Lexical Summary triakonta: Thirty Original Word: τριάκοντα Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thirty. The decade of treis; thirty -- thirty. see GREEK treis Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5144: τριάκοντατριάκοντα, οἱ, αἱ, τά (τρεῖς), thirty: Matthew 13:8; Mark 4:8; Luke 3:23, etc. (From Homer down.) Topical Lexicon Summary of the Number Thirty in Scripture The Greek adjective τριάκοντα (triákonta, thirty) appears eleven times in the New Testament, carrying no mystical force in itself yet consistently marking thresholds of responsibility, prophetic fulfillment, or measurable fruitfulness. Its contexts—parabolic, historical, prophetic, and didactic—give the number thirty a texture that repays attentive reading. Occurrences in the Ministry of Jesus 1. Luke 3:23 fixes the beginning of Jesus’ public work: “Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His ministry”. The age accords with Old Testament precedent—priests began service at thirty (Numbers 4:3), Joseph was thirty when he served Pharaoh (Genesis 41:46), and David was thirty when he became king (2 Samuel 5:4). By entering ministry at thirty, Jesus fulfills the pattern of mature readiness for sacred service. Parable of the Soils: Thirtyfold Fruitfulness In both Matthew and Mark, the lowest measure of successful yield is thirtyfold. The number therefore sets a benchmark that encourages disciples: genuine reception of the word always bears fruit, though not uniformly. Thirtyfold yields counter perfectionism—God values all authentic increase—while challenging barren profession. The escalating sequence (thirty, sixty, a hundred) also mirrors concentric circles of gospel influence, starting with modest multiplication and ending in abundance. Judas’s Thirty Pieces of Silver: Prophetic Fulfillment Matthew explicitly ties the transaction to “what was spoken through the prophet Jeremiah” (Matthew 27:9, citing Zechariah through Jeremiah as the representative prophetic collection). In Zechariah the contemptuous wage of thirty shekels signals the people’s devaluation of their shepherd; in Matthew it exposes Israel’s rejection of her Messiah. The chief priests’ later use of the money to buy the potter’s field (Matthew 27:7) completes Zechariah’s oracle and displays divine sovereignty over human treachery. Jesus Begins at Thirty: Maturity for Service Luke’s note that Jesus was “about thirty” when He began teaching affirms His full conformity to the Law and historical expectation. Priestly ministry (Numbers 4), Levitical duties (1 Chronicles 23:3), and prophetic callings (e.g., Ezekiel 1:1) converge at this age. Thus, Jesus embodies priest, prophet, and king at the culturally recognized moment of adult competence, validating His public authority. Thirty in Signs and Miracles John 5:5’s thirty-eight-year infirmity heightens the wonder of instantaneous healing; human incapacity of nearly four decades yields to the spoken word of Christ. John 6:19’s nautical distance (“about twenty-five or thirty stadia,” roughly three to four miles) underscores the miracle of Jesus walking on the sea—well beyond the disciples’ aid, yet within His sovereign reach. In both narratives, numerical precision roots the events in history rather than legend. Apostolic Teaching: The 430 Years Galatians 3:17 treats thirty as the final component of Israel’s 430-year sojourn before Sinai. Paul’s argument is chronological and covenantal: the Law, arriving “four hundred thirty years later,” cannot annul the promise to Abraham. The thirty here seals the calculation that anchors Christian assurance in divine faithfulness rather than legal observance. Old Testament Background of Thirty Though triákonta itself is Greek, Scripture’s Hebrew witness frequently assigns symbolic weight to thirty: These threads inform New Testament usage by providing covenantal and cultural backdrop. Theological Reflections 1. Sovereign Orchestration: The Spirit-inspired recurrence of thirty—spanning promise, priesthood, kingship, betrayal, and blessing—discloses a unified biblical narrative. Practical Ministry Applications • Leadership Development: Following the biblical pattern, churches should pair gifting with proven maturity before commissioning public ministry. Concluding Thoughts Strong’s Greek 5144, though a simple numeral, connects pivotal moments of Christ’s life, prophetic fulfillment, parabolic teaching, and apostolic doctrine. Its appearances testify that every detail of Scripture, down to a number, is woven into the tapestry of redemption, inviting believers to trust, obey, and bear fruit—from thirtyfold upward—until the harvest is complete. Forms and Transliterations τριακοντα τριάκοντα τριακονταδύο τριακονταεννέα τριακονταέξ τριακονταεπτά τριακονταετούς τριακονταοκτώ τριακονταπέντε τριακοντατέσσαρες τριακοντατρία triakonta triákontaLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance Matthew 13:8 AdjGRK: ὃ δὲ τριάκοντα NAS: sixty, and some thirty. KJV: some thirtyfold. INT: some moreover thirty Matthew 13:23 Adj Matthew 26:15 Adj Matthew 27:3 Adj Matthew 27:9 Adj Mark 4:8 Adj Mark 4:20 Adj Luke 3:23 Adj John 5:5 Adj John 6:19 Adj Galatians 3:17 Adj |
    |