τριετία (trietia)
trietia
three years
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun trietia refers simply to a period of three years. It is formed from words meaning "three" and "year," creating a straightforward temporal marker in the Greek text.
This word appears only once in the New Testament, in Acts 20:31. Paul uses it to describe the length of his ministry among the Ephesians, noting that he did not cease warning them night and day for this duration. The term serves as a concrete measure of time rather than carrying deeper symbolic weight.
Its rarity makes it a useful anchor for understanding the specific timeline of Paul’s missionary journeys. By specifying three years, the text highlights the sustained effort and endurance required in early church leadership.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word trietia simply means a period of three years. In Acts 20:31, Paul uses this term to mark the length of his time in Ephesus. He reminds the elders that he did not stop warning them night and day during those thirty-six months. This is not a poetic symbol but a plain statement of time.
For your life today, this word offers comfort through its honesty. Faithfulness often looks like showing up for long stretches without seeing immediate results. Paul’s ministry was steady and persistent. It reminds us that God values consistent love over short bursts of excitement.
You may feel tired from serving in ways that seem to go unnoticed. This passage shows that your labor is seen. God counts the nights and days you spend caring for others. Your quiet persistence matters deeply to Him.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- three years1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τριετίαν1×
Key Verses
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Acts 20:31
Therefore watch, remembering that for a period of three years I didn’t cease to admonish everyone night and day with tears.
This verse anchors Paul's specific timeline of ministry in Ephesus, emphasizing that his vigilance was sustained over a full three-year period rather than being a brief visit.