### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word ὀκτώ (oktō), `{{G3638}}`, is a primary cardinal numeral meaning "eight." Unlike many words that possess a broad semantic range, ὀκτώ is remarkably precise in its literal denotation. Its primary function is to quantify, representing the numerical value immediately following seven. However, in biblical thought, numbers frequently transcend mere mathematical value, carrying symbolic and theological weight. Thus, while its core meaning is straightforward, its significance within the biblical narrative often points to concepts beyond simple enumeration, particularly those related to new beginnings, resurrection, and a completion that extends beyond a previous cycle.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
Occurrences of ὀκτώ in the New Testament, though not extensive, are highly significant, often appearing in contexts that underscore its symbolic depth:
* **Circumcision:** The most prominent literal usage is found in reference to the Israelite practice of circumcising male infants on the "eighth day" after birth (e.g., [[Luke 1:59]], [[Philippians 3:5]]). This commandment, originating in [[Genesis 17:12]], marks the child's entry into the covenant community. The eighth day, being the first day of a new week, symbolically points to a new beginning, a fresh start under God's covenant.
* **Noah's Ark:** In [[1 Peter 3:20]], the apostle Peter states that "eight souls were saved through water" in Noah's ark. This passage draws a clear typological connection between Noah's salvation through the floodwaters and Christian baptism. The preservation of eight individuals through the judgment of the flood, leading to a new world, powerfully symbolizes new creation and salvation from death, achieved through Christ and experienced in baptism.
* **The Resurrection of Christ:** While the New Testament does not explicitly refer to the resurrection as occurring on the "eighth day," it consistently states that Jesus rose "on the first day of the week" (e.g., [[Matthew 28:1]], [[Mark 16:2]], [[Luke 24:1]], [[John 20:1]]). Given that the Jewish week concluded with the Sabbath (the seventh day), the first day of the new week effectively serves as the "eighth day." This established pattern reinforces the theological understanding of "eight" as signifying new creation, the inauguration of a new covenant, and the triumph over death.
These contexts reveal that ὀκτώ is often associated with a fresh start, a new order, or a divine intervention that transcends previous limitations.
### Related Words & Concepts
As a cardinal numeral, ὀκτώ does not have direct synonyms. However, its theological significance is deeply intertwined with several key biblical concepts and other numbers:
* **New Beginning/New Creation:** This is the most pervasive concept linked to ὀκτώ. Just as the first day of a new week follows seven days, the "eighth day" signifies a new cycle, a fresh start. This is powerfully demonstrated in the resurrection of Christ, which inaugurates the new creation and the eschatological age.
* **Resurrection:** The timing of Christ's resurrection on the "first day of the week" (the "eighth day") firmly establishes ὀκτώ as a number associated with life overcoming death and the inauguration of a new spiritual reality.
* **Covenant:** The command for circumcision on the eighth day highlights ὀκτώ's connection to covenant initiation and inclusion in God's chosen people.
* **Salvation/Baptism:** The parallel drawn by Peter between Noah's eight souls saved through water and Christian baptism underscores the salvific aspect of ὀκτώ, pointing to a new birth and deliverance.
* **The Number Seven (`{{H7651}}`/`{{G2033}}`):** Seven often symbolizes completion, perfection, or divine fullness (e.g., seven days of creation). The number eight, therefore, frequently signifies something *beyond* completion, a super-completion, or the beginning of a *new* perfect cycle, often one ushered in by divine grace. It moves beyond the temporal cycle of seven into an eternal, redemptive reality.
### Theological Significance
The theological significance of ὀκτώ is profound, consistently pointing to God's work of **new creation and resurrection**. It is the number that transcends the completed cycle of seven, symbolizing a divine intervention that inaugurates a new order.
* **Christ's Resurrection as the Ultimate Eighth Day Event:** The resurrection of Jesus Christ on the "first day of the week" (the "eighth day") is the pinnacle of this symbolism. It signifies not merely a resuscitation but the dawn of a new creation, where death is conquered, and a new humanity in Christ is established. This "eighth day" is the day of the Lord, the day of new life, and the foretaste of the eternal Sabbath.
* **Baptism as Participation in New Creation:** The typological link between Noah's eight saved souls and baptism underscores that through this sacrament, believers are united with Christ in His death and resurrection, experiencing a spiritual new birth and entry into the new covenant. It is a transition from the old life to a new, Spirit-empowered existence.
* **Eschatological Hope:** The consistent association of ὀκτώ with new beginnings and resurrection points to the ultimate hope of the believer: the bodily resurrection and the new heavens and new earth. It speaks of God's redemptive plan that culminates in a renewed cosmos, surpassing the limitations and fallenness of the present age.
Thus, ὀκτώ is more than a mere numeral; it is a powerful biblical symbol of God's transformative power, bringing forth life out of death, newness out of oldness, and eternal hope out of temporal existence.
### Summary
The Greek word ὀκτώ (oktō), `{{G3638}}`, meaning "eight," functions as a primary numeral in the New Testament. Beyond its literal quantification, it carries significant symbolic weight, consistently pointing to **new beginnings, resurrection, and new creation**. This is evident in the covenant sign of circumcision on the eighth day, Noah's eight souls saved through water (a type of baptism), and most profoundly, in the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the "first day of the week," which is the "eighth day." Theologically, ὀκτώ signifies God's redemptive work that transcends the old order, inaugurating a new spiritual reality in Christ. It speaks to the believer's experience of new life in baptism and points to the ultimate eschatological hope of resurrection and a renewed creation.
TRV