ῥύμη

a street, lane

Definition

ῥύμη (rymē) refers to a street or lane, typically a narrow public thoroughfare in a town or city. In the New Testament, it consistently denotes a specific, often narrow, street where people gather or travel, as seen in Matthew 6:2 where hypocrites sound trumpets in the streets to be seen giving alms. In Luke 14:21, the master commands his servant to bring in the poor from the 'streets and lanes' of the city, emphasizing thorough searching. The word can imply a known, named street, such as 'the street called Straight' in Damascus where Saul was directed in Acts 9:11, or the specific city street through which Peter and the angel passed in Acts 12:10.

Biblical Usage

This noun is used four times in the New Testament, appearing in the Gospels (Matthew, Luke) and Acts. It is employed in practical, spatial contexts to describe locations within a city where people are found or activities occur. In Matthew 6:2 and Luke 14:21, it is part of a general urban setting (often paired with other terms like 'lanes'). In Acts, it specifies actual, identifiable streets: the 'street called Straight' in Acts 9:11 and the street Peter traversed after his miraculous escape in Acts 12:10. The usage shifts from a generic plural in the Gospels to a singular, definite article reference in Acts.

Etymology

Derived from the Greek verb ῥέω (rheō, G4482), meaning 'to flow,' ῥύμη originally conveyed the sense of a flowing course or channel. This evolved to denote a street, likely because streets were seen as channels for movement and traffic within a city. The connection to 'flow' suggests its function as a conduit for people.

Semantic Range

While primarily a geographical term, ῥύμη gains theological resonance in its contexts. In Matthew 6:2, it is the stage for hypocritical piety, contrasting true, secret devotion to God. In Luke 14:21 and the Acts passages, these streets become places of divine invitation and guidance—where the marginalized are sought for the kingdom feast and where God directs his servants (Saul, Peter) on their missions. Thus, the 'street' transforms from a neutral location to a setting for revelation, mission, and the contrast between human show and God's purposeful action.

In the ancient Greco-Roman world, a ῥύμη was not a broad, planned boulevard but typically a narrower, sometimes winding, public street within a city. These were the common thoroughfares of daily life, commerce, and social interaction. Unlike modern wide avenues, these lanes could be crowded and intimate, making public displays (as in Matthew 6:2) highly visible. The 'street called Straight' in Damascus (Acts 9:11) was a notable exception—a long, colonnaded main street, reflecting Roman urban design.

πλατεῖα (plateia, G4113) — a broad street, public square, or main street; a wider, more open thoroughfare. ὁδός (hodos, G3598) — a way, road, path, or journey; a more general term for any kind of road or route, not necessarily within a city.

Word Details

Scripture References