ἡλίκος

The Greek word ἡλίκος (hēlikos, Strong's number: G2245), as it appears in the New Testament, conveys an inquiry into magnitude or greatness. Its short definition, "how great?" (or possibly "how much so?"), illustrates its primary function as an interrogative expression. This word serves as a translation of the question "how great" in its biblical context, eliciting a response about size, extent, or scale. Throughout its three appearances in the Bible, ἡλίκος remains consistently an interrogative word, seeking clarification on the magnitude of an object, person, or concept. Thus, its range of usage spans various situations, including a description of the size of the sea, the depth of the Lord's wisdom compared to the foolishness of the world, and the greatness of the power of God in comparison to that of human rulers. The significance of ἡλίκος, in its biblical instances, is to convey a desire for comprehension or understanding of something that appears remarkable or excessive. It invites the listener or reader to consider the scope or extent of a particular phenomenon and to weigh its dimensions in relation to others.