μίλιον (milion)
milion
mile
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun milion refers to a Roman mile, a standard unit of distance in the ancient world. Derived from Latin, it literally means a thousand paces, or mille passus. This measurement equates to about eight stadia, translating to roughly 1.5 kilometers or 1,480 meters in modern terms. It is slightly shorter than the contemporary imperial mile.
In Scripture, this term appears only once, in Matthew 5:41. The context involves Jesus’ teaching on going beyond ordinary expectations. When he instructs listeners to go two miles with someone who forces them to carry a load for one, he uses milion to denote the specific legal distance a Roman soldier could compel a civilian to travel. This concrete detail grounds his ethical instruction in the daily realities of occupation.
The word itself carries no inherent spiritual meaning; it is simply a measure of space. Its significance lies in its historical precision. By referencing this specific, legally defined distance, the text highlights the tension between Roman authority and Jewish submission. The milion serves as a tangible marker of the power dynamics Jesus addresses, turning a mundane measurement into a point of ethical reflection.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The Greek word milion refers to a Roman mile, a standard unit of distance in the ancient world. It appears only once in Scripture, in Matthew 5:41. Jesus uses this specific measure to teach his followers about going beyond what is required. When he says to go two miles instead of one, he challenges us to exceed ordinary expectations.
This teaching invites you to consider how you respond to demands or pressures in your daily life. It suggests that grace often looks like giving more than the minimum. By choosing generosity over strict justice, you reflect a heart aligned with God's kingdom values. This simple act of going further can transform difficult interactions into moments of witness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- mile1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μίλιον1×
Key Verses
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Matthew 5:41
Whoever compels you to go one mile, go with him two.
This verse uses the word to define the specific legal distance a Roman soldier could compel a civilian to travel, which Jesus then instructs his followers to exceed.