ἑνδέκατος (hendekatos)
hendekatos
eleventh
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word hendekatos is a straightforward ordinal adjective meaning "eleventh." It appears only three times in the New Testament, serving as a simple numerical marker in two distinct contexts within the Gospels and the Revelation of John.
In Matthew 20:6 and 9, it describes the laborers hired at the eleventh hour of the workday. Jesus uses this specific time to illustrate the generosity of the landowner, who pays those working for just one hour the same wage as those who toiled all day long. The precision of "eleventh" highlights the brevity of their service compared to the full day.
The term also appears in Revelation 21:20, where it lists the eleventh foundation stone of the New Jerusalem. Here, it functions as part of a structured enumeration of precious stones, contributing to the detailed vision of the city's perfection without adding unique theological nuance beyond its numerical value.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word hendekatos simply means "eleventh," appearing only three times in the New Testament. Its most famous use is in the Parable of the Workers in the Vineyard, where it marks the eleventh hour of the workday. This late timing highlights how much time remains until the day ends, emphasizing that even those who start late are welcome.
In this story, Jesus shows us that God’s grace is not limited by when we begin our journey of faith. Whether you have served for a long time or just arrived, His generosity covers everyone equally. The precision of the number reminds us that no moment is too late to receive His kindness.
We also see this word in Revelation, listing the eleventh foundation stone of the New Jerusalem. Here, it contributes to the picture of God’s perfect city, showing that every detail matters in His creation. This small numerical marker points to a larger truth: God cares about the specifics of our lives and builds His kingdom with intentionality.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- eleventh3×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἑνδεκάτην2×
- ἑνδέκατος1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 20:6
About the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle. He said to them, ‘Why do you stand here all day idle?’
This verse uses 'eleventh' to identify the specific time when the landowner finds idle workers, setting up the contrast between their short service and the full day's wage.
-
Matthew 20:9
“When those who were hired at about the eleventh hour came, they each received a denarius.
Here, the eleventh-hour workers receive a denarius, illustrating the equal generosity of the master regardless of how long each laborer actually worked.
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Revelation of John 21:20
the fifth sardonyx, the sixth sardius, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.
The term enumerates the eleventh foundation stone in the New Jerusalem, contributing to the detailed list of precious materials that signify the city's glory and order.