3991. pemptos

Lexical Summary

pemptos: Fifth

Original Word: πέμπτος
Part of Speech: Adjective
Transliteration: pemptos
Pronunciation: PEM-ptos
Phonetic Spelling: (pemp'-tos)
KJV: fifth
NASB: fifth
Word Origin: [from G4002 (πέντε - five)]

1. fifth

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

fifth.

From pente; fifth -- fifth.

see GREEK pente

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
an ord. num. from pente
Definition
fifth
NASB Translation
fifth (4).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 3991: πέμπτος

πέμπτος, πέμπτῃ, πέμπτον (from Homer down), fifth: Revelation 6:9; Revelation 9:1; Revelation 16:10; Revelation 21:20.

Topical Lexicon

Overview

The Greek ordinal πέμπτος (fifth) appears four times in the New Testament, all within the Book of Revelation. Each instance marks the transition from an initial fourfold sequence to a distinctive, often intensified, divine action. The repeated use of “fifth” in Revelation underscores God’s orderly unfolding of judgment and redemption, distinguishing what follows from what has preceded.

Occurrences in Revelation

• Revelation 6:9 – The opening of the fifth seal reveals “the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had upheld”. After the four horsemen, this scene shifts from terrestrial turmoil to a heavenly courtroom, highlighting martyrdom and the cry for justice.
• Revelation 9:1 – At the sounding of the fifth trumpet “a star that had fallen from heaven to earth was given the key to the pit of the Abyss.” The earlier four trumpet judgments affect natural phenomena; the fifth unleashes demonic torment, signaling a darker, more personal affliction on unrepentant humanity.
• Revelation 16:10 – The fifth bowl is poured “on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness.” The first four bowls strike creation; the fifth targets the power center of evil, confirming the inevitability of divine retribution against rebellious authority.
• Revelation 21:20 – In the description of the New Jerusalem the fifth foundation stone is sardonyx. After the judgments conclude, the ordinal reappears in a context of consummate glory, linking ordered judgment with ordered restoration.

Symbolic and Theological Implications

1. Transition from Creation-wide to Moral Focus: In each judgment series, the first four affect the created order; the fifth addresses moral or spiritual realities (martyrs, demonic oppression, the beast’s throne).
2. Call to Perseverance: The fifth seal centers on martyred believers awaiting vindication, encouraging saints to endure suffering with the assurance of ultimate justice.
3. Demonstration of Sovereignty: The precise sequencing—sealed, trumpeted, poured—shows God’s control over history. The “fifth” moment in each sequence signals His deliberate pace and purposeful escalation.
4. Contrast of Darkness and Light: The fifth bowl’s darkness parallels the Ninth Plague (Exodus 10:21-23) but zeroes in on the beast, highlighting the triumph of divine light over satanic darkness and prefiguring the radiant foundations of the eternal city (Revelation 21:20).

Relation to Old Testament Usage

Although πέμπτος is Greek, Scripture’s broader witness to “five” enriches its meaning:
• Fifth Day of Creation (Genesis 1:20-23) introduces life in sea and sky, showing divine provision.
• Fifth Plague on Egypt (Exodus 9:1-7) strikes livestock, announcing escalating judgment.
• Fifth Commandment (Exodus 20:12) shifts from duties toward God to duties toward neighbor, mirroring the transition from cosmic to relational themes seen in Revelation’s fifth judgments.

Such patterns illustrate continuity in God’s dealings—grace and judgment progressing in ordered stages.

Liturgical and Homiletical Applications

Preachers may draw on the fifth seal to comfort persecuted believers, the fifth trumpet to warn of spiritual deception, and the fifth bowl to declare the certainty of Christ’s victory over oppressive powers. The fifth foundation stone encourages believers to anticipate the beauty and permanence of the New Jerusalem. Together these texts invite the church to faithful endurance, sober reflection on divine wrath, and joyful hope in coming glory.

Summary

The “fifth” moments in Revelation demarcate key turning points in the book’s vision: they intensify judgment, spotlight the moral dimension of God’s justice, and ultimately contribute to the ordered splendor of the new creation. Observing this pattern deepens confidence in God’s sovereign orchestration of history and strengthens the church’s resolve to witness, worship, and wait.

Forms and Transliterations

πέμπταις πέμπτη πέμπτή πεμπτην πέμπτην πεμπτον πέμπτον πεμπτος πέμπτος πέμπτου πέμπτω pempten pemptēn pémpten pémptēn pemptos pémptos

Englishman's Concordance

Revelation 6:9 Adj-AFS
GRK: ἤνοιξεν τὴν πέμπτην σφραγῖδα εἶδον
NAS: the Lamb broke the fifth seal,
KJV: he had opened the fifth seal,
INT: he opened the fifth seal I saw

Revelation 9:1 Adj-NMS
GRK: Καὶ ὁ πέμπτος ἄγγελος ἐσάλπισεν
NAS: Then the fifth angel sounded,
KJV: And the fifth angel sounded,
INT: And the fifth angel sounded [his] trumpet

Revelation 16:10 Adj-NMS
GRK: Καὶ ὁ πέμπτος ἐξέχεεν τὴν
NAS: Then the fifth [angel] poured
KJV: And the fifth angel poured out
INT: And the fifth poured out the

Revelation 21:20 Adj-NMS
GRK: ὁ πέμπτος σαρδόνυξ ὁ
NAS: the fifth, sardonyx; the sixth,
KJV: The fifth, sardonyx; the sixth,
INT: the fifth sardonyx the

Strong's Greek 3991
4 Occurrences

πέμπτην — 1 Occ.
πέμπτος — 3 Occ.