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).
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 more senses below
Senses
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"]
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…