"a crowd, a confused multitude of people, Mt. 4:25; 5:1; 7:28; spc. the common people, Jn. 7:49; a multitude, great number, Lk. 5:29; 6:17; Acts 1:15; by impl. tumult, uproar, Lk. 22:6; Acts 24:18"
Definition and meaning
a crowd, a confused multitude of people, Mt. 4:25; 5:1; 7:28; spc. the common people, Jn. 7:49; a multitude, great number, Lk. 5:29; 6:17; Acts 1:15; by impl. tumult, uproar, Lk. 22:6; Acts 24:18
In the original Greek the word is written: ὄχλος
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 ochlos (G3793) across the King James Bible.
And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.
And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
Now when Jesus saw great multitudes about him, he gave commandment to depart unto the other side.
But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
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Common questions
Strong's G3793 (ochlos) is a Greek word that means: a crowd, a confused multitude of people, Mt. 4:25; 5:1; 7:28; spc. the common people, Jn. 7:49; a multitude, great number, Lk. 5:29; 6:17; Acts 1:15; by impl. tumult, uproar, Lk. 22:6; Acts 24:18 It appears 170 times in the King James Bible.
The word ochlos (G3793) appears 170 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3793 is ochlos, a Greek word defined as: a crowd, a confused multitude of people, Mt. 4:25; 5:1; 7:28; spc. the common people, Jn. 7:49; a multitude, great number, Lk. 5:29; 6:17; Acts 1:15; . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
ochlos is a Greek word found in the New Testament.