ὄγδοος (ogdoos)
ogdoos
eighth
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 5 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective ogdoos simply means "eighth." It is a straightforward ordinal number used to count in sequence, appearing in only five verses across the New Testament. Its usage is sparse but specific, found in the Gospel of Luke, Acts, 2 Peter, and twice in Revelation.
In Luke 1:59 and Acts 7:3, the word describes the timing of circumcision on the eighth day after birth, following Jewish custom. In 2 Peter 2:5, Noah is called "the eighth," highlighting that he and his family were the sole survivors of the flood among eight people total. This usage emphasizes completeness or a new beginning after a cycle of seven.
The term appears twice in Revelation (17:11; 21:20), referring to the eighth king and the eighth foundation stone, respectively. These instances connect the number eight with restoration and eternal order. The word carries no hidden metaphorical weight beyond its numerical value, serving as a precise marker of time or quantity.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word ogdoos points to the eighth day, a time when Jewish families followed the covenant of circumcision (Luke 1:59). This act marked a child’s entry into God’s people, showing that faith is passed down through generations and community.
In 2 Peter 2:5, Noah is called “the eighth,” reminding us that God preserves those who trust Him even in judgment. The flood cleansed the earth, but Noah’s family survived to start again, showing God’s mercy endures beyond destruction.
Revelation uses ogdoos for an eighth king and an eighth foundation stone (Rev 17:11; 21:20). These images suggest a new order after old cycles end. For believers, this means hope in God’s final restoration, where broken things are made whole and eternal life begins.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 5 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- eighth2×
- one of eight1×
- eighth,1×
- an eighth1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὄγδοός1×
- ὄγδοος1×
- ὄγδοον1×
- ὀγδόῃ,1×
- ὀγδόῃ1×
Key Verses
-
Luke 1:59
On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child; and they would have called him Zacharias, after the name of his father.
This verse shows the word marking the specific day of circumcision, linking the number to covenant identity.
-
Acts 7:8
He gave him the covenant of circumcision. So Abraham became the father of Isaac, and circumcised him the eighth day. Isaac became the father of Jacob, and Jacob became the father of the twelve patriarchs.
Here the term reinforces the timing of Abraham’s obedience, grounding the promise in a physical sign.
-
II Peter 2:5
and didn’t spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah with seven others, a preacher of righteousness, when he brought a flood on the world of the ungodly,
Peter uses it to highlight Noah as the sole survivor among eight, emphasizing preservation through judgment.
-
Revelation of John 17:11
The beast that was, and is not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven; and he goes to destruction.
The beast is called an eighth king, suggesting a revival or counterfeit of past powers in the end times.
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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 eighth foundation stone signifies the New Jerusalem’s perfect order, pointing to God’s eternal dwelling with His people.