τρισχίλιοι (trischilioi)
trischilioi
three thousand
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 1 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The word trischilioi is a straightforward numerical adjective meaning exactly three thousand. It combines the prefix for "three" with the root for "thousand," forming a precise count rather than an indefinite large number. In the New Testament, it appears only once, in Acts 2:41, to record the specific number of people who were baptized on the day of Pentecost.
Unlike other Greek words that might imply a vague multitude or a symbolic quantity, this term anchors the narrative in historical reality. The sources note its classical usage in contexts like Homer’s Iliad for large troop counts, but here it serves a different purpose: to mark the tangible growth of the early church. Translators consistently render it as "three thousand" without ambiguity, preserving the exact figure given in the text.
This single occurrence highlights how the early Christian movement expanded rapidly from a small group of disciples into a significant community. The precision of the number suggests a deliberate record-keeping or a notable event worth remembering, rather than a literary flourish. It stands as a concrete marker of the Gospel’s initial spread in Jerusalem.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word trischilioi simply means three thousand. It is a precise number, not a vague estimate. In Acts 2:41, it marks the specific count of people who joined the early church on Pentecost. This detail shows that the Gospel spread in real, measurable ways.
For your faith, this reminds you that God works through concrete steps. The early believers did not just feel inspired; they took action. They were baptized and became part of a growing community. You can trust that your own small acts of obedience contribute to something larger than yourself.
This number anchors the story in history. It proves that the movement started with real people making real choices. When you read this, remember that your participation matters. God uses ordinary moments to build His Kingdom.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 1 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- three thousand.1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- τρισχίλιαι.¶1×
Key Verses
-
Acts 2:41
Then those who gladly received his word were baptized. There were added that day about three thousand souls.
This verse uses the word to give a precise historical count of new believers, showing the tangible growth of the early church rather than a symbolic or vague multitude.