from δώδεκα and φυλή; the commonwealth of Israel:--twelve tribes.
Transliteration:dōdekáphylon
Pronunciation:do-dek-af'-oo-lon
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term δωδεκάφυλον (dōdekáphylon, `{{G1429}}`) is a compound word derived from δώδεκα (dōdeka, `{{G1212}}`), meaning "twelve," and φυλή (phylē, `{{G5443}}`), meaning "tribe" or "clan." Its literal meaning is "twelve tribes." Semantically, it refers specifically to the historical and theological entity of the twelve tribes of Israel, understood as the entire nation or commonwealth of Israel. This term encapsulates the collective identity of God's chosen people, rooted in the twelve sons of Jacob (Israel), and carries the profound historical, covenantal, and eschatological weight associated with this foundational structure of the Israelite nation. It is not merely a numerical descriptor but signifies the unified body of God's people under the Abrahamic and Mosaic covenants.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term δωδεκάφυλον (dōdekáphylon, `{{G1429}}`) appears only once in the New Testament, in the book of Acts:
* **[[Acts 26:7]]**: In his defense before King Agrippa, the Apostle Paul declares, "to which promise our twelve tribes (ἡ δωδεκάφυλος ἡμῶν), earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain."
* In this crucial passage, Paul is asserting the continuity of his hope—the hope of the resurrection of the dead—with the long-held expectations of the entire Jewish people. By referring to "our twelve tribes," Paul emphasizes his solidarity with his Jewish heritage and underscores that the Christian message is not a departure from the ancestral faith but rather its fulfillment. The phrase "earnestly serving God night and day" portrays the devotion and persistent expectation of the collective Israel for the culmination of God's promises, specifically the resurrection, which Paul preaches as realized in Christ. This single usage powerfully links the Messianic hope to the historical and ongoing identity of the Israelite commonwealth.
### Related Words & Concepts
The meaning of δωδεκάφυλον (dōdekáphylon, `{{G1429}}`) is intrinsically linked to several core biblical concepts and related terms:
* **δώδεκα (dōdeka, `{{G1212}}`)**: The number "twelve" holds significant symbolic weight in Scripture, often representing completeness, governmental order, or divine appointment, particularly in relation to Israel (e.g., twelve tribes, twelve apostles).
* **φυλή (phylē, `{{G5443}}`)**: "Tribe," "clan," or "nation." This term is fundamental to understanding the social, political, and religious organization of ancient Israel, emphasizing their lineage and distinct identity.
* **The Commonwealth of Israel**: While not using δωδεκάφυλον, Paul refers to the "commonwealth of Israel" (πολιτείας τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, politeias tou Israēl) in [[Ephesians 2:12]], highlighting the corporate identity and covenantal privileges from which Gentiles were once alienated. This concept is deeply intertwined with the idea of the "twelve tribes" as the collective people of God.
* **Israel**: The name given to Jacob ([[Genesis 32:28]]), which became the name for his descendants and the nation formed from his twelve sons. The term "Israel" itself carries the full weight of God's covenant relationship.
* **Restoration of Israel**: Prophetic passages often speak of the future gathering and restoration of the scattered tribes of Israel (e.g., [[Isaiah 11:12]], [[Jeremiah 31:1]]), a hope that the "twelve tribes" in Acts 26:7 implicitly anticipates.
* **Eschatological Significance**: The number twelve and the concept of "tribes" reappear in eschatological visions, such as the 144,000 sealed from the twelve tribes of Israel in [[Revelation 7:4-8]] and the twelve gates named after the twelve tribes of Israel in the New Jerusalem ([[Revelation 21:12]]), symbolizing the redeemed and complete people of God.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of δωδεκάφυλον (dōdekáphylon, `{{G1429}}`) is profound, though its usage is singular:
* **Continuity of God's Covenant with Israel**: Paul's use of "our twelve tribes" in [[Acts 26:7]] powerfully affirms that the Christian message is not a new, unrelated religion, but the fulfillment of God's long-standing promises to Israel. It highlights that the covenant relationship with Abraham's descendants, structured tribally, remains central to God's redemptive plan. The hope of the resurrection, which Paul preaches, is presented as the very hope that the entire commonwealth of Israel has historically cherished.
* **Unified Identity of Israel**: Despite historical divisions (e.g., northern and southern kingdoms, dispersion), the term "twelve tribes" maintains the theological ideal of a unified Israel as a single entity awaiting God's ultimate salvation. It underscores the enduring corporate identity of God's chosen people.
* **Paul's Jewish Identity and Apostolic Mission**: For Paul, an apostle to the Gentiles, identifying with "our twelve tribes" demonstrates that his Messianic faith does not negate his Jewish heritage but rather completes it. It shows that the Christian hope is deeply rooted in the historical faith of Israel, providing a bridge between the Old Covenant promises and their New Covenant fulfillment in Christ.
* **Anticipation of Full Redemption**: The "earnest service night and day" and the hope for the promise imply a deep spiritual longing within Israel for the consummation of God's redemptive purposes, ultimately found in the resurrection of the dead and the coming of the Messiah. This term thus connects the historical Israel to the eschatological hope for ultimate divine deliverance.
### Summary
The term δωδεκάφυλον (dōdekáphylon, `{{G1429}}`), meaning "twelve tribes," is a potent descriptor of the collective Israelite nation. Its singular occurrence in [[Acts 26:7]] is highly significant, as the Apostle Paul uses it to assert the profound continuity between his Christian hope in the resurrection and the long-held aspirations of the entire commonwealth of Israel. This term underscores the enduring corporate identity of God's chosen people, rooted in their tribal heritage, and their persistent devotion and expectation of divine fulfillment. Theologically, δωδεκάφυλον affirms the unbroken thread of God's covenant with Israel, demonstrating that the Christian message is the culmination of Israel's ancestral promises, rather than a departure from them. It encapsulates the historical, covenantal, and eschatological significance of God's unique relationship with His people.
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