Bible Word Study
τετραπλοῦς
tetraploys · four-fold
τετραπλοῦς
four-fold
Definition
The adjective τετραπλοῦς means 'four-fold' or 'four times as much.' It denotes a quantity multiplied by four. In its sole New Testament occurrence in Luke 19:8, it describes the specific, extravagant restitution Zacchaeus promises to make for any fraud he has committed. While the core meaning is strictly numerical, its use in this narrative context carries a strong connotation of complete and overflowing compensation.
Biblical Usage
This word is used only once in the New Testament, in Luke 19:8. It appears in the direct speech of Zacchaeus, the tax collector, after his encounter with Jesus. He declares, 'If I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold (τετραπλοῦς).' The usage is in a context of voluntary, lavish restitution that goes far beyond the legal requirements of the Old Testament law (which typically demanded repayment plus a fifth, as in Leviticus 6:5).
Etymology
Derived from the Greek root τέτταρες (tettares), meaning 'four,' combined with the suffix -πλοῦς, which indicates 'fold' or 'times.' It is a straightforward compound adjective, similar in formation to διπλοῦς (double) and τριπλοῦς (triple).
Semantic Range
Though a simple numerical term, its use in Luke 19:8 is theologically significant. Zacchaeus's promise to repay 'fourfold' is a powerful, tangible sign of genuine repentance and transformation. It demonstrates a radical shift from greed to generosity, fulfilling the ethical fruit of John the Baptist's earlier call to tax collectors (Luke 3:13). The fourfold restitution, exceeding the Mosaic law, illustrates the superabundant grace and new life that results from a true encounter with Jesus Christ. In the Greco-Roman and Jewish cultural setting, fourfold restitution was known as a severe penalty, sometimes imposed for theft. For instance, it is specified for certain cases of sheep stealing in Exodus 22:1 (LXX). By voluntarily applying this standard to himself for fraud, Zacchaeus publicly acknowledges his guilt at the highest level and demonstrates the sincerity of his conversion in a culturally understood, dramatic way. διπλοῦς (diplous, G1362) — double or two-fold. τριπλοῦς (triplous, G5153) — triple or three-fold.
Word Details
How this works
Definitions are from the Dodson Greek-English Lexicon, supplemented by STEPBible TBESG data (CC BY 4.0). Concordance and morphology data are derived from the interlinear Bible.
Full methodology & sources →References
- Abbott-Smith, G. (1921) A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament. Edinburgh: T&T Clark. [Public Domain]
- Brown, F., Driver, S.R. and Briggs, C.A. (1906) A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon Press. [Public Domain]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Tyndale Brief lexicon of Extended Strongs for Greek (TBESG). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Tyndale House, Cambridge (n.d.) Translators Formatted full LSJ (TFLSJ). STEPBible. Available at: https://www.stepbible.org. [CC BY 4.0]
- Thayer, J.H. (1889) A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament. [Public Domain]
- Gesenius, W. (1846) Gesenius' Hebrew-Chaldee Lexicon to the Old Testament. [Public Domain]
- Dodson, J. (2010) Greek Lexicon. Biblical Humanities. [CC0]