ὄχλος (G3793) — Greek Lexicon

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
`G3793-05`	Mark 2:13	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 3:9	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 3:20	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 3:32	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 4:1	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 4:1	ὄχλος	ochlos-2	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 4:36	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 5:21	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 5:24	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-01`	Mark 5:27	ὄχλῳ	ochlo	`N DAT M SG`	crowd	to the crowd	crowd
`G3793-01`	Mark 5:30	ὄχλῳ	ochlo	`N DAT M SG`	crowd	to the crowd	crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 5:31	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 6:34	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 6:45	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 7:14	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-06`	Mark 7:17	ὄχλου	ochlou	`N GEN M SG`	crowd	of a crowd	crowd
`G3793-06`	Mark 7:33	ὄχλου	ochlou	`N GEN M SG`	crowd	of a crowd	crowd
`G3793-06`	Mark 8:1	ὄχλου	ochlou	`N GEN M SG`	crowd	of a crowd	of a crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 8:2	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-01`	Mark 8:6	ὄχλῳ	ochlo	`N DAT M SG`	crowd	to the crowd	crowd
`G3793-01`	Mark 8:6	ὄχλῳ	ochlo-2	`N DAT M SG`	crowd	to the crowd	crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 8:34	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 9:14	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 9:15	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-06`	Mark 9:17	ὄχλου	ochlou	`N GEN M SG`	crowd	of a crowd	crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 9:25	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-02`	Mark 10:1	ὄχλοι	ochloi	`N NOM M PL`	crowds	crowds	crowds
`G3793-06`	Mark 10:46	ὄχλου	ochlou	`N GEN M SG`	crowd	of a crowd	crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 11:18	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 11:32	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 12:12	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 12:37	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 12:41	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 14:43	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Mark 15:8	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-04`	Mark 15:11	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-01`	Mark 15:15	ὄχλῳ	ochlo	`N DAT M SG`	crowd	to the crowd	crowd
`G3793-03`	Luke 3:7	ὄχλοις	ochlois	`N DAT M PL`	crowds	to the crowds	to the crowds
`G3793-02`	Luke 3:10	ὄχλοι	ochloi	`N NOM M PL`	crowds	crowds	crowds
`G3793-02`	Luke 4:42	ὄχλοι	ochloi	`N NOM M PL`	crowds	crowds	crowds
`G3793-04`	Luke 5:1	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	crowd	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-07`	Luke 5:3	ὄχλους	ochlous	`N ACC M PL`	crowds	crowds	crowds
`G3793-02`	Luke 5:15	ὄχλοι	ochloi	`N NOM M PL`	crowds	crowds	crowds
`G3793-04`	Luke 5:19	ὄχλον	ochlon	`N ACC M SG`	multitude	a crowd	a crowd
`G3793-05`	Luke 5:29	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	a crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Luke 6:17	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	multitude	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Luke 6:19	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	multitude	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-01`	Luke 7:9	ὄχλῳ	ochlo	`N DAT M SG`	crowd	to the crowd	crowd
`G3793-05`	Luke 7:11	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	crowd	the crowd	the crowd
`G3793-05`	Luke 7:12	ὄχλος	ochlos	`N NOM M SG`	a crowd	the crowd	the crowd

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