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ὄχλος

óchlos

G3793 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

A large group or crowd of people; often used of an assembled multitude, without specification of status or order. In some contexts, refers to the general populace or common people as distinct from rulers, officials, or disciples. Contextually, can refer to a gathering, a populace, or in plural forms to multiple crowds. It can carry neutral, positive, or negative connotations depending on context—at times implying disorderliness, but also simply denoting a large assembly.

Semantic Range

crowd, multitude, gathering, group of people, populace, rabble (in a negative sense), mob, press, the common people (in contrast to authorities or disciples)

Root / Etymology

Derived from a root related to ἔχω (to have, to hold); sometimes suggested as related to 'that which is held together' or 'gathered.' The morphological derivation is debated, but the link to a formation conveying 'group kept together' is probable.

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ὄχλος commonly referred to an assembled crowd, whether organized or chaotic, and could be used for various social gatherings including public assemblies or mobs. By the Hellenistic and Koine periods—including the Septuagint and New Testament—the term most often denotes a general crowd, often in contrast with a select group (e.g., disciples, authorities, ruling classes). Not inherently pejorative but can bear a negative nuance when describing unruly, hostile, or disorderly groups, suggesting a mob (cf. Mark 15:8; Acts 17:5). In the Gospels, ὄχλος is frequently used to refer to the general populace drawn to Jesus, sometimes neutrally, sometimes emphasizing their lack of particular insight or status. English translations vary between 'crowd,' 'multitude,' or sometimes 'mob,' and context should determine which nuance is primary. The term contrasts with δῆμος (the people as a political entity), and with πλῆθος (also 'multitude,' but often with a more neutral or quantitative focus). In the LXX, ὄχλος is used to render several Hebrew terms for assembly or gathering, especially those signifying large, undifferentiated groups. It does not inherently signify disorder, though this sense can arise by context. Standard English Bible translations sometimes obscure these contextual differences by rendering every instance as 'crowd' or 'multitude.'

Translation Consistency

primary "crowd" 50 occurrences

'Crowd' is the most frequent and natural English equivalent in the P2 data and fits the SILEX range (crowd, multitude, mob, assembly). It renders neutrally or with the potential negative sense (crowd/mob) depending on context, and easily yields plural and possessive forms for all occurrences while remaining idiomatic.

✓ All renderings match approved senses

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a derivative of ἔχω (meaning a vehicle); a throng (as borne along); by implication, the rabble; by extension, a class of people; figuratively, a riot:--company, multitude, number (of people), people, press.

Root Family

ὀχλ- (enochléō) — to trouble, to annoy, to disturb, to harass

Root ὀχλ- crowd, throng, gathered people
Strong's Lemma SIBI-P1
G1776 ἐνοχλέω may persistently trouble
G3791 ὀχλέω those being harassed

Word Forms

7 distinct forms

SIDANCE Surface Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2 Occurrences
G3793-05 ὄχλος ochlos N NOM M SG crowd the crowd the crowd 46
G3793-04 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd 36
G3793-02 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds 27
G3793-06 ὄχλου ochlou N GEN M SG crowd of a crowd crowd 25
G3793-07 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds 17
G3793-01 ὄχλῳ ochlo N DAT M SG crowd to the crowd crowd 12
G3793-03 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds 11

Occurrences in Scripture

174 occurrences

SIDANCE Reference Word Transliteration Morphology Common SIBI-P1 SIBI-P2
G3793-02 Matthew 4:25 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-07 Matthew 5:1 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-02 Matthew 7:28 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-02 Matthew 8:1 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 8:18 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-02 Matthew 9:8 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 9:23 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-05 Matthew 9:25 ὄχλος ochlos N NOM M SG crowd the crowd the crowd
G3793-02 Matthew 9:33 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-07 Matthew 9:36 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-03 Matthew 11:7 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds
G3793-02 Matthew 12:23 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-03 Matthew 12:46 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds
G3793-02 Matthew 13:2 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL multitudes crowds crowds
G3793-05 Matthew 13:2 ὄχλος ochlos N NOM M SG crowd the crowd the crowd
G3793-03 Matthew 13:34 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds
G3793-07 Matthew 13:36 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 14:5 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-02 Matthew 14:13 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 14:14 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-07 Matthew 14:15 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL multitude crowds crowds
G3793-07 Matthew 14:19 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-03 Matthew 14:19 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds
G3793-07 Matthew 14:22 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-07 Matthew 14:23 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 15:10 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-02 Matthew 15:30 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL multitudes crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 15:31 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-04 Matthew 15:32 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG multitude a crowd a crowd
G3793-04 Matthew 15:33 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG multitude a crowd a crowd
G3793-01 Matthew 15:35 ὄχλῳ ochlo N DAT M SG multitude to the crowd crowd
G3793-03 Matthew 15:36 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds
G3793-07 Matthew 15:39 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 17:14 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-02 Matthew 19:2 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-05 Matthew 20:29 ὄχλος ochlos N NOM M SG crowd the crowd the crowd
G3793-05 Matthew 20:31 ὄχλος ochlos N NOM M SG crowd the crowd the crowd
G3793-05 Matthew 21:8 ὄχλος ochlos N NOM M SG crowd the crowd the crowd
G3793-02 Matthew 21:9 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-02 Matthew 21:11 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-04 Matthew 21:26 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
G3793-07 Matthew 21:46 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-02 Matthew 22:33 ὄχλοι ochloi N NOM M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-03 Matthew 23:1 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds
G3793-05 Matthew 26:47 ὄχλος ochlos N NOM M SG crowd the crowd the crowd
G3793-03 Matthew 26:55 ὄχλοις ochlois N DAT M PL crowds to the crowds to the crowds
G3793-01 Matthew 27:15 ὄχλῳ ochlo N DAT M SG people to the crowd crowd
G3793-07 Matthew 27:20 ὄχλους ochlous N ACC M PL crowds crowds crowds
G3793-06 Matthew 27:24 ὄχλου ochlou N GEN M SG crowd of a crowd crowd
G3793-04 Mark 2:4 ὄχλον ochlon N ACC M SG crowd a crowd a crowd
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