Word Study for G705 (ἀριθμέω)

arithméō /ar-ith-meh'-o/ Ask about this word

Rootfrom ἀριθμός

Meaningto enumerate or count

KJV usagenumber.

Word Study

In depth

A plain-language study of arithméō — the range of meaning it carries, how Scripture actually uses it, and where it points. Written for readers who don’t know the original language.

Core Meaning & Semantic Range

The Greek word arithméō, represented by G705, means to enumerate or count. Derived from ἀριθμός, it is a straightforward term for the act of numbering. It is used sparingly in the New Testament, appearing 4 times across 3 unique verses, yet its applications carry significant theological weight.

Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis

In scripture, G705 is used to contrast human limitation with divine sovereignty. In Revelation, the Apostle John beholds a great multitude from every nation which no man could number Revelation 7:9, highlighting a quantity beyond human capacity to measure. Conversely, Jesus uses the same word to illustrate God's intimate and detailed care, assuring His disciples that "the very hairs of your head are all numbered" (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7).

Related Words & Concepts

Several related words provide context for the act of numbering:

G3762 oudeís (not even one, none, nobody, nothing): This word establishes the impossibility of the task in Revelation, where "no man" was able to count the redeemed host Revelation 7:9.
G3793 óchlos (a throng, multitude, number of people): This term identifies the subject that cannot be counted in the heavenly vision, the "great multitude" standing before the throne Revelation 7:9.

Theological Significance

The theological significance of G705 is revealed in its contrasting applications:

Divine Omniscience: God's ability to have the hairs of our head numbered demonstrates his meticulous and personal knowledge of every detail of His creation. This is presented as a source of comfort, urging believers not to fear (Matthew 10:30; Luke 12:7).
Vastness of Redemption: The innumerable multitude in Revelation illustrates the immense and uncountable scope of God's salvation. It is a group so vast that it defies human enumeration, showing the fulfillment of God's promise to gather people from all nations, kindreds, and tongues Revelation 7:9.
Human vs. Divine Scale: The use of G705 powerfully juxtaposes what man cannot do (count the redeemed) with what God does effortlessly (count our hairs). This emphasizes the profound difference between human perspective and God's sovereign power and knowledge.

Summary

In summary, G705 is more than a simple verb for counting. It serves as a tool to reveal profound truths about God's character. Whether used to describe the hairs on a head or the host of heaven, arithméō underscores a God who is both intimately personal in His care and infinitely grand in His redemptive plan, far beyond human comprehension or measurement.

How the KJV Renders It

Translation

Strong’s lists the renderings but not their weight. These are counted from the King James text of the tagged verses — the bar under each is how often the translators actually reached for it. Select one to filter the occurrences below.

Grammatical Forms

Morphology

In the Greek New Testament, this word appears as a verb across 3 occurrences, inflected in 3 grammatical forms — each row is one form, and the bar is how often it is that form.

Aorist Active Infinitive 1×
Perfect Passive Indicative 3rd Plural 1×
Perfect Passive Participle Nominative Plural Feminine 1×

Nominative: The subject of the verb.
Plural: More than one.
Feminine: Feminine grammatical gender.
3rd: Third person — the one spoken about ("he"/"they").
Aorist: Action viewed as a single whole — usually a simple past event.
Perfect: A completed act whose results continue.
Active: The subject performs the action.
Passive: The subject is acted upon.
Indicative: A plain statement of fact.
Infinitive: The verb as a noun — "to do".
Participle: A verbal adjective — describes while carrying the verb's action.

Theographic Context

Context

The people, places, and span of history the verses containing this word touch on — drawn from the theographic tagging of Scripture. Select any name to isolate its verses in the occurrence list.

Biblical Distribution

Distribution

Appears in 3 verses across 3 of the 27 books. Most frequent in Matthew, Luke, and Revelation (1 verse each); never once in the other 24.

Matthew

Luke

Revelation

Every Occurrence

Concordance

Every verse where the word is tagged in the King James text. Filter by book, by the English word the translators chose, or search within the verses.

Sources. Definition and numbering: James Strong, Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible (1890). Morphology: STEPBible / Tyndale House (CC BY). Verse tagging: the King James text keyed to Strong’s numbers. Every count on this page is computed from the tagged corpus, not estimated.