πόλις
polis
city
Lexicon Entry
Lexicon data from STEPBible TIPNR, Tyndale House, Cambridge. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
What Original Readers Understood
ExploredThe Greek word πόλις (polis) is a fundamental concept in the New Testament, appearing 165 times in the Bible. At its core, πόλις is defined as a city, encompassing not only the physical structure but also the social and cultural aspects of urban life. The usage of πόλις is diverse, encompassing various contexts such as geographical locations (e.g., the city of Jerusalem), administrative centers (e.g., the city of Rome), and even figurative references to the heavenly Jerusalem. This versatility highlights the significance of cities as hubs of human activity, commerce, and governance in the ancient world. The frequency and range of πόλις in the Bible underscore its importance as a concept that shapes the narrative and themes of the New Testament. Its meanings and associations are multifaceted, reflecting the complex interplay between human societies, politics, and spirituality in the ancient Mediterranean world.
Source data & methodology
Occurrences in Scripture
165 total occurrences across the text — showing 50
Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat, to a deserted place apart. When the multitudes heard it, they followed him on foot from the cities.
Matthew 2:23and came and lived in a city called Nazareth; that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through the prophets that he will be called a Nazarene.
Matthew 4:5Then the devil took him into the holy city. He set him on the pinnacle of the temple,
Matthew 5:14You are the light of the world. A city located on a hill can’t be hidden.
Matthew 5:35nor by the earth, for it is the footstool of his feet; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.
Matthew 8:33Those who fed them fled, and went away into the city, and told everything, including what happened to those who were possessed with demons.
Matthew 8:34Behold, all the city came out to meet Jesus. When they saw him, they begged that he would depart from their borders.
Matthew 9:1He entered into a boat, and crossed over, and came into his own city.
Matthew 9:35Jesus went about all the cities and the villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the Good News of the Kingdom, and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.
Matthew 10:5Jesus sent these twelve out, and commanded them, saying, “Don’t go among the Gentiles, and don’t enter into any city of the Samaritans.
Matthew 10:11Into whatever city or village you enter, find out who in it is worthy; and stay there until you go on.
Matthew 10:14Whoever doesn’t receive you, nor hear your words, as you go out of that house or that city, shake the dust off your feet.
Matthew 10:15Most certainly I tell you, it will be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city.
Matthew 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
Matthew 10:23But when they persecute you in this city, flee into the next, for most certainly I tell you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel until the Son of Man has come.
Matthew 11:1When Jesus had finished directing his twelve disciples, he departed from there to teach and preach in their cities.
Matthew 11:20Then he began to denounce the cities in which most of his mighty works had been done, because they didn’t repent.
Matthew 12:25Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.
Matthew 21:10When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?”
Matthew 21:17He left them, and went out of the city to Bethany, and camped there.
Matthew 21:18Now in the morning, as he returned to the city, he was hungry.
Matthew 22:7When the king heard that, he was angry, and sent his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned their city.
Matthew 23:34Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
Matthew 23:34Therefore behold, I send to you prophets, wise men, and scribes. Some of them you will kill and crucify; and some of them you will scourge in your synagogues, and persecute from city to city;
Matthew 26:18He said, “Go into the city to a certain person, and tell him, ‘The Teacher says, “My time is at hand. I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.” ’ ”
Matthew 27:53and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they entered into the holy city and appeared to many.
Matthew 28:11Now while they were going, behold, some of the guards came into the city, and told the chief priests all the things that had happened.
Mark 1:33All the city was gathered together at the door.
Mark 1:45But he went out, and began to proclaim it much, and to spread about the matter, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was outside in desert places. People came to him from everywhere.
Mark 5:14Those who fed them fled, and told it in the city and in the country. The people came to see what it was that had happened.
Mark 6:11Whoever will not receive you nor hear you, as you depart from there, shake off the dust that is under your feet for a testimony against them. Assuredly, I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of judgment than for that city!”
Mark 6:33They saw them going, and many recognized him and ran there on foot from all the cities. They arrived before them and came together to him.
Mark 6:56Wherever he entered, into villages, or into cities, or into the country, they laid the sick in the marketplaces, and begged him that they might just touch the fringe of his garment; and as many as touched him were made well.
Mark 11:19When evening came, he went out of the city.
Mark 14:13He sent two of his disciples, and said to them, “Go into the city, and there you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him,
Mark 14:16His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found things as he had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
Luke 1:26Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth,
Luke 1:39Mary arose in those days and went into the hill country with haste, into a city of Judah,
Luke 2:3All went to enroll themselves, everyone to his own city.
Luke 2:4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
Luke 2:4Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to David’s city, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David;
Luke 2:11For there is born to you today, in David’s city, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
Luke 2:39When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of the Lord, they returned into Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth.
Luke 4:29They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff.
Luke 4:29They rose up, threw him out of the city, and led him to the brow of the hill that their city was built on, that they might throw him off the cliff.
Luke 4:31He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. He was teaching them on the Sabbath day,
Luke 4:43But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.”
Luke 5:12While he was in one of the cities, behold, there was a man full of leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell on his face, and begged him, saying, “Lord, if you want to, you can make me clean.”
Luke 7:11Soon afterwards, he went to a city called Nain. Many of his disciples, along with a great multitude, went with him.
Luke 7:12Now when he came near to the gate of the city, behold, one who was dead was carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. Many people of the city were with her.