τετρακόσιοι

four hundred

Definition

The Greek adjective τετρακόσιοι means 'four hundred' and is used exclusively as a cardinal number. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes the exact quantity of four hundred, whether referring to years, men, or a period of time. In Acts 7:6 and Galatians 3:17, it specifies the 400-year duration of Israel's sojourn and oppression in Egypt, a period foretold to Abraham. In Acts 5:36, it refers to the number of men who followed the rebel Theudas, and in Acts 13:20, it again denotes approximately 450 years as a round figure for a period of judges.

Biblical Usage

This word appears four times in the New Testament, all in historical or argumentative contexts. It is used three times in the Book of Acts (5:36; 7:6; 13:20) and once in Galatians (3:17). In Acts, it quantifies historical groups or time spans, while in Galatians, Paul uses it to anchor his theological argument about the Law coming 430 years after God's promise to Abraham, highlighting a specific chronological interval.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek words τέτταρες (tettares, 'four') and ἑκατόν (hekaton, 'hundred'), τετρακόσιοι is a compound numeral. It follows the standard Greek pattern for forming hundreds, similar to τριακόσιοι (triakosioi, 'three hundred') and πεντακόσιοι (pentakosioi, 'five hundred').

Semantic Range

The number 'four hundred' carries theological weight primarily in its connection to God's covenant promises and historical faithfulness. In Galatians 3:17, Paul uses the 430-year period (a related timeframe) to argue that God's promise to Abraham preceded the Mosaic Law, establishing the priority of faith and grace. The 400 years of Egyptian sojourn mentioned in Acts 7:6 fulfills God's prophecy to Abraham (Genesis 15:13), demonstrating His sovereign control over history and the fulfillment of His word. Understanding this precise number enriches reading by highlighting the intentionality of biblical chronology in God's redemptive plan.

In the ancient world, numbers like four hundred could signify a substantial, rounded period or a large group. The 400-year duration in Egypt was a culturally significant era that shaped Israel's national identity as a people delivered from bondage. The reference to 400 men following Theudas (Acts 5:36) would have conveyed the idea of a considerable, potentially threatening, rebel force to a first-century audience.

τεσσεράκοντα (tesserakonta, G5062) — means 'forty', a different decade. τετρακόσια (tetrakosia, G5071) — the neuter plural form of the same word, used for counting things. ἑκατόν (hekaton, G1540) — means 'one hundred', the base unit.

Word Details

Scripture References