The term "myriads" is used in the Bible to denote an exceedingly large number, often translated as "tens of thousands" or "innumerable." It is derived from the Greek word "myrias," which signifies a vast, countless multitude. This term is employed in various contexts throughout Scripture to convey the magnitude of God's creation, the hosts of heaven, or the assembly of God's people.

Old Testament Usage

In the Old Testament, "myriads" often describes the vastness of God's blessings or the multitude of His people. For instance, in Deuteronomy 33:2, Moses speaks of the Lord coming from Sinai with "myriads of holy ones" , highlighting the immense number of heavenly beings accompanying God. This imagery underscores the majesty and power of God as He reveals Himself to Israel.

The term also appears in the context of military strength and divine protection. In 1 Samuel 18:7, after David's victory over Goliath, the women of Israel sing, "Saul has slain his thousands, and David his tens of thousands" . Here, "tens of thousands" is a translation of the Hebrew equivalent of "myriads," emphasizing David's prowess and the favor of God upon him.

New Testament Usage

In the New Testament, "myriads" is used to describe the innumerable company of angels and the vast assembly of believers. Hebrews 12:22 states, "But you have come to Mount Zion, to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem. You have come to myriads of angels" . This passage paints a picture of the heavenly realm filled with countless angels, illustrating the glory and splendor of God's kingdom.

The Book of Revelation also employs the term to depict the overwhelming number of heavenly beings. Revelation 5:11 describes a vision of the throne room of God: "Then I looked, and I heard the voices of many angels and living creatures and elders, numbering myriads of myriads and thousands of thousands" . This imagery conveys the grandeur and worship that surrounds the throne of God, with an innumerable host praising Him.

Symbolic and Theological Significance

The use of "myriads" in Scripture serves to communicate the boundless nature of God's creation and His infinite power. It reflects the idea that God's resources, whether in terms of angelic hosts or blessings upon His people, are limitless. The term also emphasizes the vastness of the redeemed community, both in heaven and on earth, underscoring the inclusivity and reach of God's salvation plan.

In a theological context, "myriads" reminds believers of the overwhelming support and protection they have from the heavenly realm. It assures them of God's sovereign control over all creation and His ability to marshal countless forces for the fulfillment of His divine purposes. The imagery of "myriads" thus serves to inspire awe, confidence, and worship among the faithful, as they contemplate the greatness of their God and the vastness of His kingdom.3461. murias -- ten thousand, a myriad
... Word Origin from murios Definition ten thousand, a myriad NASB Word Usage fifty*
(1), many thousands (2), myriads (3), thousand (1), thousands (1), two hundred ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/3461.htm - 7k7240. ribbo -- myriad
... 7239, 7240. ribbo. 7241 . myriad. Transliteration: ribbo Phonetic Spelling:
(rib-bo') Short Definition: myriads. Word Origin (Aramaic ...
/hebrew/7240.htm - 6k

7239. ribbo -- ten thousand, myriad
... Word Origin from rabab Definition ten thousand, myriad NASB Word Usage 120,000*
(1), 18,000* (1), 20,000* (2), 42,360* (2), 61,000* (1), myriads (1), ten ...
/hebrew/7239.htm - 6k

The Necessity of Divine Influences.
... Heaven is in it. Hell is in it. Myriads of myriads of holy and happy spirits
are there. Myriads of sinful and wretched spirits are there. ...
/.../shedd/sermons to the natural man/the necessity of divine influences.htm

Having Therefore done Many and Dreadful Things against Jesus that ...
... art the Son of God. I see Thee, Christ, adored by myriads of myriads of
angels. Pardon me my sins which I have done. Do not in my ...
/.../the narrative of joseph of arimathaea/chapter 3 having therefore done.htm

Outward Bound
... myriads on myriads, generations on generations, people the eternal darkness, seen
only by Him to whom the darkness is as light as day: and to be seen hereafter ...
//christianbookshelf.org/kingsley/at last/chapter i outward bound.htm

The Addition in the Codex, with a Various Reading.
... rebel that slew men. For one underwent the judgment, and myriads were set
free; one was buried, and myriads rose again. He is the ...
/.../vi the addition in the codex.htm

The Mourner's Comfort.
... were more hearts to comfort and souls to cheer than one; that Almighty Saviour had
at the moment troops of other bereaved ones in view; myriads on myriads of ...
/.../macduff/memories of bethany/viii the mourners comfort.htm

Man Would be More Unfavourably Situated than the Beasts if There ...
... For the robber, or ruler, or tyrant, who has unjustly put to death myriads on myriads,
could not by one death make restitution for these deeds; and the man who ...
/.../the treatise on the resurrection of the dead/chapter xix man would be more.htm

Fragment i. On the Mythical Chronology of the Egyptians and ...
... with their boastful notions of their own antiquity, have put forth a sort of account
of it by the hand of their astrologers in cycles and myriads of years ...
/.../africanus/the writings of julius africanus/fragment i on the mythical.htm

What we must Answer to those who Raise the Question --"If ...
... Yet while, as has been said, there is no marriage among them, the armies of the
angels are in countless myriads; for so Daniel declared in his visions: so, in ...
/.../gregory/gregory of nyssa dogmatic treatises etc/xvii what we must answer.htm

The Jews, Afflicted with Innumerable Evils, Commenced the Last War ...
... The "myriads" of Eusebius is an instance of the exaggerated use of language which
was common to his age, and which almost invariably marks a period of decline. ...
/.../pamphilius/church history/chapter xxvi the jews afflicted with.htm

Letter xi. --For 339. Coss. Constantius Augustus ii, Constans I ...
... as he was [4267] .' For virtue is philanthropic [4268] , and great is the company
of the kingdom of heaven, for thousands of thousands and myriads of myriads ...
/.../select works and letters or athanasius/letter xi for 339 coss constantius.htm

Myriads (24 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Myriads (24 Occurrences). Luke 12:1 In those times,
the myriads of the crowd being gathered together, so ...
/m/myriads.htm - 13k

Myriad (12 Occurrences)
... (YLT). Numbers 10:36 And when it rested, he said, Return, Jehovah, unto the
myriads of the thousands of Israel. (Root in DBY YLT NAS). ...
/m/myriad.htm - 10k

Drachmas (6 Occurrences)
... Ezra 2:69 according to their power they have given to the treasure of the work;
of gold, drams six myriads and a thousand, and of silver, pounds five thousand ...
/d/drachmas.htm - 8k

Voices (76 Occurrences)
... the living creatures and the Elders. Their number was myriads of myriads
and thousands of thousands, (WEY). Revelation 6:10 And now ...
/v/voices.htm - 29k

Numbering (35 Occurrences)
... And I saw, and I heard the voice of many messengers round the throne, and the living
creatures, and the elders -- and the number of them was myriads of myriads...
/n/numbering.htm - 19k

Forces (123 Occurrences)
... (WEB WEY NAS NIV). Revelation 9:16 and the number of the forces of the horsemen
'is' two myriads of myriads, and I heard the number of them. (YLT). ...
/f/forces.htm - 39k

Countless (11 Occurrences)
... the living creatures and the Elders. Their number was myriads of myriads
and thousands of thousands, (WEY). Numbers 10:36 When it ...
/c/countless.htm - 9k

Messengers (182 Occurrences)
... Hebrews 12:22 But, ye came to Mount Zion, and to a city of the living God, to
the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of messengers, (YLT). ...
/m/messengers.htm - 36k

Seemed (89 Occurrences)
... the living creatures and the Elders. Their number was myriads of myriads
and thousands of thousands, (WEY). Revelation 6:6 And I ...
/s/seemed.htm - 32k

Plagues (28 Occurrences)
... Spawn in the mud is hatched by the sun, and the marshes are filled with myriads
of these creatures. The frog was the hieroglyph for myriads. ...
/p/plagues.htm - 44k

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