δωδέκᾰτος G1428
Twelfth, the ordinal number for position twelve in a sequence
The ordinal number 'twelfth'—indicating the twelfth position in a sequence. Revelation 21:20 uses it to describe the twelfth foundation of the New Jerusalem, which is adorned with amethyst. This is straightforward numerical vocabulary with no special theological significance beyond the symbolic completeness of twelve (tribes, apostles) in biblical numerology. Greek ordinal numbers function like their English equivalents for indicating position or order.
Senses
1. sense 1 — Revelation 21:20 identifies the twelfth foundation stone of the New Jerusalem as amethyst. This is simple ordinal numbering—the final in the sequence of twelve foundations representing the twelve apostles. All languages render it straightforwardly: English 'twelfth,' Spanish 'duodécimo,' French 'douzième,' German 'zwölfte.' The number twelve throughout Revelation symbolizes completeness and the people of God—twelve tribes, twelve gates, twelve foundations, twelve apostles of the Lamb. 1×
AR["الثّاني عَشَرَ"]·ben["দ্বাদশ"]·DE["zwoelfte"]·EN["twelfth"]·FR["douzième"]·heb["שְׁנֵים-עָשָׂר"]·HI["बारहवीं"]·ID["kedua-belas"]·IT["dōdekatos"]·jav["kaping-kalih-welas"]·KO["열둘째는"]·PT["décimo-segundo"]·RU["двенадцатое"]·ES["duodécimo,"]·SW["wa-kumi-na-mbili,"]·TR["on-ikinci"]·urd["بارہویں"]
Related Senses
H3605 1. all, every, whole (5352×)H0259 1. one (cardinal numeral) (940×)H8147 1. cardinal number two (666×)G3956 1. all (collective plural) (616×)H3967 1. cardinal numeral hundred (550×)H1419a 1. great, large (general quality) (486×)H7969 1. cardinal number three (431×)H0505 1. cardinal number thousand (427×)H7651 1. seven (cardinal number) (393×)G1520 1. cardinal number one (339×)H6240 1. ten (cardinal number) (334×)H6242 1. twenty (cardinal number) (315×)H2568 1. cardinal number five (309×)H0702 1. four (cardinal number) (277×)G3956 2. every, each (distributive) (227×)H8337 1. six (cardinal number) (215×)G3956 3. all things, everything (substantive) (211×)G3956 4. (187×)H6235 1. ten (177×)G3173 1. great in size or extent (176×)
BDB / Lexicon Reference
δωδέκᾰτος, η, ον, twelfth, Refs 8th c.BC+, etc.:—Epic dialect δυωδ-, Refs 8th c.BC+ __II δωδεκάτη, ἡ, ={Χόες}, Refs 5th c.AD+