ἡλικία (hēlikia)
hēlikia
age/height
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun hēlikia refers to a person’s age or maturity, encompassing both the passage of time and the physical stature associated with growing up. In the New Testament, it appears in eight verses, often highlighting the limits of human control over one’s own life span or social standing.
Its meaning shifts subtly depending on context. In passages like Matthew 6:27 and Luke 12:25, Jesus uses it to ask whether anyone can add a single moment to their life by worrying, emphasizing the brevity of human existence. Conversely, in John 9:21 and Ephesians 4:13, it points toward full maturity or adulthood, describing a state of spiritual or physical completeness rather than mere chronological age.
The word’s root connects to ideas of being "of the same age" or reaching a mature stage. This dual focus on time and size allows translators to render it variously as "age," "maturity," or even "stature" in rare cases like Luke 19:3, where physical height is relevant. The term consistently underscores that human growth, whether in years or character, follows its own divine rhythm.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
Life often feels like a race against time, where we worry about how much ground we have left to cover or how far we have yet to go. The Greek word hēlikia reminds us that our lifespan is not something we can extend through anxiety. Jesus points out in Matthew 6:27 that worrying cannot add even a single moment to your days. This truth invites you to release the heavy burden of trying to control time, trusting instead that God holds your moments with care.
Yet hēlikia also speaks of growth and maturity. In Ephesians 4:13, it describes reaching the full measure of Christ’s stature, a goal for every believer. This is not just about getting older, but about becoming more like Jesus in character and faith. Whether you are navigating the challenges of youth or the reflections of later years, this word encourages steady spiritual growth. It is an invitation to mature in love and truth, knowing that God is working in you day by day.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- lifespan2×
- stature1×
- of [the] stature1×
- in stature1×
- age1×
- [of] age1×
- Age1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ἡλικίαν4×
- ἡλικίᾳ2×
- ἡλικίας2×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 6:27
“Which of you by being anxious, can add one moment to his lifespan?
Jesus uses hēlikia here to show that anxiety cannot extend your life, highlighting human limitation before God.
-
Ephesians 4:13
until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a full grown man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,
The word describes the goal of Christian maturity, reaching the full stature of Christ rather than just chronological age.
-
Luke 2:52
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.
This verse links hēlikia with wisdom and favor, showing Jesus’ balanced growth in all areas of life.