Lexical Summary chilioi: Thousand Original Word: χίλιοι Strong's Exhaustive Concordance thousand. Plural of uncertain affinity; a thousand -- thousand. HELPS Word-studies 5507 xílioi – properly, a thousand; the product of 10 x 10 x 10 (103, ten cubed); (figuratively) emphatic, total inclusiveness, showing no one (nothing) is left out. See also "the Millennium" in the HELPS prophecy-guide. ["Ten" in Scripture can already express the symbolic meaning "completely" (inclusively) so 5507 (xílioi) as the cube of 10 ("a thousand") powerfully stresses the meaning "full/inclusive" (totality).] NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition a thousand NASB Translation one thousand (1), thousand (8), twelve hundred* (1). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 5507: χίλιοιχίλιοι, χίλιαι, χίλια, a thousand: 2 Peter 3:8; Revelation 11:3, etc. Topical Lexicon Overview of the Term Strong’s Greek 5507 (χίλιοι, χιλίας, χιλίων) designates the number “one thousand.” In the New Testament the word appears eleven times, always in apocalyptic or eschatological settings. Whether the usage is literal or symbolic, each occurrence underscores the sovereignty of God over long spans of time and vast measures of distance. Occurrences in the New Testament • 2 Peter 3:8 (twice): “With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day”. Numeric Symbolism and Scriptural Harmony Throughout Scripture the number one thousand often conveys fullness or vastness (Deuteronomy 7:9; Psalm 50:10). Peter’s use in 2 Peter 3:8 echoes Psalm 90:4, affirming that God’s perspective on time transcends human limitation. When Peter sets “a thousand years” against “one day,” he reassures believers that divine delay in judgment is not negligence but patient mercy. Millennial Reign in Revelation 20 The sevenfold repetition of “a thousand years” in Revelation 20 forms the backbone of the premillennial, amillennial, and postmillennial debates. Regardless of view, three certainties emerge: 1. Christ’s victory over Satan is absolute (“He seized the dragon … and bound him for a thousand years,” Revelation 20:2). The conservative interpreter honors the plain sense of the text while recognizing prophetic genre. A literal millennium anticipates a future historical kingdom; a symbolic millennium portrays the present gospel age culminating in final judgment. Either way, the passage affirms that history moves under Christ’s authority toward a climactic resolution. Prophetic Durations: One Thousand Two Hundred Sixty Days Revelation 11:3 and 12:6 convert “a thousand” into precise apocalyptic timelines of persecution and preservation. The identical 1,260-day periods highlight God’s meticulous control: He measures the ministry of the two witnesses and the refuge of the woman to the very day. The use of χιλίας within the larger number underscores that even extended tribulation is bounded by His decree. Judgment Imagery: One Thousand Six Hundred Stadia Revelation 14:20 pictures blood flowing “for a distance of one thousand six hundred stadia.” Multiples of fours and tens (4² × 10²) intensify the completeness of divine wrath, contrasting sharply with the completeness of salvation in the millennium. The massive scale calls readers to sober repentance. Intertextual Echoes with the Old Testament Peter cites Psalm 90:4, linking χίλια to Moses’ reflection on human frailty. Revelation’s thousand-year reign picks up Isaiah’s kingdom prophecies (Isaiah 2:2–4; 11:6–9) and Daniel’s visions of dominion given to “one like a son of man” (Daniel 7:13–14). The continuity between Testaments reinforces a unified biblical narrative. Pastoral and Ministry Significance 1. Encouragement in Delay: Believers awaiting answered prayer or justice draw hope from 2 Peter 3:8. God’s timing, measured in “a thousand years,” is never late. Practical Application • Teach eschatology with humility, acknowledging varying millennial views while affirming Christ’s return and ultimate reign. Summary Strong’s Greek 5507 serves as a numerical signpost marking God’s total control over time, history, and judgment. Whether describing a literal millennium, a symbolic era, or colossal measures of distance and days, “a thousand” shouts the same message: the Lord reigns, His promises stand, and His people can trust Him from now into the ages of ages. Forms and Transliterations χιλια χίλια χίλιαι χιλίαις χιλιαν χιλίαν χιλιας χιλίας χίλιοι χιλιοις χιλίοις χιλιοπλασίως χιλίους χιλιων χιλιών χιλίων χίμαιραν χίμαροι χίμαρον χίμαρος χιμάρου χιμάρους χιμάρων χιονωθήσονται chilia chília chilias chilías chilion chiliōn chilíon chilíōnLinks Interlinear Greek • Interlinear Hebrew • Strong's Numbers • Englishman's Greek Concordance • Englishman's Hebrew Concordance • Parallel TextsEnglishman's Concordance 2 Peter 3:8 Adj-NNPGRK: Κυρίῳ ὡς χίλια ἔτη καὶ NAS: is like a thousand years, KJV: the Lord as a thousand years, and INT: Lord [is] as a thousand years and 2 Peter 3:8 Adj-NNP Revelation 11:3 Adj-AFP Revelation 12:6 Adj-AFP Revelation 14:20 Adj-GMP Revelation 20:2 Adj-ANP Revelation 20:3 Adj-NNP Revelation 20:4 Adj-ANP Revelation 20:5 Adj-NNP Revelation 20:6 Adj-ANP Revelation 20:7 Adj-NNP Strong's Greek 5507 |
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