κώμη

a village

Definition

κώμη refers to a village or small country town, distinct from a large city (πόλις). In the New Testament, it consistently denotes a populated settlement smaller than a city, often in a rural setting. For example, in Matthew 9:35, Jesus teaches in the 'cities and villages' (πόλεις καὶ κώμας) of Galilee, showing the scope of his ministry. In some contexts, like Mark 8:23, a village serves as the specific location for a miracle. The word never carries a negative connotation; it is simply a neutral term for a smaller community.

Biblical Usage

The word is used 27 times, primarily in the Gospels and Acts, to describe the smaller settlements Jesus and his disciples visited during their ministry. It often appears in contrast to 'city' (πόλις), highlighting the breadth of their travels (e.g., Matthew 10:11; Mark 6:6). In Acts 8:25, it describes the villages of Samaria where Peter and John preached. The usage pattern shows it as a standard geographical term for inhabited places outside major urban centers.

Etymology

Derived from the ancient Greek noun κώμη, meaning a village or the countryside. It is the root for the English word 'cosmopolitan' (from κόσμος, 'world', and πόλις, 'city'), though κώμη itself refers to a smaller, more local settlement. Its meaning remained stable from classical through Koine Greek.

Semantic Range

While κώμη itself is a common geographical term, its usage is theologically significant as it underscores the itinerant nature of Jesus' ministry. He deliberately brought his teaching and healing to the small, often overlooked communities (Matthew 9:35), demonstrating God's care for all people, not just those in influential urban centers. Understanding this highlights the intentional reach and accessibility of the gospel message.

In the first-century Greco-Roman world, a κώμη was a small, often agricultural, settlement without the formal political status or walls of a πόλις (city). Villages were the homes of most of the agrarian population. This contrasts with some modern connotations where 'village' might imply quaintness; in the biblical context, it simply denoted a common type of habitation, central to daily life for many.

πόλις (polis, G4172) — a city or large town, often walled and with political autonomy. ἀγρός (agros, G68) — a field or countryside, focusing on the land itself rather than a settlement.

Word Details

Scripture References