Greek numbers weave together grammar, history, and symbolism in fascinating ways. Cardinal forms like εἷς (m.), μία (f.), and ἕν (n.) show gender agreement, but from πέντε onward, the forms stay fixed regardless of the noun. Ordinals—πρῶτος, δευτέρα, δέκατος—follow regular patterns and shift with gender and case. The Ionic numeral system uses Greek letters to represent values, with special signs like ϛ for 6, ϟ for 90, and ϡ for 900. So when Revelation 13:18 writes χξϛ, it’s literally 600 + 60 + 6 = 666. Numbers usually come before the noun and agree with it when needed: δύο μαθηταί (“two disciples”), πέντε ἄρτοι (“five loaves”). Some numbers carry symbolic weight—3 often signals divine completeness, 7 points to perfection, 12 evokes the people of God, and 40 marks periods of testing or preparation. Spotting these patterns can open up deeper layers of meaning in the text.
Overview
Greek numerals exist in two main categories: cardinal numbers (for counting) and ordinal numbers (for sequence). In Classical, Koine, and Modern Greek, their grammatical behavior and numerical notation have evolved, but their core forms remain recognizable. In biblical and liturgical usage, numbers often hold both literal and symbolic meaning.
Cardinal Numbers (1–20)
| Number | Greek | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | εἷς (m.), μία (f.), ἕν (n.) | heîs, mía, hén |
| 2 | δύο | dýo |
| 3 | τρεῖς (m./f.), τρία (n.) | treîs, tría |
| 4 | τέσσαρες (m./f.), τέσσαρα (n.) | téssares, téssara |
| 5 | πέντε | pénte |
| 6 | ἕξ | héx |
| 7 | ἑπτά | heptá |
| 8 | ὀκτώ | oktṓ |
| 9 | ἐννέα | ennéa |
| 10 | δέκα | déka |
| 11 | ἕνδεκα | héndeka |
| 12 | δώδεκα | dṓdeka |
| 13 | δεκατρεῖς (m./f.), δεκατρία (n.) | dekatreîs, dekatría |
| 14 | δεκατέσσαρες (m./f.), δεκατέσσαρα (n.) | dekatéssares, dekatéssara |
| 15 | δεκαπέντε | dekapénte |
| 16 | δεκαέξ | dekaéx |
| 17 | δεκαἑπτά | dekaheptá |
| 18 | δεκαοκτώ | dekaoktṓ |
| 19 | δεκαεννέα | dekaennéa |
| 20 | εἴκοσι | eíkosi |
Note: Only 1, 3, and 4 agree in gender with the noun; numerals 5 and above are invariable in form.
Cardinal Numbers (30–100)
- 30 – τριάκοντα (triákonta)
- 40 – τεσσαράκοντα (tessarákonta)
- 50 – πεντήκοντα (pentḗkonta)
- 60 – ἑξήκοντα (hexḗkonta)
- 70 – ἑβδομήκοντα (hebdomḗkonta)
- 80 – ὀγδοήκοντα (ogdoḗkonta)
- 90 – ἐνενήκοντα (enenḗkonta)
- 100 – ἑκατόν (hekatón)
Ordinal Numbers (1st–10th)
- 1st – πρῶτος (m.), πρώτη (f.), πρῶτον (n.)
- 2nd – δεύτερος, δευτέρα, δεύτερον
- 3rd – τρίτος, τρίτη, τρίτον
- 4th – τέταρτος, τετάρτη, τέταρτον
- 5th – πέμπτος, πέμπτη, πέμπτον
- 6th – ἕκτος, ἕκτη, ἕκτον
- 7th – ἕβδομος, ἑβδόμη, ἕβδομον
- 8th – ὄγδοος, ὀγδόη, ὄγδοον
- 9th – ἔνατος, ἐνάτη, ἔνατον
- 10th – δέκατος, δεκάτη, δέκατον
Ancient Greek Numeral Systems
- Acrophonic (Attic) System – Used symbols based on the initial letters of number names (e.g., Π for 5).
- Ionic (Alphabetic) System – Used the 24 Greek letters plus three archaic signs:
- ϛ (stigma) = 6
- ϟ (koppa) = 90
- ϡ (sampi) = 900
Letter-to-number mapping:
- Units: α=1, β=2, γ=3, δ=4, ε=5, ϛ=6, ζ=7, η=8, θ=9
- Tens: ι=10, κ=20, λ=30, μ=40, ν=50, ξ=60, ο=70, π=80, ϟ=90
- Hundreds: ρ=100, σ=200, τ=300, υ=400, φ=500, χ=600, ψ=700, ω=800, ϡ=900
Example: χξϛ = 666 (χ = 600, ξ = 60, ϛ = 6) in Revelation 13:18.
Syntax and Usage
Numerals usually precede the noun and match it in case, gender, and number where applicable. For example:
- δύο μαθηταί – “two disciples” (Luke 24:13)
- πέντε ἄρτοι – “five loaves” (Matthew 14:17)
Symbolic Numbers in Biblical Context
- 3 – divine completeness
- 7 – perfection or fulfillment
- 12 – people of God (tribes/apostles)
- 40 – testing or preparation (Flood, Exodus, Temptation)
Recognizing symbolic patterns in numbers can deepen biblical exegesis and theological insight.
