"great in magnitude or quantity, much, large, Mt. 13:5; Jn. 3:23; 15:8; pl. many, Mt. 3:7; in time, long, Mt. 25:19; Mk. 6:35; Jn. 5:6; οἱ πολλοί, the many, the mass, Rom. 5:15; 12:5; 1 Cor. 10:33; τὸ πολύ, much, 2 Cor. 8:15; πολύ, as an adv., much, greatly, Mk. 12:27; Lk. 7:47; o..."
Definition and meaning
great in magnitude or quantity, much, large, Mt. 13:5; Jn. 3:23; 15:8; pl. many, Mt. 3:7; in time, long, Mt. 25:19; Mk. 6:35; Jn. 5:6; οἱ πολλοί, the many, the mass, Rom. 5:15; 12:5; 1 Cor. 10:33; τὸ πολύ, much, 2 Cor. 8:15; πολύ, as an adv., much, greatly, Mk. 12:27; Lk. 7:47; of time, ἐπὶ πολύ, a long time, Acts 28:6; μετ’ οὐ πολὺ, not long after, Acts 27:14; followed by a compar., much, 2 Cor. 8:22; πολλῷ, much, by much, Mt. 6:30; Mk. 10:48; τὰ πολλά, as an adv., most frequently, generally, Rom. 15:22; πολλά, as an adv., much, greatly, vehemently, Mk. 1:45; 3:12; of time, many times, frequently, often, Mt. 9:14
In the original Greek the word is written: πολύς
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 polys (G4118) across the King James Bible.
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret.
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Common questions
Strong's G4118 (polys) is a Greek word that means: great in magnitude or quantity, much, large, Mt. 13:5; Jn. 3:23; 15:8; pl. many, Mt. 3:7; in time, long, Mt. 25:19; Mk. 6:35; Jn. 5:6; οἱ πολλοί, the many, the mass, Rom. 5:15; 12:5; 1 Cor. 10:33; τὸ ... It appears 3 times in the King James Bible.
The word polys (G4118) appears 3 times in the original Greek text.
Strong's G4118 is polys, a Greek word defined as: great in magnitude or quantity, much, large, Mt. 13:5; Jn. 3:23; 15:8; pl. many, Mt. 3:7; in time, long, Mt. 25:19; Mk. 6:35; Jn. 5:6; οἱ πολλοί, the . James Strong catalogued this in his 1890 concordance to help English readers study the original languages of the Bible.
polys is a Greek word found in the New Testament.