διετής

two years old

Definition

The adjective διετής (dietēs) means 'two years old' or 'lasting two years.' In the New Testament, it specifically describes the age of children in Matthew 2:16, referring to those Herod ordered killed in Bethlehem. The term can denote either a child who has reached the age of two or a period of two years in duration. While its sole biblical occurrence is in Matthew, the word carries this precise numerical sense without additional metaphorical meaning.

Biblical Usage

This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Matthew 2:16, within the narrative of Herod's massacre. It specifies the age range of the male children targeted, based on the time Herod learned from the Magi regarding the star's appearance. The usage is strictly descriptive and chronological, serving to highlight the cruelty and scope of Herod's decree.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek prefix δι- (di-, meaning 'two' or 'twice') and ἔτος (etos, meaning 'year'), διετής is a compound adjective literally meaning 'of two years.' It is formed similarly to other age-related terms in Greek, such as τριετής (trietēs, 'three years old'). The construction is straightforward, indicating a duration or age of two years.

Semantic Range

In the ancient world, precise age references for young children were less common in everyday records than in modern times. The specification 'two years old' in Matthew 2:16 underscores Herod's deliberate and thorough attempt to eliminate a potential rival king, reflecting both his paranoia and the Gospel's emphasis on Jesus as a threat to earthly powers from infancy. The age calculation likely connects to the time the Magi first saw the star, which Herod used to estimate Jesus's age.

παιδίον (paidion, G3813) — a general term for a young child or infant, without specifying age. τριετής (trietēs) — meaning 'three years old,' showing the same numerical pattern for age.

Word Details

Scripture References