multiple adverb from ἑβδομήκοντα; seventy times:--seventy times.
Transliteration:hebdomēkontákis
Pronunciation:heb-dom-ay-kon-tak-is
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek adverb ἑβδομηκοντάκις (G1441, hebdomēkontákis) directly translates to "seventy times." It is derived from ἑβδομήκοντα (G1440), meaning "seventy," with the suffix -κις indicating multiplication or frequency (e.g., τρίς for "three times," ἑπτάκις for "seven times" `{{G2034}}`). Its core meaning is purely quantitative, denoting a specific, albeit high, number of repetitions or occurrences. Semantically, its range is narrow, focused on numerical frequency rather than qualitative nuance.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The word ἑβδομηκοντάκις appears only once in the New Testament, in a pivotal teaching of Jesus concerning forgiveness:
* **[[Matthew 18:22]]**: "Jesus said to him, 'I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven.'"
This statement is Jesus's response to Peter's question in [[Matthew 18:21]]: "Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?" Peter's suggestion of "seven times" (using ἑπτάκις `{{G2034}}`) likely reflects a generous understanding of forgiveness by rabbinic standards of the day, which might have suggested three or four times. Jesus's reply, "seventy times seven" (ἑβδομηκοντάκις ἑπτά), is not a literal mathematical calculation (i.e., 490 times) but rather a hyperbolic expression. It signifies an immeasurable, unlimited, and continuous commitment to forgiveness that transcends any humanly conceived limit. The juxtaposition with Peter's "seven times" emphasizes the radical nature of Kingdom ethics, moving beyond a finite, conditional approach to an infinite, unconditional one.
### Related Words & Concepts
The primary related word is ἑβδομήκοντα (G1440), the cardinal number "seventy," from which ἑβδομηκοντάκις is formed. Another closely related term in the immediate context is ἑπτάκις (G2034), "seven times," used by Peter in his question. The number "seven" (`{{G2033}}`) itself frequently symbolizes completeness or perfection in biblical numerology, and its multiplication by "seventy" here amplifies this sense to an extreme degree. Conceptually, ἑβδομηκοντάκις is intrinsically linked to the theological themes of forgiveness, mercy, reconciliation, and the boundless grace expected within the community of believers. It stands in stark contrast to concepts of retribution, limited patience, or a "tit-for-tat" mentality.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ἑβδομηκοντάκις is profound, despite its singular occurrence. Its use in [[Matthew 18:22]] serves as a foundational teaching on the nature of forgiveness within the Kingdom of God.
1. **Divine Standard for Human Forgiveness**: Jesus's declaration sets an impossibly high, yet essential, standard for human interaction. Just as God's forgiveness towards humanity is boundless and not contingent on a tally of sins, so too must be the forgiveness extended by believers to one another. It reflects the divine character of mercy.
2. **Radical Grace vs. Legalism**: The phrase challenges any legalistic or transactional approach to forgiveness. It dismantles the idea that forgiveness can be exhausted or that one can cease forgiving after a certain number of offenses. It mandates a continuous posture of grace and reconciliation.
3. **Foundation for Community**: This unlimited forgiveness is crucial for the health and unity of the Christian community. Without it, relationships would quickly fracture under the weight of repeated offenses. It underpins the call to love one another as Christ has loved us.
4. **Context of the Parable**: This teaching immediately precedes the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:23-35), which illustrates the dire consequences of failing to extend the same boundless mercy one has received from God. The "seventy times seven" becomes the measure by which one's own forgiveness is implicitly judged.
### Summary
The Greek adverb ἑβδομηκοντάκις (G1441) literally means "seventy times" and is derived from the number "seventy" (G1440). Its sole, yet profoundly significant, appearance in the New Testament is in [[Matthew 18:22]], where Jesus uses the phrase "seventy times seven" to instruct Peter on the nature of forgiveness. This expression is not a literal mathematical command but a hyperbolic figure of speech signifying unlimited, continuous, and radical forgiveness. Theologically, it establishes a divine standard for human mercy, challenging any finite or conditional approach to reconciliation. It underscores the boundless grace expected within the Christian community and serves as a foundational principle for healthy interpersonal relationships, directly preceding the parable of the unforgiving servant that illustrates its critical importance.
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