πεντάκις (pentakis)
pentakis
five times
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The Greek adverb pentakis simply means "five times." It is a straightforward multiplicative term that appears only once in the New Testament, found in 2 Corinthians 11:24.
In this context, the Apostle Paul uses it to quantify his suffering under Jewish law. He states that he received the punishment of thirty-nine stripes on five separate occasions. This specific number reflects the legal limit set by Deuteronomy 25:3, which capped corporal punishment at forty blows to prevent excessive cruelty.
Because the word is so common and literal, it carries no hidden theological metaphor or complex etymological weight. Its significance lies entirely in the historical reality it records: a repeated, severe physical ordeal that Paul lists as evidence of his dedication to his ministry. Translators render it directly as "five times," preserving the precise count without adding interpretive layers.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word pentakis appears just once in the New Testament, marking a stark moment in Paul’s life. He records receiving thirty-nine stripes five separate times. This is not abstract theology but a record of repeated physical pain endured for his faith.
Seeing this number helps us grasp the weight of his commitment. It was not a single event but a pattern of suffering that tested his body and spirit repeatedly. We can find comfort in knowing that our own struggles are seen by God, even when they feel like a long list of burdens.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- five times1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- πεντάκις1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 11:24
Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews.
This verse uses the word to quantify the specific frequency of Paul's beatings, highlighting the repeated nature of his suffering for the gospel.