ὀκτώ (oktō)
oktō
eight
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 8 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek word oktō is the simple numeral for eight. It appears in just eight verses across the New Testament, with notable occurrences in Luke 2:21, where it marks the eighth day after Jesus’ birth when He was circumcised and named, and in John 5:5, which describes a man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
As a primary number, oktō carries no hidden metaphorical weight in its lexical definition. It functions strictly as a count. Its presence in Scripture is primarily historical or biographical, anchoring narratives in specific timelines or durations rather than conveying abstract theological concepts through the number itself.
Translators render it directly as "eight" without variation. The word’s significance lies not in symbolic depth but in its precision, marking concrete moments in the life of Jesus and the early church where time and physical reality intersect with divine purpose.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word oktō simply means eight. It appears in the New Testament to mark specific moments in history. In Luke 2:21, it notes the eighth day when Jesus was circumcised and named. This detail shows that God’s plan unfolded in real time, within human laws and customs. The divine entered our world not as a distant idea, but as a child growing according to the calendar.
We also see this number in John 20:26. Eight days after His resurrection, Jesus appeared to Thomas when the disciples were gathered behind locked doors. This timing is not random. It places the appearance firmly within the week following the empty tomb, confirming the reality of the event. The precision of the text grounds our faith in historical fact.
Other verses use oktō to describe long periods of waiting or healing, such as the man bedridden for eight years in Acts 9:33. These instances remind us that God’s timing is exact. Whether marking a birth, a resurrection appearance, or a long illness, the number anchors our attention to the concrete reality of God’s work in our lives.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 8 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- eight6×
- than eight1×
- eight,1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- ὀκτὼ7×
- ὀκτώ,1×
Key Verses
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Luke 2:21
When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.
This verse uses oktō to mark the precise day Jesus was circumcised and named, grounding the incarnation in Jewish law and historical time.
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John 20:26
After eight days, again his disciples were inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, the doors being locked, and stood in the middle, and said, “Peace be to you.”
Here oktō marks eight days after the resurrection, providing a specific timeline for Jesus’ appearance to Thomas and confirming the physical reality of His return.
-
I Peter 3:20
who before were disobedient when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ship was being built. In it, few, that is, eight souls, were saved through water.
The word specifies that exactly eight souls were saved in Noah’s ark, highlighting the small number preserved through judgment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Greek word oktō mean?
Why does oktō appear so rarely in the New Testament?
Does oktō have a special spiritual significance?
Every Occurrence (8 verses across 4 books)
Luke 3 verses
When eight days were fulfilled for the circumcision of the child, his name was called Jesus, which was given by the…
Luke 9:28About eight days after these sayings, he took with him Peter, John, and James, and went up onto the mountain to pray.
Luke 13:16Ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham whom Satan had bound eighteen long years, be freed from this bondage…