Lexical Summary tetartaios: Fourth day Original Word: τεταρταῖος Strong's Exhaustive Concordance four days. From tessares; pertaining to the fourth day -- four days. see GREEK tessares Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5066: τεταρταῖοςτεταρταῖος, τεταρταια, τεταρταιον (τέταρτος), an ordinal numeral, used in answer to the question on what day? one who does or suffers a thing till the fourth day or on the fourth day: τεταρταῖος ἐστιν, i. e. he has been four days in the tomb, or it is the fourth day since he was buried (A. V. he hath been dead four days), John 11:39 (ἤδη γάρ ἦσαν πεμπταιοι, already five days dead, Xenophon, an. 6, 4 (2), 9). Topical Lexicon Overview Strong’s Greek 5066 designates the descriptive adjective used in John 11:39 to mark Lazarus as being in his tomb “four days.” The term is unique to this passage, yet its single appearance powerfully frames the climax of the narrative and illuminates several interconnected biblical themes. Scriptural Context: John 11:39 “ ‘Take away the stone,’ Jesus said. ‘Lord, by now he stinks,’ said Martha, the sister of the dead man. ‘It has already been four days.’ ” (John 11:39) The word underscores the severity and finality of Lazarus’s condition. Martha’s protest emphasizes that decomposition was well underway, making any natural hope of revival impossible and setting the stage for an unmistakable display of divine power. First-Century Burial Practices Jews customarily buried the dead on the day of death, wrapping the body in linen and placing it in a rock-hewn tomb. Rabbinic sources note a belief that the soul hovered near the body for three days, departing when corruption became evident on the fourth. By specifying “four days,” John signals that every human expectation of resuscitation had been ruled out; only a creative act of God could restore life. Christological Significance 1. Validation of Jesus’ Identity: Immediately after Martha’s objection, Jesus replies, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” (John 11:40). The miracle verifies His earlier declaration, “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25). Typological and Prophetic Resonances Several expositors see the fourth day as symbolic of the completion of earthly hopelessness before God intervenes. While Scripture does not explicitly draw a typological timetable, parallels may be suggested: Apologetic Considerations Critics sometimes allege that the fourth-day note conflicts with Jesus’ earlier statement that Lazarus was “asleep” (John 11:11). The narrative itself resolves this: Jesus uses figurative language for death to prepare the disciples, then clarifies plainly, “Lazarus has died” (John 11:14). The precision of “four days” supports the historicity of the event rather than undermining it, offering tangible evidence that John reports verifiable details, not mythic embellishment. Pastoral and Ministry Application 1. Hope for the Hopeless: Ministers often draw on John 11 to comfort the bereaved, assuring believers that no circumstance is beyond Christ’s reach. Historical Reception • Tertullian cited Lazarus’s fourth-day resurrection to argue for the credibility of bodily resurrection against Greek philosophical scorn. Canonical Harmony Although the adjective itself appears nowhere else, its thematic threads connect widely with Scripture: Thus Strong’s 5066, though rare, anchors a pivotal moment demonstrating that Jesus is sovereign over death, worthy of faith, and active through His church to the present day. Forms and Transliterations τεταρταιος τεταρταίος τεταρταῖος tetartaios tetartaîosLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel Texts |
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