πλῆθος
plēthos
multitude
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word πλῆθος (plēthos, Strong's number G4128) is defined as "multitude." Its frequency in the Bible is high, with 32 occurrences across various texts. This indicates a significant emphasis on the concept of multitude or a large group of people throughout the biblical narrative. The word πλῆθος can refer to different types of large groups, including crowds (e.g., Matthew 5:1), armies (e.g., 2 Chronicles 14:14), and populations (e.g., Luke 14:21). Its usage suggests that the size of a group can have social, cultural, and even spiritual implications. The word highlights the dynamic between individual identities and collective identities, often underscoring the importance of community and relationships within large groups. The occurrence of πλῆθος in 32 different contexts demonstrates its versatility and significance in the biblical narrative. It appears in discussions of everyday life, military conquests, and spiritual movements. By examining this word, we gain insight into the social and cultural context of ancient Jewish and early Christian communities, emphasizing the importance of community, relationships, and collective identity in shaping individual experiences and faith.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
32 total occurrences across the text
Jesus withdrew to the sea with his disciples, and a great multitude followed him from Galilee, from Judea,
Mark 3:8from Jerusalem, from Idumaea, beyond the Jordan, and those from around Tyre and Sidon. A great multitude, hearing what great things he did, came to him.
Luke 1:10The whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense.
Luke 2:13Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly army praising God, and saying,
Luke 5:6When they had done this, they caught a great multitude of fish, and their net was breaking.
Luke 6:17He came down with them, and stood on a level place, with a crowd of his disciples, and a great number of the people from all Judea and Jerusalem, and the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, who came to hear him and to be healed of their diseases;
Luke 8:37All the people of the surrounding country of the Gadarenes asked him to depart from them, for they were very much afraid. Then he entered into the boat and returned.
Luke 19:37As he was now getting near, at the descent of the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works which they had seen,
Luke 23:1The whole company of them rose up and brought him before Pilate.
Luke 23:27A great multitude of the people followed him, including women who also mourned and lamented him.
John 5:3In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water;
Acts 6:2The twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not appropriate for us to forsake the word of God and serve tables.
John 21:6He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” They cast it therefore, and now they weren’t able to draw it in for the multitude of fish.
Acts 2:6When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language.
Acts 4:32The multitude of those who believed were of one heart and soul. Not one of them claimed that anything of the things which he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common.
Acts 5:14More believers were added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women.
Acts 5:16The multitude also came together from the cities around Jerusalem, bringing sick people and those who were tormented by unclean spirits: and they were all healed.
Acts 6:5These words pleased the whole multitude. They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch;
Acts 14:1In Iconium, they entered together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spoke that a great multitude both of Jews and of Greeks believed.
Acts 14:4But the multitude of the city was divided. Part sided with the Jews, and part with the apostles.
Acts 15:12All the multitude kept silence, and they listened to Barnabas and Paul reporting what signs and wonders God had done among the nations through them.
Acts 15:30So, when they were sent off, they came to Antioch. Having gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter.
Acts 17:4Some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and not a few of the chief women.
Acts 19:9But when some were hardened and disobedient, speaking evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus.
Acts 21:22What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come.
Acts 21:36for the multitude of the people followed after, crying out, “Away with him!”
Acts 23:7When he had said this, an argument arose between the Pharisees and Sadducees, and the crowd was divided.
Acts 25:24Festus said, “King Agrippa, and all men who are here present with us, you see this man about whom all the multitude of the Jews petitioned me, both at Jerusalem and here, crying that he ought not to live any longer.
Acts 28:3But when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks and laid them on the fire, a viper came out because of the heat, and fastened on his hand.
Hebrews 11:12Therefore as many as the stars of the sky in multitude, and as innumerable as the sand which is by the sea shore, were fathered by one man, and him as good as dead.
James 5:20let him know that he who turns a sinner from the error of his way will save a soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.
1 Peter 4:8And above all things be earnest in your love among yourselves, for love covers a multitude of sins.