"the number one thousand, a thousand, Lk. 14:31; Acts 4:4"
Definition and meaning
the number one thousand, a thousand, Lk. 14:31; Acts 4:4
In the original Greek the word is written: χιλιάς
Historical context
Luke wrote as a historian addressing a Greek audience. He carefully interviewed eyewitnesses and arranged events in order. The social and economic realities he describes — Roman taxation, Jewish religious hierarchy, the marginalization of women and the poor — are consistent with first-century Judea under Roman administration.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of chilias (G5505) across the King James Bible.
Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand.
Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.
Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Reuben were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Nepthalim were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Issachar were sealed twelve thousand.
Of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousand. Of the tribe of Benjamin were sealed twelve thousand.
And the same hour was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand: and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
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Common questions
Strong's G5505 (chilias) is a Greek word that means: the number one thousand, a thousand, Lk. 14:31; Acts 4:4 It appears 13 times in the King James Bible.
The word chilias (G5505) appears 13 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5505 is chilias, a Greek word defined as: the number one thousand, a thousand, Lk. 14:31; Acts 4:4. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chilias is a Greek word found in the New Testament.