"space, room; a country, region, tract, province, Mk. 5:10; Lk. 2:8; a district, territory, suburbs, Mt. 8:28; meton. the inhabitants of a country, region, etc., Mk. 1:5; Acts 12:20; the country, as opposed to the city or town, Lk. 21:21; a field, farm, Lk. 12:16; Jn. 4:35"
Definition and meaning
space, room; a country, region, tract, province, Mk. 5:10; Lk. 2:8; a district, territory, suburbs, Mt. 8:28; meton. the inhabitants of a country, region, etc., Mk. 1:5; Acts 12:20; the country, as opposed to the city or town, Lk. 21:21; a field, farm, Lk. 12:16; Jn. 4:35
In the original Greek the word is written: χώρα
Historical context
Rome had controlled Judea since 63 BC. Herod the Great rebuilt the Temple into one of the most magnificent structures in the ancient world — and simultaneously murdered members of his own family. The common people paid multiple layers of taxation and were politically powerless. Into that world a carpenter from Galilee began teaching that the kingdom of God had arrived.
The people who first heard this word were not reading a book — they were living through empires, oppression, exile, and covenant. Every word carried the weight of that reality. Understanding it changes how you read Scripture.
Scripture references
These are the most notable occurrences of chora (G5561) across the King James Bible.
And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way.
The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.
And when he was come to the other side into the country of the Gergesenes, there met him two possessed with devils, coming out of the tombs, exceeding fierce, so that no man might pass by that way.
And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins.
And they came over unto the other side of the sea, into the country of the Gadarenes.
And he besought him much that he would not send them away out of the country.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judaea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and of the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias the tetrarch of Abilene,
And they arrived at the country of the Gadarenes, which is over against Galilee.
And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
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Common questions
Strong's G5561 (chora) is a Greek word that means: space, room; a country, region, tract, province, Mk. 5:10; Lk. 2:8; a district, territory, suburbs, Mt. 8:28; meton. the inhabitants of a country, region, etc., Mk. 1:5; Acts 12:20; the country, as op... It appears 27 times in the King James Bible.
The word chora (G5561) appears 27 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G5561 is chora, a Greek word defined as: space, room; a country, region, tract, province, Mk. 5:10; Lk. 2:8; a district, territory, suburbs, Mt. 8:28; meton. the inhabitants of a country, reg. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
chora is a Greek word found in the New Testament.