dōdeka · twelve

What it means

dōdeka (δώδεκα) is a Greek word of the Bible that means “twelve”.

How to say it

Approximate pronunciation. Vowels sound as in Spanish (a as in father, e as in bed, i as in machine, o as in note, u as in rule); the syllable in bold is stressed. The voice is your device's.

Its senses in the Bible

1. The quantity twelve, the number of the tribes of Israel.
2. "The Twelve": Jesus' twelve apostles.

From Abbott-Smith (1922) · Thayer (1889)

Word study

Twelve. A number that in the Bible is tied to the twelve tribes of Israel and to the Twelve whom Jesus chose. It is formed from δύο (two) and δέκα (ten).

• “The Twelve”: the group of chosen disciples Mark 3:14John 6:67
• The twelve tribes of Israel Luke 22:30James 1:1
• Twelve years of age or of illness Luke 2:42Mark 5:25
• Twelve baskets left over Mark 6:43John 6:13
• The twelve thousand of each tribe Revelation 7:5

How we translate it

Always “twelve” (75 times). Where the text says only “the Twelve”, it is left so, without adding “disciples”, because the original uses it as the name of the group (John 6:67).

Related words

Words of the same family, by Strong’s numbering.

Where it appears

• Matthew×13
• Mark×15
• Luke×12
• John×6
• Acts×4
• 1 Corinthians×1
• James×1
• Revelation×23

• Matthew 9:20

  And look, a woman who had been suffering from bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his cloak;

• Matthew 10:1

  And calling to himself his twelve disciples, he gave them authority over unclean spirits, so as to drive them out and to heal every disease and every sickness.

• Matthew 10:2

  Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee and John his brother;

• Matthew 10:5

  These twelve Jesus sent out, instructing them, saying, “Do not go off onto a road of the nations, and do not enter into a town of Samaritans;

• Matthew 11:1

  And it happened when Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, that he moved on from there to teach and proclaim in their towns.

• Matthew 14:20

  And all ate and were satisfied; and they picked up what was left over of the pieces, twelve baskets full.

• Matthew 19:28

  And Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you that you who have followed me, in the renewal, when the Son of Man sits on the throne of his glory, you also will sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

• Matthew 20:17

  And as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside, and on the way he said to them,

• Matthew 26:14

  Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the high priests

• Matthew 26:20

  When evening came, he was reclining at table with the twelve disciples.

• Matthew 26:47

  And while he was still speaking, look, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the high priests and elders of the people.

• Matthew 26:53

  Or do you think that I cannot call on my Father, and he will put at my side right now more than twelve legions of angels?

• Mark 3:14

  And he appointed twelve, so that they might be with him and so that he might send them out to proclaim

• Mark 3:16

  And he appointed the Twelve: and he gave Simon the name Peter;

• Mark 4:10

  And when he was alone, those around him with the Twelve were asking him about the parables.

• Mark 5:25

  And a woman who had had a flow of blood for twelve years,

• Mark 5:42

  And at once the girl got up and was walking; for she was twelve years old. And at once they were overcome with great amazement.

• Mark 6:7

  And he summons the Twelve and began to send them out two by two, and he was giving them authority over the unclean spirits.

• Mark 6:43

  And they picked up broken pieces, twelve baskets full, and of the fish.

• Mark 8:19

  when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of pieces did you pick up?” They say to him, “Twelve.”

• Mark 9:35

  And sitting down, he called the Twelve and says to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he will be last of all and servant of all.”

• Mark 10:32

  And they were on the way, going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was going ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were afraid. And taking the Twelve aside again, he began to tell them the things that were going to happen to him:

• Mark 11:11

  And he entered into Jerusalem, into the temple; and having looked around at everything, since the hour was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.

• Mark 14:10

  And Judas Iscariot, who was one of the Twelve, went away to the high priests in order to hand him over to them.

• Mark 14:17

  And when evening came, he comes with the Twelve.

• Mark 14:20

  And he said to them, “One of the Twelve, the one who is dipping with me into the bowl.

• Mark 14:43

  And at once, while he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrives, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the high priests and the scribes and the elders.

• Luke 2:42

  And when he was twelve years old, as they went up according to the custom of the feast,

• Luke 6:13

  And when day came, he called his disciples, and chose from them twelve, whom he also named apostles:

• Luke 8:1

  And it happened afterward that he was traveling through town and village, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God; and the Twelve were with him,

• Luke 8:42

  because he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, and she was dying. And as he went, the crowds were crushing him.

• Luke 8:43

  And a woman who had a flow of blood for twelve years, who had spent all her living on doctors and could not be healed by anyone,

• Luke 9:1

  And having called together the Twelve, he gave them power and authority over all the demons and to cure diseases.

• Luke 9:12

  Now the day began to decline, and the Twelve came and said to him, “Send away the crowd, so that going into the surrounding villages and farms, they may find lodging and find provisions; because here we are in a deserted place.”

• Luke 9:17

  And they ate and were all satisfied, and what was left over by them was picked up, twelve baskets of broken pieces.

• Luke 18:31

  And taking aside the twelve, he said to them, “Look, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished.

• Luke 22:3

  And Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve;

• Luke 22:30

  so that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and you will sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

• Luke 22:47

  While he was still speaking, look, a crowd came, and the one called Judas, one of the twelve, was going ahead of them, and he drew near to Jesus to kiss him.

• John 6:13

  So they gathered them up and filled twelve baskets with pieces from the five barley loaves that were left over by those who had eaten.

And 35 more times.