Lexical Summary deka: Ten Original Word: δέκα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance ten. A primary number; ten -- (eight-)een, ten. HELPS Word-studies 1176 déka – ten. The number "ten" commonly occurs in Scripture with symbolic (as well as literal) meaning – i.e. with double entendre (conveying both levels of meaning at once). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina primary number Definition ten NASB Translation eighteen* (1), ten (24). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 1176: δέκαδέκα, οἱ, αἱ, τά (from Homer down), ten: Matthew 20:24, etc. θλῖψις ἡμερῶν δέκα, i. e. to last a short time: Revelation 2:10; cf. Daniel 1:12, 14; Numbers 11:19; Terence, heaut. 5, 1, 36 decem dierum vix mi est familia. Topical Lexicon Biblical Concept of TenThe number ten consistently conveys fullness, completion, and divine order in Scripture. Ten fingers and ten toes epitomize human wholeness; ten plagues display God’s total judgment upon Egypt; ten commandments summarize covenant morality. In the Greek New Testament, δέκα marks the same idea of a complete set—whether of coins, talents, lepers, or horns—reinforcing the biblical pattern that ten represents the whole of something under God’s sovereign oversight. Occurrences in the New Testament Matthew, Mark, and Luke employ δέκα in historical narratives and parables, while John’s Apocalypse uses it in prophetic symbolism. The twenty-seven occurrences cluster in four primary settings: 1. Daily life or historical report (Luke 13:4; Luke 17:12). Symbolism of Completeness and Testing Ten expresses a complete cycle of testing under God’s eye. Revelation 2:10 promises, “You will have tribulation for ten days,” a finite but divinely appointed period. Just as Daniel’s companions endured a “ten days” dietary test (Daniel 1:12), so the church in Smyrna is assured that persecution, though real, is limited and purposeful. Ten in the Teaching of Jesus 1. Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13). Ten bridal attendants represent the whole believing community awaiting the Bridegroom. Their division into five wise and five foolish exposes the heart, urging vigilant faith. 2. Parable of the Ten Minas (Luke 19:13-27). The master entrusts ten servants with ten minas, illustrating comprehensive stewardship. Faithfulness over a comparatively small complete sum (“ten minas”) qualifies believers for greater kingdom responsibility (“authority over ten cities,” Luke 19:17). 3. Parable of the Lost Coin (Luke 15:8-10). A woman’s set of ten silver coins underscores value and completeness; losing one threatens the integrity of the whole. Christ’s search for each sinner is as thorough as the woman’s sweeping for her tenth drachma. 4. Healing of Ten Lepers (Luke 17:12-19). A complete group receives mercy; only one returns in gratitude, spotlighting true faith amid common grace. 5. Bent Woman Bound for Eighteen Years (Luke 13:11-16). Her affliction persisted “eighteen” years—divisible by nine rather than ten—yet Jesus rhetorically asks whether she “ought not this woman…whom Satan has bound these eighteen years, be loosed on the Sabbath?” The mention of “ten” in the broader context (Luke 13:4 “eighteen”; Luke 13:11 “eighteen”) contrasts calamity and liberation, with ten as the implied standard of completeness that is still sought. Historical Background In first-century Judea and Galilee, reckoning in tens was ordinary: Roman currency (denarii), measurement of distance (stadia), and military organization (decades). Thus Jesus’ hearers readily grasped “ten minas” or “ten talents” as a significant yet manageable total. Jewish tradition also linked ten with covenant life: a quorum of ten males (minyan) was required for synagogue worship; ten was the fixed count of Passover plagues and Sinai commandments. The New Testament writers, immersed in this heritage, employed δέκα with rich theological resonance. Ten and Prophetic Imagery in Revelation Revelation intensifies the symbolic impact. John sees “a great red dragon…with seven heads and ten horns” (Revelation 12:3) and later “a beast…with ten horns and seven heads” (Revelation 13:1). The ten horns, explained as “ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom” (Revelation 17:12), depict the complete array of earthly authority temporarily allied against Christ. The number does not point to a literal count alone but signifies the totality of hostile power before its final overthrow (Revelation 17:14-16). Ministry and Practical Applications 1. Stewardship: The equal distribution of ten minas parallels the shared gift of life and opportunity in the gospel age. Believers are stewards; performance, not position, warrants reward or loss. 2. Watchfulness: The ten virgins teach readiness. External identification with Christ (having a lamp) is insufficient without internal preparation (possessing oil). 3. Gratitude: The healing of ten lepers admonishes against complacency. Ministry should cultivate habits of thanksgiving that honor the Savior. 4. Perseverance: Revelation’s “ten days” of tribulation calls the church to patient endurance, confident that God controls the duration and outcome of every trial. Related Themes and Cross References • Completeness: Genesis 24:55; Exodus 34:28; Leviticus 26:26. The recurring presence of δέκα anchors each narrative or vision in the overarching biblical assurance that God brings matters to full measure—whether judgment, blessing, responsibility, or final victory—demonstrating His perfect governance over human history and redemption. Forms and Transliterations δεκα δέκα δεκαδάρχους deka dékaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 20:24 AdjGRK: ἀκούσαντες οἱ δέκα ἠγανάκτησαν περὶ NAS: And hearing [this], the ten became indignant KJV: And when the ten heard INT: having heard [this] the ten were indignant about Matthew 25:1 Adj Matthew 25:28 Adj Mark 10:41 Adj Luke 13:4 Adj Luke 13:11 Adj Luke 13:16 Adj Luke 14:31 Adj Luke 15:8 Adj Luke 17:12 Adj Luke 17:17 Adj Luke 19:13 Adj Luke 19:13 Adj Luke 19:16 Adj Luke 19:17 Adj Luke 19:24 Adj Luke 19:25 Adj Acts 25:6 Adj Revelation 2:10 Adj Revelation 12:3 Adj Revelation 13:1 Adj Revelation 13:1 Adj Revelation 17:3 Adj Revelation 17:7 Adj Revelation 17:12 Adj |
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