### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word **dekatéssares**, represented by `{{G1180}}`, means **fourteen**. It is formed from the words for ten and four. It appears 5 times across 3 unique verses in the Bible. This number is used to mark significant periods of time, both in years and in generations, providing structure to key biblical narratives.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
In the biblical narrative, `{{G1180}}` is used to establish specific timeframes and genealogical divisions. Its most prominent use is in the Gospel of Matthew, where the lineage of **Christ** is organized into three distinct sets of **fourteen** generations each, from Abraham to David, from David to the Babylonian captivity, and from the captivity to **Christ** [[Matthew 1:17]]. The number is also used by the Apostle Paul to mark significant intervals in his life and ministry. He notes that it was **fourteen** years after that he went up again to Jerusalem [[Galatians 2:1]]. He also references a period of **fourteen** years when describing a man in **Christ** who was caught up to the third heaven [[2 Corinthians 12:2]].
### Related Words & Concepts
Several related words clarify the context in which **fourteen** is used:
* `{{G1074}}` **geneá** (a generation; by implication, an age): This word is essential for understanding the use of `{{G1180}}` in Matthew's genealogy. It defines the units being counted, as in "fourteen **generations**" [[Matthew 1:17]]. This term is also used to describe a specific time or the people within it, such as "this untoward **generation**" [[Acts 2:40]].
* `{{G2094}}` **étos** (a year): This term for time is used alongside `{{G1180}}` to specify durations. Paul's journeys and revelations are marked by periods of "**fourteen** years" ([[Galatians 2:1]], [[2 Corinthians 12:2]]), highlighting the passage of a long and specific amount of time.
* `{{G5547}}` **Christós** (anointed, i.e. the Messiah): The use of `{{G1180}}` often points toward **Christ**. The genealogy in Matthew culminates in the arrival of **Christ** [[Matthew 1:17]], and the vision Paul describes is of a man "in **Christ**" [[2 Corinthians 12:2]]. This shows that the number frames events of redemptive significance.
### Theological Significance
The theological weight of `{{G1180}}` is demonstrated in its specific applications.
* **Genealogical Structure:** The number is used to create a symmetrical and ordered framework for the lineage of Jesus. The repetition of "**fourteen** generations" emphasizes a deliberate and divinely ordered plan leading to the arrival of the **Messiah** [[Matthew 1:17]].
* **Significant Time Spans:** The use of "**fourteen** years" marks substantial periods in Paul's life before major events, such as his return to Jerusalem or a divine revelation. This highlights that these were not insignificant gaps but periods of importance ([[Galatians 2:1]], [[2 Corinthians 12:2]]).
* **Christ-Centered Focus:** The instances of `{{G1180}}` are directly linked to the person of **Christ**. Whether structuring his ancestry or framing a vision of a man "in **Christ**," the number serves to organize history and experience around him ([[Matthew 1:17]], [[2 Corinthians 12:2]]).
### Summary
In summary, `{{G1180}}` is more than a simple quantity. It is a number used with purpose in scripture to denote structure, significance, and the passage of substantial time. From organizing the generations leading to the **Messiah** to marking key intervals in apostolic history, **dekatéssares** demonstrates how numbers can be used to underscore the order and purposefulness of God's plan.
TRV