τρίτος G5154
Third; the ordinal numeral 'third,' also used as the fraction 'one-third' and adverbially as 'a third time.'
Tritos is the ordinal form of treis ('three') and appears across the New Testament in three distinct grammatical functions. As a simple ordinal, it marks the 'third day' of Christ's resurrection predictions (Matt 16:21) and sequences in parables. In Revelation, it becomes a technical fractional term — 'a third of the earth,' 'a third of the sea' — measuring the terrifying but still partial scope of divine judgment. And used adverbially, it narrates the dramatic repetitions of Scripture: Peter's third denial, Jesus praying 'a third time' in Gethsemane (Matt 26:44), and the risen Lord appearing to his disciples 'the third time' at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:14).
Senses
1. third (ordinal) — The standard ordinal numeral 'third,' modifying nouns like 'day,' 'hour,' or 'angel,' or standing alone to identify the third item in a sequence. Jesus repeatedly predicts he will rise 'on the third day' (Matt 16:21, 17:23, 20:19). Spanish tercera, French troisieme, and German dritte all render it straightforwardly. This sense also covers the 'third hour' of the crucifixion (Mark 15:25) and the third servant in parables (Matt 22:26), serving as basic sequential ordering. 33×
AR["الثَّالِثَةُ", "الثَّالِثَةِ", "الثَّالِثِ", "الثّالِثُ", "الثّالِثِ", "السَّاعَةِ-الثَّالِثَةِ", "ثالِثَ", "ثالِثُ", "ثالِثِ", "ثَالِثَةٌ", "ثَالِثَةِ", "ثَالِثِ", "يَومِ-الثَّالِثِ", "ٱلثَّالِثِ"]·ben["তৃতীয়", "তৃতীয়ে", "নিল"]·DE["dritte"]·EN["the-third", "third"]·FR["troisième"]·heb["הַ-שְׁלִישִׁי", "הַשָּׁעָה־הַשְּׁלִישִׁית", "יּוֹם", "שְׁלִישִׁי", "שְׁלִישִׁית", "שָׁעָה־שְׁלִישִׁית"]·HI["तीसरा", "तीसरी", "तीसरे", "तीसरे-दिन", "तीसरे-ने", "तीसरेदिन", "तेएस्रे"]·ID["ketiga", "ketiga,"]·IT["terzo"]·jav["ingkang-kaping-tiga", "kaping-telu,", "kaping-tiga", "kaping-tiga,"]·KO["그리고", "셋째", "셋째-", "셋째가", "셋째날", "셋째도", "셋째이고"]·PT["terceira", "terceiro", "terceiro,"]·RU["третий", "третьего", "третьем", "третью"]·ES["la-tercera", "tercer", "tercera", "tercero"]·SW["atafufuliwa", "la-tatu", "saa-tatu", "wa-tatu", "ya-tatu"]·TR["üçüncü", "üçüncüsü"]·urd["تیسرا", "تیسری", "تیسرے", "تیسرے-نے"]
Matt 16:21, Matt 17:23, Matt 20:3, Matt 20:19, Matt 22:26, Matt 27:64, Mark 12:21, Mark 15:25, Luke 9:22, Luke 12:38, Luke 13:32, Luke 18:33 (+21 more)
2. one-third (fractional) — Used substantively as a neuter (to triton) to denote the fraction 'one-third,' describing partial but devastating destruction in Revelation's trumpet judgments. A third of the earth is burned (Rev 8:7), a third of the sea becomes blood (8:8), a third of the ships are destroyed (8:9). Spanish tercera parte explicitly marks the fractional reading, distinguishing it from the simple ordinal. This apocalyptic usage emphasizes that God's judgment, while catastrophic, remains measured and incomplete — a summons to repentance, not total annihilation. 15×
AR["ثُلثَ", "ثُلُثَ", "ثُلُثَهُ", "ثُلُثُ", "ثُلُثُهَا", "ثُلُثِ"]·ben["তৃতীয়াংশ", "তৃতীয়াংশের"]·DE["dritte"]·EN["third"]·FR["dritte"]·heb["הַשְּׁלִישִׁית", "שְׁלִישִׁית", "שְׁלִישׁ"]·HI["एक-तिहाई"]·ID["sepertiga"]·IT["terzo"]·jav["sapratiganipun", "sepertiga"]·KO["삼분-의-일", "삼분-의-일을", "삼분-의-일이"]·PT["terça-parte"]·RU["треть"]·ES["tercera-parte"]·SW["theluthi"]·TR["üçte-biri", "üçte-birini", "üçte-birinin"]·urd["تہائی", "تہائی-پر"]
3. third time (adverbial) — Used adverbially (to triton or ek tritou) to mean 'for the third time' or 'a third time,' marking significant repetition. Jesus prays a third time in Gethsemane (Matt 26:44), Peter is asked a third time 'do you love me?' at the Sea of Tiberias (John 21:17), and Pilate protests Jesus' innocence 'a third time' (Luke 23:22). Spanish tercera vez and the implicit 'time' in German dritte Mal capture the adverbial force. In biblical narrative, the third repetition often signals completion or climactic emphasis. 8×
AR["الثَّالِثَةِ", "الثّالِثَةَ", "الثّالِثَةُ", "ثالِثَةً", "ثَالِثَةَ"]·ben["তৃতীয়", "তৃতীয়বার", "তৃতীয়বার,"]·DE["dritte"]·EN["a-third-time", "third-time"]·FR["troisième"]·heb["פַּעַם-הַשְּׁלִישִׁית", "שְׁלִישִׁית"]·HI["तीसरी", "तीसरी-बार"]·ID["Ketiga", "ketiga", "ketiga-kalinya"]·IT["terzo"]·jav["Kaping-tiga", "kaping-tiga", "tiga"]·KO["세-번째", "세-번째로", "세째-번에", "셋째"]·PT["Terceira-vez", "terceira", "terceira-vez"]·RU["в-третий-раз", "третий-раз"]·ES["Tercera-vez", "tercera", "tercera-vez"]·SW["Mara-ya-tatu", "mara-ya-tatu", "ya", "ya-tatu"]·TR["Üçüncü-kez", "üçüncü", "üçüncü-kere", "üçüncü-kez"]·urd["تیسری", "تیسری-بار"]
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
τρίτος [ῐ], Aeolic dialect τέρτος (see. τέρτα) η, ον, (τρεῖς) third, τοῖσι δ᾽ ἐπὶ τρίτος ἦλθε Refs 8th c.BC+; τρίτος αὐτός himself the third, i. e. with two others (see. αὐτός Refstwo drachmae and a half, Refs 4th c.BC+; compare ἡμιτάλαντο; τ. γενέσθαι to be third in a race, Refs 5th c.BC+:—the third frequently appears as completing the tale, e.g. the third and last libation was offered to Ζεὺς…