"lone, desert, waste, uninhabited, Mt. 14:13, 15; Mk. 6:31, 32, 35; lone, abandoned to ruin, Mt. 23:38; Lk. 13:35; met. lone, unmarried, Gal. 4:27; as a subst. a desert, uninhabited region, waste, Mt. 3:1; 24:26; Acts 7:36"
Definition and meaning
lone, desert, waste, uninhabited, Mt. 14:13, 15; Mk. 6:31, 32, 35; lone, abandoned to ruin, Mt. 23:38; Lk. 13:35; met. lone, unmarried, Gal. 4:27; as a subst. a desert, uninhabited region, waste, Mt. 3:1; 24:26; Acts 7:36
In the original Greek the word is written: ἔρημος
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 eremos (G2048) across the King James Bible.
In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,
For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind?
When Jesus heard of it, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard thereof, they followed him on foot out of the cities.
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals.
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate.
Wherefore if they shall say unto you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.
The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
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Common questions
Strong's G2048 (eremos) is a Greek word that means: lone, desert, waste, uninhabited, Mt. 14:13, 15; Mk. 6:31, 32, 35; lone, abandoned to ruin, Mt. 23:38; Lk. 13:35; met. lone, unmarried, Gal. 4:27; as a subst. a desert, uninhabited region, waste, Mt. ... It appears 50 times in the King James Bible.
The word eremos (G2048) appears 50 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G2048 is eremos, a Greek word defined as: lone, desert, waste, uninhabited, Mt. 14:13, 15; Mk. 6:31, 32, 35; lone, abandoned to ruin, Mt. 23:38; Lk. 13:35; met. lone, unmarried, Gal. 4:27; as . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
eremos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.