Lexical Summary ogdoékonta: Eighty Original Word: ὀγδοήκοντα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance fourscore. From ogdoos; ten times eight -- fourscore. see GREEK ogdoos NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origincardinal number from ogdoos and a modified form of deka Definition eighty NASB Translation eighty (1), eighty-four* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3589: ὀγδοήκονταὀγδοήκοντα, eighty: Luke 2:37; Luke 16:7. ((Thucydides, others.)) Topical Lexicon DefinitionA cardinal number signifying eighty (8 × 10), expressing either age, quantity, or duration. Occurrences in the New Testament • Luke 2:37 records that the prophetess Anna was “about eighty-four years old,” having lived “as a widow to the age of eighty-four”. Her eighty years of widowhood precede her prophetic witness to the infant Messiah, underscoring persevering devotion that culminates in honored service. • Luke 16:7 places eighty within a parable of financial stewardship. The second debtor in Jesus’ account reduces his bill to “eighty measures of wheat,” illustrating calculated mercy and shrewd preparation for accountability. Symbolic and Historical Background of the Number Eighty Eight in Scripture frequently signals renewal or new beginnings (circumcision on the eighth day, resurrection on the first day of a new week), while ten represents completeness. Multiplying the two (8 × 10) yields a number that often marks a full measure of strength granted for a fresh season of responsibility. The pattern can be traced throughout both Testaments. Eighty in Personal Ages • Moses was “eighty years old, and Aaron eighty-three” when sent to confront Pharaoh (Exodus 7:7). Age did not diminish their calling; instead, it highlighted God’s ability to empower beyond human limitation. • Barzillai the Gileadite, “eighty years old,” loyally aided David during his exile (2 Samuel 19:32-35). Though advanced in years, he exemplified generosity and discernment. • Psalm 90:10 speaks of human lifespan: “The span of our years is seventy—or eighty if we are strong.” The verse affirms divine sovereignty over life’s boundaries and urges wise numbering of days. Eighty in Measures and Commerce Luke 16:7 portrays eighty as a negotiated quantity in debt reduction, reflecting a prudent yet imperfect stewardship. The number thereby becomes part of Jesus’ teaching on eternal foresight versus temporal wealth. Eighty in Deliverance and Governance • After Ehud slew Eglon, “the land had rest for eighty years” (Judges 3:30). The prolonged peace testifies to God’s comprehensive deliverance through unlikely instruments. • In the reign of King Uzziah, Azariah “and eighty courageous priests of the LORD” resisted royal presumption (2 Chronicles 26:17-18). Their stand safeguards true worship, demonstrating that covenant faithfulness outweighs political power. Eighty in Worship and Devotion Song of Solomon 6:8 lists “eighty concubines” among royal attendants, contrasting sheer quantity with the singular beauty of the beloved. The imagery elevates covenant love above numerical impressiveness. Theological Reflections 1. Divine Strength for Mature Servants: Scripture repeatedly assigns significant tasks to those aged around eighty, reminding the Church that usefulness in God’s kingdom is determined by calling rather than chronology. 2. Comprehensive Rest and Judgment: Periods or quantities of eighty (years of peace, priests opposing apostasy) often signal holistic intervention—God brings full relief or full accountability. 3. Stewardship and Anticipation: The parable of the dishonest manager links eighty to wise preparation for the future. Believers are urged to leverage present resources, however measured, for eternal gain. 4. Limitation and Hope: Psalm 90 places eighty within human frailty, yet it also drives hearts toward wisdom and dependence on the everlasting God. In Scripture, then, eighty functions as more than a numeral. Whether marking the lifespan of faithful witnesses, measuring goods in economic parables, or delineating eras of peace and resistance, the number consistently underscores God’s completeness of provision and His expectation of mature, persevering obedience. Forms and Transliterations ογδοηκοντα ογδοήκοντα ὀγδοήκοντα ογδοηκονταέξ ογδοηκονταπέντε ογδοηκοντατέσσαρες ογδοηκοντατεσσάρων ογδοηκοντατριών ογδοηκοστώ ogdoekonta ogdoēkonta ogdoḗkontaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Luke 2:37 AdjGRK: ἕως ἐτῶν ὀγδοήκοντα τεσσάρων ἣ NAS: to the age of eighty-four. She never KJV: of about fourscore and four INT: about years eighty [and] four who Luke 16:7 Adj |
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