ΕΒΔΟΜΑΣ

Definition

According to the Liddell-Scott-Jones Lexicon, ἑβδομάς (gen. ἑβδομάδος) primarily means "the number seven" or "a group of seven." In classical Greek, the concept of a "week" as a fixed seven-day period was not as prevalent as in Jewish and later Christian traditions. Greeks more commonly utilized ten-day cycles (decades) or other time measurements based on lunar phases.

The word acquired its dominant meaning of "week" (as a seven-day cycle) primarily through the Septuagint (LXX) translation, where it was used to render the Hebrew concept of "Sabbath" and the seven-day creation of the world (Genesis 1-2). Here, ἑβδομάς became the fundamental temporal cycle defined by the divine act of creation and rest on the seventh day.

In the New Testament and early Christian literature, ἑβδομάς retains this theological significance, referring to the week as a period, but also specifically to the seventh day (the Sabbath) and, by extension, to the "first day of the week" (ἡ μία τῶν σαββάτων / ἡ πρώτη σαββάτου) which became associated with the Resurrection of Christ. Thus, from a simple numeral, ἑβδομάς evolved into a term with deep religious and liturgical content, marking the cycle of time and worship.

Main Meanings

1. The number seven — The primary meaning, referring to the quantity or order of seven. E.g., «ἑβδομάς» as a set of seven units.
2. A group of seven — Used to denote a collection or group of seven things or persons. E.g., «ἑβδομάς σοφῶν» (the Seven Sages).
3. A period of seven days, a week — The dominant meaning in the Bible and Christian tradition, referring to the seven-day cycle of time. E.g., «ἡ ἑβδομὰς τῆς κτίσεως» (the week of creation).
4. The seventh day, Sabbath — Often used as a synonym for the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, as a day of rest and worship. E.g., «ἐν τῇ ἑβδομάδι» (on the Sabbath).
5. Liturgical week — In ecclesiastical use, it refers to the seven-day cycle encompassing services and feasts. E.g., «ἡ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς» (Holy Week).
6. Symbolic completeness or perfection — Due to the significance of the number seven in various traditions, ἑβδομάς can symbolically imply completeness, culmination, or perfection.

Word Family

hept- / hebd- (root of the numeral "seven")

The root ἑπτ- (or ἑβδ- in derivatives) forms the basis for all words related to the number seven in Ancient Greek. From this root arise not only the numeral itself but also adjectives, adverbs, and other numerals expressing multiples or ordinal positions. The root's meaning is consistently numerical, but its usage expanded to describe temporal cycles and groups, especially under the influence of Jewish and Christian thought. Each member of this word family maintains a reference to the number seven, either directly or indirectly.

In Ancient Texts

The theological significance of ἑβδομάς is highlighted in texts that establish the seven-day structure of time and worship:

The 18 Methods

Applying the 18 traditional lexarithmic methods to the word ΕΒΔΟΜΑΣ:

Sources & Bibliography

• Liddell, H. G., Scott, R., Jones, H. S. — A Greek-English Lexicon, 9th ed. with revised supplement, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1996.
• Bauer, W., Arndt, W. F., Gingrich, F. W., Danker, F. W. — A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed., University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2000.
• Septuaginta — Vetus Testamentum Graecum Auctoritate Academiae Scientiarum Gottingensis editum, Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht, Göttingen.
• Nestle-Aland — Novum Testamentum Graece, 28th ed., Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, Stuttgart, 2012.
• Philo of Alexandria — On the Creation of the World (De Opificio Mundi).
• Josephus, Flavius — Jewish Antiquities (Antiquitates Judaicae).
• Lampe, G. W. H. — A Patristic Greek Lexicon, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1961.