τηλικοῦτος (tēlikoutos)
tēlikoutos
so great
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 4 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The adjective tēlikoutos describes something as being of a specific, considerable magnitude or age. It translates to "so great" or "of such size," pointing to a quality that is significant enough to warrant emphasis. In the New Testament, it appears in only four verses, primarily within the writings of James, Paul, and John.
Its usage highlights scale rather than mere existence. James employs it to describe how small rudders can steer large ships (James 3:4), illustrating disproportionate influence. Similarly, Revelation uses it to characterize the immense size of a plague (Revelation 16:18). Paul also references its force when recalling God’s deliverance from mortal danger in Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:10).
The word derives from roots indicating age or extent, often implying "of such an age" or "so old." This etymological background underscores that the magnitude being described is not trivial. Translators typically render it as "so great," capturing the sense of substantial weight or importance attached to the subject in question.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word τηλικοῦτος describes something of considerable magnitude, reminding us that God’s actions are often vast in scope. When Paul recalls being delivered from "so great a death" in Corinth (2 Corinthians 1:10), he highlights the sheer size of the danger and the even greater power of God’s rescue. This perspective helps us see our own struggles not as isolated incidents, but within the context of a faithful God who has handled far larger threats.
Similarly, Hebrews points to "so great a salvation" (Hebrews 2:3), emphasizing that what we have in Christ is not small or trivial. It carries weight and permanence. Whether facing personal danger or reflecting on spiritual truth, this word invites us to pause and recognize the substantial nature of God’s care and provision.
It serves as a gentle nudge to trust in the magnitude of His promises rather than shrinking back from our circumstances. By focusing on the greatness of what He has done, we find stability for today and hope for tomorrow.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 4 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- such a great2×
- so great2×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τηλικοῦτος1×
- τηλικούτου1×
- τηλικαῦτα1×
- τηλικαύτης1×
Key Verses
-
II Corinthians 1:10
who delivered us out of so great a death, and does deliver, on whom we have set our hope that he will also still deliver us,
Paul uses this word to emphasize the life-threatening severity of the danger he faced, highlighting the magnitude of God's deliverance.
-
Hebrews 2:3
how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation—which at the first having been spoken through the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard,
The author employs it to stress the immense value and permanence of the salvation message confirmed by those who heard the Lord.
-
Revelation of John 16:18
There were lightnings, sounds, and thunders; and there was a great earthquake such as has not happened since there were men on the earth—so great an earthquake and so mighty.
It describes an earthquake of unprecedented scale, underscoring the overwhelming power of God's judgment in that final hour.