λαός

a people, the crowd

Definition

In the New Testament, λαός primarily refers to 'a people' as a unified group, most often God's chosen people. Its primary sense denotes the people of Israel, as seen in Matthew 1:21 where Jesus will save 'his people' from their sins. It also extends to the new people of God formed in Christ, encompassing both Jews and Gentiles (e.g., Romans 9:25-26, 1 Peter 2:9-10). In a secondary, less frequent sense, it can simply mean a crowd or multitude, as in the people who gathered to hear Jesus teach (e.g., Matthew 4:23).

Biblical Usage

Λαός is used 139 times, predominantly in the Gospels, Acts, and the Pauline and General Epistles. It overwhelmingly describes the Jewish people, especially in contexts of prophecy, salvation, and confrontation with religious leaders (e.g., Matthew 2:4, 6; John 11:50). A significant theological shift occurs as it is applied to the Christian church, portraying believers as God's new covenant people (Acts 15:14; Titus 2:14). The generic 'crowd' usage is less common but present (e.g., Luke 8:47).

Etymology

The word λαός is of ancient Greek origin, originally meaning 'a people' or 'a body of citizens.' In the Septuagint (the Greek Old Testament), it was used consistently to translate the Hebrew terms `am` (עַם) and `goy` (גּוֹי), solidifying its association with a nation, and specifically God's covenant people, Israel. This biblical usage directly shaped its meaning in the New Testament.

Semantic Range

Λαός is a profoundly theological term central to the biblical theme of covenant. It distinguishes God's chosen, called-out community from undifferentiated humanity (ὄχλος, ochlos). Understanding this word enriches reading by highlighting the continuity and expansion of God's people: from Israel to the international church, the 'people for his own possession' (1 Peter 2:9). It underscores that salvation, while personal, has a corporate destination—belonging to God's people.

In the Greco-Roman world, λαός could refer to a nation or citizen body. For first-century Jews and Christians steeped in the Greek Old Testament, however, it carried the heavy covenantal weight of Israel's identity as Yahweh's unique people. This stood in contrast to the more generic Greek term for a crowd (ὄχλος) and the term for ethnic nations (ἔθνη, ethne). The New Testament's application of λαός to the church would have been a radical claim of inherited status and promise.

ὄχλος (ochlos, G3793) — A crowd or multitude; a general, unstructured gathering, lacking the covenantal unity of λαός. ἔθνος (ethnos, G1484) — A nation, tribe, or people group; often used for Gentiles or pagan nations, contrasted with God's λαός. δῆμος (dēmos, G1218) — The citizen body of a city-state; a political, rather than theological, designation for a people.

Word Details

Scripture References