ὀκτώ
eight
Definition
The Greek word ὀκτώ is the cardinal number 'eight'. In the New Testament, it is used literally to count a quantity of eight items or to denote the eighth day. For example, Jesus was circumcised on the eighth day after his birth (Luke 2:21), and he appeared to the disciples eight days after his resurrection (John 20:26). It also appears in contexts describing durations of time, such as a woman being bound by Satan for eighteen years (Luke 13:11, 16) or a man being ill for thirty-eight years (John 5:5).
Biblical Usage
ὀκτώ is used nine times in the New Testament, primarily in the Gospels of Luke and John and once in Acts. Its usage is consistently literal, marking a specific count or day. In Luke, it appears in narratives about healing and timing (Luke 9:28, 13:4, 11, 16). In John, it marks a significant post-resurrection appearance (John 20:26) and the length of an illness (John 5:5). In Acts, it is used in the healing account of Aeneas, who had been paralyzed for eight years (Acts 9:33).
Etymology
Derived directly from the ancient Greek cardinal number ὀκτώ (eight), which is of Proto-Indo-European origin. It is cognate with the Latin 'octo' and the English 'eight'. Its form and meaning remained stable from classical through Koine Greek.
Semantic Range
While a simple number, 'eight' can carry symbolic significance in biblical literature, often associated with new beginnings or resurrection, as it follows the completion of a seven-day week. The 'eighth day' (e.g., Luke 2:21, John 20:26) can point to the dawn of a new era, such as the new creation inaugurated by Christ's resurrection. Understanding this cultural symbolism can enrich reading of passages where the number appears.
In Jewish culture, the eighth day held specific religious importance. It was the day for the circumcision of male infants (Genesis 17:12, Leviticus 12:3), marking their entry into the covenant community. This practice provides the background for Luke 2:21. The number eight itself could symbolize a fresh start, as it is the first day of a new week.
ὄγδοος (ogdoos, G3590) — the ordinal number 'eighth', used to describe sequence or order rather than quantity.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, a concise public-domain resource suitable for introductory word study. Brief glosses are supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). For advanced research, standard scholarly references include BDAG (Danker, 3rd ed.) and LSJ.
Full methodology & sources →