εἴκοσι

twenty

Definition

The Greek word εἴκοσι (eikosi) is a cardinal numeral meaning 'twenty'. It functions identically to the English number, denoting a specific quantity or count. In the New Testament, it is used in literal, historical contexts, such as describing the depth of water in fathoms (John 6:19, Acts 27:28) or the number of soldiers in a hypothetical army (Luke 14:31). It also appears in symbolic or collective contexts, specifically in Revelation, where it describes the twenty-four elders seated around God's throne (Revelation 4:4, 4:10, 5:8).

Biblical Usage

The word is used 11 times across various New Testament genres. In historical narratives like Acts and the Gospels, it quantifies tangible things: the approximate number of thousands in a crowd (Acts 1:15), the number of soldiers (Luke 14:31), or a measurement (John 6:19, Acts 27:28). In Paul's epistles, it appears in a historical summary (1 Corinthians 10:8). Its most distinctive usage is in the apocalyptic book of Revelation, where 'twenty-four' is a fixed, symbolic number for the heavenly elders (Revelation 4:4, 4:10, 5:8), representing completeness, likely tied to the twelve tribes of Israel and the twelve apostles.

Etymology

The word εἴκοσι (eikosi) is the standard Greek cardinal numeral for 'twenty', derived from the Proto-Indo-European root *wīḱm̥tī-. It is a cognate with the Latin 'viginti'. Its form and meaning remained stable throughout ancient Greek, from Homeric times through the Koine period of the New Testament.

Semantic Range

While the number itself is mundane, its specific symbolic application in Revelation 4-5 is theologically significant. The twenty-four elders represent the totality of God's redeemed people—likely symbolizing the unity of the Old Covenant (12 tribes) and the New Covenant (12 apostles). Their posture of worship, casting crowns before the throne (Revelation 4:10), models perfect submission to God's sovereignty and underscores the theme of heavenly worship central to the book's vision.

In the ancient world, numbers often carried symbolic weight beyond mere counting. The number twenty-four had cultural resonance, particularly in Jewish tradition, due to the organization of the priestly divisions (1 Chronicles 24:7-18). For John's original readers, the 'twenty-four elders' would have immediately evoked ideas of priestly service, leadership, and a structured heavenly council, enriching the symbolic imagery of Revelation.

δώδεκα (dōdeka, G1427) — means 'twelve', the foundational number from which the symbolic 'twenty-four' is derived in Revelation. δέκα (deka, G1176) — means 'ten', a common number for grouping and completeness. τέσσαρες (tessares, G5064) — means 'four', another number with strong symbolic meaning (e.g., four living creatures) used alongside 'twenty-four' in Revelation's throne room vision.

Word Details

Scripture References