Lexical Summary treis and tria: Three Original Word: τρεῖς (treis) and τρία (tria) Strong's Exhaustive Concordance three. Or neuter tria (tree'-ah) a primary (plural) number; "three" -- three. HELPS Word-studies 5140 treís – three; also the number of God (symbolically) showing His full-orbed work – i.e. as the triune Godhead (tri-personal being), God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. cardinal number Definition three NASB Translation fifty-three* (1), thirty (1), three (66), twenty-three* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5140: τρεῖςτρεῖς, οἱ, αἱ, τρία, τά, three: Matthew 12:40; Mark 8:2; Luke 1:56; John 2:19, and often. (From Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Overview The number 5140 (τρεῖς/τρία) appears seventy times in the Greek New Testament. More than a mere numeral, “three” acts as a narrative hinge, a theological marker of completion, and a practical guideline for ministry. Symbolism of Divine Completeness Scripture often uses “three” to signal that a matter is divinely settled or fully developed. Jesus’ repeated prediction that He would rise “after three days” (Mark 8:31; 9:31; 10:34) culminates in the decisive proof of His Messiahship. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, the abiding triad “faith, hope, and love” presents the mature essence of Christian virtue. John later writes, “For there are three that testify: the Spirit and the water and the blood—and these three are in agreement” (1 John 5:7-8), underscoring a complete, harmonious witness to the gospel. Legal Confirmation and Witness Biblical law required at least “two or three witnesses” to establish truth (Matthew 18:16; 2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19; Hebrews 10:28). The New Testament maintains this standard for church discipline, apostolic authority, and doctrinal certainty. The pattern demonstrates God’s concern for justice and guards the church against hasty judgment. Resurrection and Salvation Timeline Jesus connected Jonah’s experience to His own burial: “For just as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of the great fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth” (Matthew 12:40). The “third-day” motif permeates the Gospels (Matthew 27:63; John 2:19-20) and Acts (Acts 10:40), presenting the resurrection not as an afterthought but as the climax of redemptive history. Fellowship and Divine Presence “For where two or three gather together in My Name, there am I with them” (Matthew 18:20). The smallest credible assembly of believers carries Christ’s promised presence, granting authority to congregations of any size. This assurance energized early house churches and continues to comfort small fellowships worldwide. Instructional Triads in Parables and Teaching • Three measures of flour hide the leaven symbolizing kingdom expansion (Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:21). Patterns in Apostolic Ministry Paul reasoned in the synagogue “for three Sabbaths” in Thessalonica (Acts 17:2), spent “three months” boldly preaching in Ephesus (Acts 19:8), and again wintered “three months” in Greece (Acts 20:3). His itinerary shows deliberate, sufficient periods of instruction before moving forward. The three men sent to summon Peter (Acts 10:19; 11:11) bridge Jew-Gentile divisions, marking a fully authenticated divine directive. Eschatological Visions Revelation intensifies the imagery: “I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouths of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet” (Revelation 16:13); the great city splits into “three parts” (16:19); three-and-a-half days of contempt precede the resurrection of the two witnesses (11:9-11); and the New Jerusalem bears “three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south, and three on the west” (21:13). Each occurrence frames divine judgment or consummate blessing in measured completeness. Practical Ministry Implications 1. Use of three in teaching encourages memorable outlines (e.g., faith-hope-love). Conclusion In every appearance, 5140 signals that God brings matters to full confirmation—whether validating testimony, fulfilling prophecy, or completing salvation. Recognizing this triadic rhythm enriches biblical study and grounds ministry practice in the consistent pattern of Scripture. Forms and Transliterations τρεις τρείς τρεῖς τρια τρία τρισί τρισιν τρισίν τρισὶν τριων τριών τριῶν τρίων treis treîs tria tría trion triôn triōn triō̂n trisin trisín trisìnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 12:40 Adj-AFPGRK: τοῦ κήτους τρεῖς ἡμέρας καὶ NAS: as JONAH WAS THREE DAYS KJV: Jonas was three days and INT: of the great fish three days and Matthew 12:40 Adj-AFP Matthew 12:40 Adj-AFP Matthew 12:40 Adj-AFP Matthew 13:33 Adj-ANP Matthew 15:32 Adj-AFP Matthew 17:4 Adj-AFP Matthew 18:16 Adj-GMP Matthew 18:20 Adj-NMP Matthew 26:61 Adj-GFP Matthew 27:40 Adj-DFP Matthew 27:63 Adj-AFP Mark 8:2 Adj-AFP Mark 8:31 Adj-AFP Mark 9:5 Adj-AFP Mark 9:31 Adj-AMP Mark 10:34 Adj-AMP Mark 14:58 Adj-GFP Mark 15:29 Adj-DFP Luke 1:56 Adj-AMP Luke 2:46 Adj-AFP Luke 4:25 Adj-ANP Luke 9:33 Adj-NMP Luke 10:36 Adj-GMP Luke 11:5 Adj-AMP Strong's Greek 5140 |
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