### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek noun ἔτος (G2094) fundamentally signifies a "year," referring to a period of twelve months or an annual cycle. As indicated by its base definition, it is considered a primary word, suggesting its foundational role in temporal measurement. Its semantic range is quite narrow, consistently denoting this specific unit of time without significant metaphorical or extended meanings. It serves as a basic chronological marker, essential for dating events, measuring durations, and establishing the age of individuals or the length of reigns within the biblical narrative.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
ἔτος (G2094) appears frequently in the New Testament, particularly in the Gospels, Acts, and Revelation, where it serves primarily as a chronological marker.
* **Chronological Dating:** It is commonly used to establish the age of individuals, such as Jesus being "twelve years old" (ἐτῶν δώδεκα) when He visited the temple [[Luke 2:42]]. It also marks the duration of reigns, as seen in the dating of John the Baptist's ministry to the "fifteenth year" (ἔτους δὲ πεντεκαιδεκάτου) of Tiberius Caesar's reign [[Luke 3:1]].
* **Duration of Events:** The word specifies the length of significant occurrences, such as the famine that occurred "in the days of Claudius" (ἐπὶ Κλαυδίου) [[Acts 11:28]], implying a specific year or period.
* **Annual Cycles:** ἔτος also refers to the yearly return of festivals, as when Jesus' parents went to Jerusalem "every year" (κατ’ ἔτος) for the Passover feast [[Luke 2:41]].
* **Figurative or Prophetic Periods:** Perhaps its most theologically significant usage is in the book of Revelation, where it repeatedly denotes the "thousand years" (χίλια ἔτη) of Christ's millennial reign [[Revelation 20:2-7]]. This usage, whether interpreted literally or symbolically, signifies a definite and substantial period within God's eschatological plan. In [[Galatians 4:10]], ἔτος is part of a sequence ("days and months and seasons and years") that highlights a return to legalistic observance of temporal markers.
### Related Words & Concepts
* **ἐνιαυτός (eniautos, `{{G1763}}`):** This is the closest synonym to ἔτος, also meaning "year." While often interchangeable, ἐνιαυτός can sometimes carry a stronger nuance of a cyclical or appointed period, whereas ἔτος tends to be a more straightforward calendrical year. Notably, in Jesus' declaration in [[Luke 4:19]] (quoting [[Isaiah 61:2]]), "the acceptable year of the Lord" uses ἐνιαυτός, emphasizing a divinely appointed era.
* **χρόνος (chronos, `{{G5550}}`):** Refers to time in its general, quantitative sense, duration. ἔτος is a specific unit of χρόνος.
* **καιρός (kairos, `{{G2540}}`):** Denotes an appointed time, a season, or an opportune moment, emphasizing the qualitative aspect of time. While ἔτος is a measurement, a specific ἔτος can certainly be a καιρός if it marks a significant, divinely appointed period.
* **Hebrew Equivalent:** The primary Hebrew word for "year" is שָׁנָה (shanah, `{{H8141}}`), which ἔτος frequently translates in the Septuagint. Both words function similarly in establishing chronological frameworks in their respective testaments.
* **Concepts:** The use of ἔτος is intrinsically linked to concepts of chronology, historical accuracy, the progression of God's plan, and the cyclical nature of time (e.g., agricultural and festival years).
### Theological Significance
The consistent use of ἔτος (G2094) in the New Testament, though seemingly mundane, carries significant theological weight:
* **Divine Sovereignty over Time:** The precise dating of events using ἔτος underscores God's meticulous sovereignty over all of creation, including time itself. Events unfold according to His precise and predetermined timetable, not haphazardly.
* **Historical Reality of Redemption:** The anchoring of biblical narratives in specific "years" (e.g., the year of Jesus' birth, the year of a famine) emphasizes the historical veracity of God's redemptive acts. The Incarnation, the ministry of Christ, and the early church's experiences are presented not as myths but as concrete occurrences within human history.
* **Fulfillment of Prophecy:** The chronological markers provided by ἔτος often serve to highlight the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies, demonstrating God's faithfulness to His Word across generations.
* **The Millennial Reign:** The repeated mention of "a thousand years" (χίλια ἔτη) in Revelation [[Revelation 20:2-7]] is a foundational element of eschatology. Whether interpreted literally or symbolically, it signifies a distinct and significant period of Christ's triumph and rule, demonstrating the structured and progressive nature of God's ultimate plan for creation and redemption. This period culminates in the final judgment and the new heavens and new earth.
### Summary
ἔτος (G2094) is a fundamental Greek noun signifying a "year," a primary unit of time measurement. Its New Testament usage is predominantly literal, serving to establish chronological precision in narratives, marking the age of individuals, or delineating the duration of events and reigns. While its core meaning is straightforward, ἔτος plays a crucial role in grounding biblical accounts in historical reality, thereby underscoring God's meticulous sovereignty over time and the structured progression of His redemptive plan. Its most profound theological application is found in the depiction of the "thousand years" in Revelation, signifying a definite period within God's eschatological design. ἔτος works in concert with related terms like ἐνιαυτός (`{{G1763}}`), χρόνος (`{{G5550}}`), and καιρός (`{{G2540}}`) to articulate the multifaceted nature of time within the divine economy.
TRV