### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek term μύριοι (myrioi), Strong's G3463, fundamentally denotes the numerical value of "ten thousand." Derived from an apparently primary word signifying "very many," its semantic range extends significantly beyond this literal count to encompass the concept of "innumerably many" or "myriad." It functions often as a hyperbolic or indefinite expression, signifying an exceedingly vast, uncountable, or indefinite quantity, rather than a precise numerical sum. This plural form emphasizes the sheer magnitude of the quantity described, frequently conveying a sense of overwhelming abundance or an immeasurable scale.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term μύριοι (myrioi) appears in the New Testament, consistently highlighting immense quantities:
* **[[Matthew 18:24]]**: In the parable of the unforgiving servant, a servant is brought before the king who owes "ten thousand talents." This sum represents an astronomically large and unpayable debt, far exceeding any individual's lifetime earnings. The use of μύριοι here emphasizes the staggering magnitude of the debt, which in turn magnifies the king's boundless grace in forgiving it, thereby setting the stage for the contrast with the servant's lack of mercy. The number serves to underscore the immeasurable nature of divine forgiveness.
* **[[1 Corinthians 4:15]]**: Paul declares, "For though you have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet you do not have many fathers; for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel." Here, μύριοι refers to a great multitude of teachers or guides (παιδαγωγός, *paidagōgos*), contrasting them sharply with the singular, unique role of a spiritual father who imparts life. The "ten thousand" signifies an abundance of instructors, highlighting how common or numerous they might be, set against the rarity and profound significance of true spiritual parentage.
* **[[Revelation 5:11]]**: Describing the heavenly worship, John states, "Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, and the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands." The phrase "myriads of myriads" (μυριάδες μυριάδων) uses μύριοι in a multiplicative sense (10,000 x 10,000 = 100,000,000), signifying an incalculable host. This conveys the overwhelming scale of heavenly worship and the immense, uncountable number of angelic beings participating in the adoration of God and the Lamb.
* **[[Revelation 9:16]]**: In a vision of divine judgment, John reports, "Now the number of the army of the horsemen was two hundred million; I heard the number of them." The Greek text here is δύο μυριάδες μυριάδων, literally "two myriads of myriads." This depicts an unimaginably vast military force, underscoring the cataclysmic scale of divine judgment and the overwhelming power unleashed in the eschatological events.
### Related Words & Concepts
The concept conveyed by μύριοι (myrioi) often intersects with other terms denoting large quantities or multitudes. Related Greek words include:
* `{{G4183}}` *polys*: meaning "much" or "many," a more general term for quantity.
* `{{G4128}}` *plethos*: referring to a "multitude" or "crowd."
* `{{G5505}}` *chiliades*: meaning "thousands," a smaller but still significant numerical unit.
In the Septuagint, the Hebrew equivalent for "ten thousand" is often רְבָבָה (revavah, `{{H7233}}`), which similarly can denote both a literal ten thousand and an indefinite, very large number, as seen in blessings like "be thousands of myriads" (e.g., [[Genesis 24:60]]). This demonstrates a cross-linguistic and cultural understanding of such large numbers as representing an immeasurable abundance. The use of μύριοι thus taps into a broader biblical concept of divine scale that transcends human counting.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of μύριοι (myrioi) lies primarily in its role as a descriptor of divine magnitude and the incalculable realities of God's kingdom.
1. **Immeasurable Grace and Forgiveness**: In [[Matthew 18:24]], the "ten thousand talents" debt highlights the incomprehensible extent of God's forgiveness. It teaches that the debt of sin, which is utterly beyond human capacity to repay, is fully and freely remitted by divine grace. This emphasizes the boundless nature of God's mercy.
2. **Vastness of Heavenly Hosts and Worship**: The "myriads of myriads" in [[Revelation 5:11]] powerfully conveys the immensity of the heavenly realm and the countless throng of angelic beings and redeemed saints who ceaselessly offer worship to God and the Lamb. It paints a picture of an overwhelming, glorious, and unending chorus of adoration, underscoring the supreme worthiness of the Creator and Redeemer.
3. **Scale of Divine Judgment**: In [[Revelation 9:16]], the "two myriads of myriads" of horsemen illustrate the terrifying and overwhelming scale of divine judgment. This imagery underscores the omnipotence of God and the futility of resistance against His sovereign will, revealing that His judgments are executed with forces beyond human comprehension.
4. **Divine Transcendence**: Across its occurrences, μύριοι points to realities that transcend human measurement and comprehension. Whether it is the depth of divine forgiveness, the breadth of heavenly worship, or the might of divine judgment, the use of this term reminds humanity of the incalculable nature of God's attributes and actions. It elevates the spiritual and divine above the limitations of earthly enumeration.
### Summary
The Greek word μύριοι (myrioi), Strong's G3463, meaning literally "ten thousand," extends its semantic range to signify "innumerably many" or "myriad." In biblical contexts, it consistently functions as a hyperbolic expression to denote an exceedingly vast, uncountable, or indefinite quantity. Its occurrences in the New Testament, particularly in [[Matthew 18:24]], [[1 Corinthians 4:15]], [[Revelation 5:11]], and [[Revelation 9:16]], serve to emphasize the immense scale of divine realities: the immeasurable grace and forgiveness of God, the vastness of the heavenly host and their worship, and the overwhelming power of divine judgment. Ultimately, μύριοι underscores the incalculable nature of spiritual truths and the divine transcendence that far surpasses human comprehension and measurement.
TRV