ἔτος (etos)
etos
year
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 47 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun etos simply means "year," serving as the standard term for a twelve-month period in both the New Testament and the Greek Old Testament, where it translates the Hebrew shanah. It appears forty-seven times across Scripture, with significant usage in Luke, Acts, and Revelation. The word functions primarily as a neutral unit of time, marking durations or specific points in history without inherent theological weight.
Its meaning shifts slightly based on grammar and context. When paired with verbs like "to have" or "to be," it indicates age, as seen when the Gospel writers note Jesus was twelve years old (Luke 2:42) or that a man had been sick for thirty-eight years (John 5:5). In other instances, it measures duration, such as the forty years of Israel’s wandering in Acts 13:20. The phrase "year by year" or "annually" appears in Luke 2:41 to describe Jesus’ parents traveling to Jerusalem for Passover.
Translators consistently render etos as "year," though it is distinct from the synonym eniautos, which often emphasizes a completed cycle or season. The sources highlight its practical use in daily life and history, such as paying yearly taxes (Luke 8:43) or counting time since an event (Acts 24:10). This straightforward vocabulary allows biblical authors to anchor spiritual narratives in concrete historical timelines.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word etos simply means year, marking the passage of time in our lives. It appears frequently in the New Testament to anchor spiritual events in real history. When Luke notes Jesus was twelve years old or that a woman suffered for twelve years, he uses this term to show that God’s work happens within the rhythm of daily life.
These timelines remind us that faith is not abstract but lived out over time. Whether it is Anna serving in the temple for eighty-four years or Jesus beginning his ministry at thirty, etos highlights patience and endurance. It invites us to trust that God sees the long view of our lives, even when progress feels slow.
Reflecting on these durations can bring comfort. We are not rushed by a frantic world but held in a timeline where God’s purposes unfold steadily. This word encourages us to remain faithful in our current season, knowing that every year is seen and valued by Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 47 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- years30×
- years.4×
- years [old]4×
- years,3×
- year2×
- of years2×
- years?1×
- year,1×
- than years [old]1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἔτη21×
- ἐτῶν14×
- ἔτη.¶2×
- ἔτη.2×
- ἔτη,2×
- ἔτεσιν2×
- ἔτος,1×
- ἔτος1×
- ἔτη;1×
- ἔτει1×
- ἐτῶν,1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 2:41
His parents went every year to Jerusalem at the feast of the Passover.
This verse uses etos to describe the annual pilgrimage of Jesus’ parents, grounding the narrative in a specific, recurring religious custom.
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Luke 2:42
When he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast;
Here etos indicates age, marking the specific moment when twelve-year-old Jesus went up to Jerusalem for the feast.
-
Luke 13:8
He answered, ‘Lord, leave it alone this year also, until I dig around it and fertilize it.
In this parable, the owner asks to leave the fig tree alone for one more year, using etos to measure a period of grace and patience.
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Luke 13:16
Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage on the Sabbath day?”
Jesus references a woman bound by Satan for eighteen years, using etos to emphasize the long duration of her suffering before her release.
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John 5:5
A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.
This verse notes a man had been sick for thirty-eight years, using etos to highlight the length of his illness and the significance of his healing.