present age and in the age to come.
The word emphasizes abundance rather than mere equivalence. It suggests that the spiritual compensation for earthly loss is not just equal but vastly superior. Translators typically render it as "a hundredfold" or "a hundred times," capturing the sense of extraordinary multiplication that characterizes the kingdom’s economy.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
When we give up something dear for the sake of Jesus, it is natural to wonder if it was worth it. This word tells us that God’s economy does not operate on a simple exchange rate. Instead of merely replacing what we lost, He offers a hundredfold return. This is not just about material wealth, but about the rich relationships and spiritual joy found in the community of faith.
The promise extends beyond this life into eternity. While the present age may include persecutions or hardships, the compensation is abundant and lasting. You are invited to trust that your sacrifices are seen and valued by God, who multiplies your efforts far beyond what you could achieve on your own.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- a hundredfold2×
- a hundredfold.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἑκατονταπλασίονα2×
- ἑκατονταπλασίονα.1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 19:29
Everyone who has left houses, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive one hundred times, and will inherit eternal life.
This verse explicitly links the hundredfold reward to leaving family and property for Jesus' name, promising both abundant return now and eternal life later.
-
Mark 10:30
but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life.
Here the text highlights that this multiplication happens 'now in this time,' including new spiritual family, even amidst persecutions.
-
Luke 8:8
Some fell into the good ground and grew and produced one hundred times as much fruit.” As he said these things, he called out, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
In the Parable of the Sower, this word describes the productive soil that yields an extraordinary harvest, illustrating the fruitfulness of a receptive heart.