δημηγορέω

I make a public speech, address a multitude

Definition

δημηγορέω means to deliver a formal public address, specifically to a large assembly or crowd. In the New Testament, it carries the sense of making an official oration, often by a person of authority addressing the populace. The word is used in Acts 12:21 to describe Herod Agrippa I addressing the people of Tyre and Sidon from a platform. This context implies a political or ceremonial speech aimed at a gathered multitude, not a casual conversation or a religious sermon.

Biblical Usage

This verb is used only once in the New Testament, in Acts 12:21. It describes King Herod Agrippa I putting on his royal robes, sitting on his throne, and delivering a public address (δημηγορέω) to the people. The usage is distinctly secular and political, depicting a ruler's formal oration to a civic assembly, which contrasts with other New Testament words for speaking or preaching.

Etymology

Derived from two Greek roots: δῆμος (dēmos), meaning 'the people' or 'the populace,' and ἀγορεύω (agoreuō), meaning 'to speak in an assembly' or 'to harangue.' The compound word literally means 'to speak to the people.' It is related to the noun δημηγορία (dēmēgoria), meaning 'public oration.' The term originates in the political life of Greek city-states, where addressing the citizen assembly was a key activity.

Semantic Range

While the word itself describes a secular political act, its single biblical occurrence in Acts 12:21 is theologically significant. Herod's public address, where the crowd acclaims him as a god, is immediately judged by God, who strikes him down. This starkly contrasts human political power and self-glorification with the sovereignty of the true God. Understanding this Greek term highlights the narrative's irony: a grand public speech ends in divine judgment, underscoring the theme that God opposes pride.

In the Greco-Roman world, δημηγορέω was a term from political life, associated with leaders, orators, or officials addressing the citizen body in a formal setting like an agora or theater. It implies a structured, rhetorical speech to persuade or impress a multitude. This differs from a modern 'speech' as it was deeply embedded in the civic and political self-understanding of a Greek polis or Roman municipality. Herod's use of it in Acts 12:21 fits his role as a client king performing for his subjects.

κηρύσσω (kēryssō, G2784) — to proclaim/herald, often with a focus on a public announcement of news, especially the gospel. λαλέω (laleō, G2980) — to speak or talk, a very general term for verbal communication. διδάσκω (didaskō, G1321) — to teach, with an emphasis on instruction.

Word Details

Scripture References