μύριοι (murioi)
murioi
myriad
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 3 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective murioi primarily conveys the idea of being innumerable or countless. In passages like 1 Corinthians 4:15 and 14:19, it describes a vast, uncountable multitude, emphasizing quantity that exceeds simple enumeration. This usage highlights a sense of boundlessness rather than a specific count.
However, the word also functions as a definite numeral for ten thousand, as seen in Matthew 18:24 where a servant owes an immense debt. This dual nature allows it to shift seamlessly between abstract infinity and a concrete, albeit large, number depending on context.
Its root suggests a base unit of ten thousand, which then expands metaphorically to represent any number too large to count. Translators often render it as "myriad" or "countless" in indefinite contexts, but must switch to the specific figure when the text demands precision.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word μύριοι (murioi) captures a sense of vastness that defies simple counting. In everyday speech, it often means 'countless' or 'innumerable,' pointing to quantities so large they overwhelm our ability to list them. This usage reminds us that God’s grace and the community of believers can be far greater than any finite number we might imagine.
Yet, the same word also serves as a concrete figure for ten thousand, highlighting immense value or debt. In Matthew 18:24, a servant owes ten thousand talents—an astronomical sum that illustrates the weight of our spiritual indebtedness. This contrast between the abstract 'many' and the specific 'ten thousand' helps us understand both the scale of God’s mercy and the seriousness of our need for it.
When we encounter this word in Scripture, we are invited to see beyond mere statistics. Whether describing a multitude of teachers or a heavy debt, μύριοι points to realities that exceed human calculation. It encourages us to rest in the boundless nature of God’s provision and the depth of His forgiveness.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 3 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- ten thousand2×
- of ten thousand1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- μυρίους2×
- μυρίων1×
Key Verses
-
Matthew 18:24
When he had begun to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.
This verse uses μύριοι as a precise numeral for ten thousand to illustrate an unpayable debt, emphasizing the magnitude of sin and the need for divine mercy.
-
I Corinthians 4:15
For though you have ten thousand tutors in Christ, you don’t have many fathers. For in Christ Jesus, I became your father through the Good News.
Here, Paul contrasts having 'ten thousand' tutors with having only one father in Christ, highlighting the unique, intimate role of spiritual leadership over mere instruction.
-
I Corinthians 14:19
However, in the assembly I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I might instruct others also, than ten thousand words in another language.
Paul prefers five intelligible words over ten thousand in an unknown language, showing that clarity and edification matter more than sheer quantity or spectacle.