"an insertion besides; later, a marshalling of an army; an array of battle, army, Heb. 11:34; a camp, Heb. 13:11, 13; Rev. 20:9; a standing camp, fortress, citadel, castle, Acts 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32*"
Definition and meaning
an insertion besides; later, a marshalling of an army; an array of battle, army, Heb. 11:34; a camp, Heb. 13:11, 13; Rev. 20:9; a standing camp, fortress, citadel, castle, Acts 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10, 16, 32*
In the original Greek the word is written: παρεμβολή
Historical context
The Roman Empire provided infrastructure no previous civilization had built — roads, sea routes, a common language in Greek, and relative peace across the Mediterranean. Jewish synagogues existed in every major city, giving Paul a starting point everywhere he traveled. The early church had no buildings, no political power, no social standing — and spread faster than any movement in ancient history.
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 parembole (G3925) across the King James Bible.
And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle.
And as Paul was to be led into the castle, he said unto the chief captain, May I speak unto thee? Who said, Canst thou speak Greek?
The chief captain commanded him to be brought into the castle, and bade that he should be examined by scourging; that he might know wherefore they cried so against him.
And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle.
And when Paul's sister's son heard of their lying in wait, he went and entered into the castle, and told Paul.
On the morrow they left the horsemen to go with him, and returned to the castle:
Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens.
For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
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Common questions
Strong's G3925 (parembole) is a Greek word that means: an insertion besides; later, a marshalling of an army; an array of battle, army, Heb. 11:34; a camp, Heb. 13:11, 13; Rev. 20:9; a standing camp, fortress, citadel, castle, Acts 21:34, 37; 22:24; 23:10... It appears 10 times in the King James Bible.
The word parembole (G3925) appears 10 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G3925 is parembole, a Greek word defined as: an insertion besides; later, a marshalling of an army; an array of battle, army, Heb. 11:34; a camp, Heb. 13:11, 13; Rev. 20:9; a standing camp, fortr. James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
parembole is a Greek word found in the New Testament.