Greek word · G5082

τηλικοῦτος

tēlikoutos

so great

So great, so large, of such size or seriousness. It expresses the magnitude of something already described.

Appears 4 times in 4 verses of the Greek New Testament. ·

What it means

τηλικοῦτος, -αύτη, -οῦτο

(altern. of τηλικόσδε, -ήδε, -όνδε, strength­ened form of τηλίκος), [in LXX: 2Ma.12:3, 3Ma.3:9, 4Ma.16:4 * ;]

1. of persons,

(a) of such an age, so old;

(b) so young.

2. Of things, so great: 2 Corinthians 1:10, Hebrews 2:3, James 3:4, Revelation 16:18.†

(AS)

From G. Abbott-Smith, A Manual Greek Lexicon of the New Testament (1922), via STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0).

In depth

From the study of 2 Corinthians 1:10

Range of meaning

So great, so large, of such size or seriousness. It expresses the magnitude of something already described.

Against the English

KJV and WEB say 'so great a'. BSB, ESV and NIV say 'such a' with 'deadly peril'. Both are fine, but 'so great' keeps the emphasis on size.

Used elsewhere in the period

Used only four times in the New Testament (2 Cor 1:10; Heb 2:3; Jas 3:4; Rev 16:18), always for something exceptionally large. Common in classical and Koine Greek.

Where it appears

2 Corinthians · 1

  1. 2 Corinthians 1:10 τηλικούτου such a great

    He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and He will deliver us. In Him we have placed our hope that He will yet again deliver us,

    Here: An intensive word, 'a death this big'. It is rare in the New Testament, used elsewhere for 'so great a salvation' (Heb 2:3), large ships (Jas 3:4) and an earthquake 'so great' (Rev 16:18). It looks back to the crushing pressure Paul describes in v. 8.

Hebrews · 1

  1. Hebrews 2:3 τηλικαύτης such a great

    how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? This salvation was first announced by the Lord, was confirmed to us by those who heard Him,

    Here: "Of this size," and it looks back. The salvation is as large as chapter 1 has just shown: brought by a Son who is above the angels. The word is split from its noun "salvation," so the sentence waits on it.

James · 1

  1. James 3:4 τηλικαῦτα so great

    Consider ships as well. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot is inclined.

    Here: "This huge." It stresses size and is set up to contrast with "tiny" (elachistou) later in the sentence.

Revelation · 1

  1. Revelation 16:18 τηλικοῦτος so great

    And there were flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, and a great earthquake the likes of which had not occurred since men were upon the earth—so mighty was the great quake.

    Here: 'So vast'. It starts an exclamation that repeats itself on purpose for emphasis.

Word data: STEPBible.org (CC BY 4.0), main text only.