### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word `{{G1734}}` (hendékatos) is an ordinal numeral, directly derived from `{{G1733}}` (héndeka), meaning "eleven." Its core meaning is simply "eleventh," indicating a position in a sequence. Unlike many other biblical terms, `{{G1734}}` does not possess a broad semantic range or inherent metaphorical meaning beyond its numerical designation. Its significance is primarily derived from the specific contexts in which it appears, where the notion of "eleventh" carries contextual weight rather than the word itself having an extended definition. It functions to denote order, sequence, or a specific point in time, always referring to the position following the tenth.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
`{{G1734}}` appears four times in the New Testament, each instance contributing uniquely to its contextual meaning:
* **[[Matthew 20:6]]**: "And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?'"
* **[[Matthew 20:9]]**: "And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius."
In the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, the "eleventh hour" is a critical temporal marker. It signifies the very end of the working day, just before payment. This late hiring highlights the unexpected and generous nature of the landowner (representing God), who grants the same wage to those who worked only one hour as to those who toiled all day. The "eleventh hour" here becomes a symbol of divine grace, sovereign timing, and the challenging of human perceptions of fairness. It underscores that salvation and reward are not based on human merit or duration of service, but on God's unmerited favor.
* **[[Mark 16:14]]**: "Later He appeared to the eleven themselves as they were reclining at table; and He reproached them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they had not believed those who had seen Him after He had risen."
Here, "the eleven" refers to the remaining apostles after Judas Iscariot's betrayal and death. The use of `{{G1734}}` (eleventh) in relation to the disciples emphasizes their reduced number but also their continued status as the core apostolic group to whom the resurrected Christ appears and gives final instructions. It signifies the continuity of the apostolic witness, despite the loss of one member. This particular appearance is crucial for establishing the resurrection as a historical event witnessed by those who would become the foundation of the early church.
* **[[Revelation 21:20]]**: "the tenth, chrysoprase; the eleventh, jacinth; the twelfth, amethyst."
In the description of the New Jerusalem, `{{G1734}}` designates the eleventh foundation stone, which is identified as "jacinth" (or hyacinth). This forms part of a meticulously ordered list of twelve precious stones, each representing one of the twelve apostles. The precise enumeration underscores the perfection, beauty, and divine order of the heavenly city. The specific choice of jacinth for the eleventh foundation, while symbolically rich in its own right (often associated with sincerity or spiritual insight), contributes to the overall picture of a divinely constructed and glorious dwelling place, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets.
### Related Words & Concepts
As an ordinal number, `{{G1734}}` is intrinsically linked to its cardinal form, `{{G1733}}` (eleven). It also relates to other numbers in sequence, such as `{{G1176}}` (tenth) and `{{G1427}}` (twelfth), which often appear alongside it in lists or sequences (e.g., in Revelation).
Conceptually, `{{G1734}}` in its various contexts connects to:
* **Divine Timing and Sovereignty**: Particularly evident in the "eleventh hour" of Matthew's parable, highlighting God's prerogative to act according to His own schedule and grace, not human expectations.
* **Grace and Mercy**: The unmerited favor shown to those hired at the eleventh hour.
* **Apostolic Witness and Foundation**: The "eleven" disciples receiving the post-resurrection commission, and the "eleventh" foundation stone of the New Jerusalem, signifying the enduring role of the apostles.
* **Eschatological Perfection**: The precise and precious nature of the eleventh foundation stone within the divinely ordered structure of the New Jerusalem, contributing to the vision of a perfected future.
* **Inclusivity**: The parable's message that God's invitation extends even to those who respond late.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of `{{G1734}}` is not inherent in the number itself, but in the profound truths it conveys within its specific biblical settings.
In the Synoptic Gospels, the "eleventh hour" in Matthew's parable [[Matthew 20:1-16]] serves as a powerful illustration of God's radical grace and sovereign generosity. It challenges human notions of meritocracy and fairness, demonstrating that God's rewards are not strictly commensurate with human effort or duration of service, but are dispensed according to His divine will and compassion. This highlights the nature of salvation as a gift, not an earned wage, and emphasizes that God's call and grace can extend even to those who respond at the very last moment. It underscores the truth that "the last will be first, and the first last" [[Matthew 20:16]].
In [[Mark 16:14]], "the eleven" signifies the continuity and authority of the apostolic witness despite the defection of Judas. This group forms the foundational core of the early church, entrusted with the Great Commission after encountering the resurrected Christ. The number, though reduced from twelve, still represents the chosen ones who would bear witness to Jesus's life, death, and resurrection, establishing the theological lineage of the church.
In the book of Revelation, the "eleventh" foundation stone of the New Jerusalem [[Revelation 21:20]] contributes to the vision of a perfectly ordered, precious, and divinely constructed eternal city. Each of the twelve foundations, bearing the name of an apostle, signifies the enduring importance of the apostolic witness as the very base upon which the heavenly city rests. The specific enumeration of each stone emphasizes the meticulous detail and divine perfection of God's ultimate dwelling place with humanity, underscoring themes of beauty, security, and the fulfillment of God's redemptive plan.
### Summary
`{{G1734}}` (hendékatos) is an ordinal Greek numeral meaning "eleventh." While numerically precise, its theological weight is derived entirely from its specific contexts in the New Testament. In the parable of the laborers, the "eleventh hour" symbolizes God's radical grace, sovereign timing, and the challenging of human merit-based systems, illustrating that salvation is a gift extended even to those who respond late. In Mark, "the eleven" refers to the core apostolic group, emphasizing the continuity and authority of their witness to the resurrected Christ. In Revelation, the "eleventh" foundation stone of the New Jerusalem contributes to the vision of a perfectly ordered, divinely beautiful, and eternally secure city, built upon the enduring foundation of the apostles. Thus, `{{G1734}}` serves as a precise chronological or sequential marker that, in its specific biblical occurrences, powerfully communicates profound truths about divine grace, apostolic authority, and eschatological perfection.
TRV