χιλιάς (chilias)
chilias
thousand
Quick Reference
- Language
- Koine Greek
- Testament
- New Testament
- Occurrences
- 13 verses
- Root
- —
Word Overview
The noun chilias simply denotes the number one thousand. In both the New Testament and the Septuagint, it functions as a straightforward count, appearing in contexts ranging from historical records to apocalyptic visions. Its usage is relatively rare, occurring only thirteen times across Scripture.
While the word carries no hidden metaphorical weight, its frequency in Revelation highlights the scale of divine judgment and glory. John uses it to quantify vast numbers, such as the twelve thousand from each tribe in Revelation 7:4 or the great multitude in chapter 5. This concrete precision contrasts with symbolic language elsewhere, grounding these visions in specific numerical magnitude.
The term also appears in narrative sections, such as Luke’s account of three thousand souls added to the church (Acts 2:41) or Paul’s reference to the Israelites who fell in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:8). In these instances, chilias serves as a factual marker, emphasizing the tangible growth or scale of events without requiring interpretive speculation.
Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).
What This Word Means for Your Faith
The word chilias simply means a thousand. It is not a metaphor for infinity or a code for hidden secrets. In Scripture, it functions as a straightforward count, grounding divine actions in tangible reality. When the Bible uses this number, it points to something vast yet specific, measurable and real.
This precision matters for your faith because it shows that God’s work is not vague or abstract. In Acts 2:41, we see three thousand people added to the early church. This was a historical event with actual participants. Similarly, in Revelation, John uses thousands to describe the scale of angelic worship and the sealed servants of God. These numbers convey magnitude, reminding us that our God is large enough to handle billions of souls.
You can trust that the God who counts individuals also oversees the great multitude. Whether it is a small group or a vast army, He knows every name. This concrete language invites you to rest in the certainty of His power and care, knowing that nothing escapes His notice.
How it's translated
How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 13 verses where it appears, by frequency.
- thousand20×
- thousands1×
- thousand.1×
- of thousands1×
Forms in the text
The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.
- χιλιάδες17×
- χιλιάδων3×
- χιλιάσιν1×
- χιλιάδες.1×
- χιλιάδες,1×
Key Verses
-
Revelation of John 5:11
I looked, and I heard something like a voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders. The number of them was ten thousands of ten thousands, and thousands of thousands,
Here, thousands of thousands describe the overwhelming number of angels worshipping around the throne, emphasizing the scale of heavenly glory.
-
Revelation of John 7:4
I heard the number of those who were sealed, one hundred forty-four thousand, sealed out of every tribe of the children of Israel:
The number one hundred forty-four thousand specifies a precise group of sealed servants, highlighting God's protective care over His people.