1332. dietés

Lexical Summary

dietés: Two years old

Original Word: διετής
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: dietés
Pronunciation: dee-et-ACE
Phonetic Spelling: (dee-et-ace')
KJV: two years old
NASB: two years old
Word Origin: [from G1364 (δίς - twice) and G2094 (ἔτος - years)]

1. of two years (in age)

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

two years old.

From dis and etos; of two years (in age) -- two years old.

see GREEK dis

see GREEK etos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
from dis and etos
Definition
lasting two years, two years old
NASB Translation
two years old (1).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 1332: διετής

διετής, διετες (δίς and ἔτος) (from Herodotus down), of two years, two years old: ἀπό διετοῦς namely, παιδός, Matthew 2:16, cf. Fritzsche at the passage; (others take διετοῦς here as neuter; see Meyer).

Topical Lexicon

Overview of New Testament Usage

The adjective translated “two years old” appears only once in the Greek New Testament, in Matthew 2:16. There it marks the upper age limit of the male infants murdered in Herod’s massacre: “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, according to the time he had learned from the Magi.” (Matthew 2:16)

Historical Background

• Herod the Great’s ruthless character is well attested by both Scripture and secular sources such as Josephus. His command to slay the children “two years old and under” likely reflects the time interval between the Magi first seeing the star (Matthew 2:7) and their arrival in Bethlehem.
• In the first-century Jewish world, children were counted by completed years; “two years” would encompass infants who had not yet reached their third birthday.
• The event anchors the nativity narrative in concrete historical circumstances—Bethlehem, Roman rule, and Herodian paranoia—underscoring the reality of the Incarnation set amid real geopolitical turmoil.

Old Testament and Inter-Testamental Parallels

• Pharaoh’s decree to drown Hebrew baby boys (Exodus 1:15–22) foreshadows Herod’s action; both tyrants attempt to thwart God’s redemptive plan by targeting children of a specific age.
• Jeremiah 31:15, “A voice is heard in Ramah… Rachel weeping for her children,” finds fulfillment in Matthew 2:18, tying Herod’s atrocity to Israel’s earlier sorrows yet also to promises of restoration (Jeremiah 31:16-17).
• Numbers 14:29; 1 Samuel 15:3; and 2 Kings 15:16 contain age-specific judgments that illustrate how the Bible sometimes links divine or human action to particular age groups, accentuating both covenant blessing and curse.

Christological Significance

• The solitary New Testament use of the word directs attention to Jesus’ earliest years. The Savior truly passed through every stage of human development—including toddlerhood—fulfilling Hebrews 2:17, “Therefore He had to be made like His brothers in every way.”
• By escaping the slaughter, Jesus relives and reverses Israel’s story: delivered from murderous kings as Moses once was, then later bringing deliverance to His people.
• The age marker shows that God’s sovereign timing encompasses even the most fragile period of human life, affirming that the Messiah’s mission was safeguarded from conception onward.

Theological Themes

1. Sanctity of Life: Herod’s crime magnifies the preciousness of children in God’s eyes. Scripture presents children as gifts (Psalm 127:3) and condemns violence against the innocent (Proverbs 6:16-17).
2. Spiritual Warfare: The age-targeted massacre reveals satanic opposition to God’s purposes, echoing Revelation 12:4-5 where the dragon seeks to devour the male child.
3. Providence and Protection: While many perished, God preserved His Son through angelic warning and Joseph’s obedience (Matthew 2:13-15). The narrative balances human tragedy with divine oversight.

Ministry Applications

• Pastoral Care for Bereaved Parents: Matthew integrates lament (quoting Jeremiah) within the Christmas story, validating grief while pointing to future hope. Churches can draw on this text to comfort those who have lost children.
• Advocacy for Children: The passage challenges believers to defend vulnerable lives—born and unborn—reflecting God’s heart for the defenseless.
• Family Discipleship: Joseph’s prompt response to revelation models parental responsibility for safeguarding and guiding young children in God’s will.

Homiletical and Teaching Insights

• Contrast of Kingship: Herod wields power to destroy; Christ will wield authority to save (Matthew 20:28).
• Time and Fulfillment: The “two-year” window highlights prophetic precision; God’s timetable is exact, not approximate.
• Light versus Darkness: The star that guided the Magi stands over against Herod’s dark decree, illustrating the clash between revelation and rebellion.

Related Scriptures for Study

Genesis 21:8; Exodus 1:15-22; Numbers 14:29-31; Jeremiah 31:15-17; Matthew 18:1-6; Hebrews 2:14-18; Revelation 12:1-6.

Summary

Though the Greek term appears only once, its context in Matthew 2:16 touches on major biblical doctrines: the sanctity of human life, the providential preservation of the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy, and the reality of spiritual conflict. The reference to children “two years old and under” grounds these truths in the everyday world of family and infancy, inviting believers to cherish, protect, and disciple the youngest among us while marveling at God’s faithful orchestration of redemption.

Forms and Transliterations

διετους διετούς διετοῦς dietous dietoûs

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 2:16 Adj-GMS
GRK: αὐτῆς ἀπὸ διετοῦς καὶ κατωτέρω
NAS: its vicinity, from two years old and under,
KJV: thereof, from two years old and under,
INT: of it from two years old and under

Strong's Greek 1332
1 Occurrence

διετοῦς — 1 Occ.