Concourse
The Word in Biblical Usage
The English word "concourse" in the Bible describes a gathering of people, particularly a noisy or turbulent crowd. It translates different Hebrew and Greek words in the Old and New Testaments, each emphasizing the commotion and activity of public assembly. The concept connects to important biblical themes about wisdom's accessibility and the dangers of mob action.
Wisdom's Call at the Concourse
The most significant biblical use of "concourse" appears in Proverbs 1:21, where personified Wisdom is described as calling out in public places: "She cries at the head of the noisy streets; at the entrance of the gates in the city she speaks" (Proverbs 1:20-21). The Hebrew word hamah, which underlies "concourse" in some translations, means "to hum," "to roar," or "to make a noise" — evoking the bustling sound of a busy marketplace or crowded intersection. Wisdom does not whisper in hidden corners but proclaims her message where people gather in the greatest numbers.
The Theological Significance of Wisdom's Location
The fact that Wisdom calls out at the concourse — the noisiest, most crowded place in the city — makes a powerful theological statement. God's wisdom is not reserved for scholars in quiet libraries or priests in inner sanctums. It is proclaimed in the open, accessible to everyone who will listen. The city gates were the centers of commerce, legal proceedings, and social interaction in ancient Israel. By placing Wisdom there, Proverbs declares that the knowledge of God intersects with everyday life at its busiest points.
The Riotous Concourse in Ephesus
In Acts 19:40, the Greek word sustrophe (meaning "a turning together" or "a twisting together") is translated "concourse" in some versions. The city clerk of Ephesus warns the rioting crowd: "For we are in danger of being charged with rioting today, since there is no cause that we can give to justify this commotion" (Acts 19:40). The silversmiths had stirred up a mob against Paul because his preaching threatened their trade in shrines of the goddess Artemis. This concourse was a dangerous, unruly assembly that could have brought Roman intervention.
Crowds in Biblical Narrative
The concept of concourse connects to the broader biblical treatment of crowds and public gatherings. Throughout Scripture, crowds can be instruments of either blessing or destruction. The multitudes who gathered to hear Jesus teach represent positive assemblies hungry for truth (Matthew 5:1). The mob that cried "Crucify him!" represents the destructive potential of crowd mentality (Matthew 27:22-23). The biblical writers were keenly aware of the power and danger of large gatherings.
The Invitation Still Stands
Wisdom's cry at the concourse in Proverbs ultimately points to God's persistent invitation to all people. Whether in the noisy streets of ancient Jerusalem or the crowded thoroughfares of modern cities, the message of divine wisdom continues to go forth. The question is not whether God's truth is available but whether people in the noise and rush of daily life will stop to listen.
Biblical Context
Concourse appears in Proverbs 1:21, where Wisdom cries out at the busiest public places, and in Acts 19:40, describing the riotous crowd at Ephesus stirred up by silversmiths against Paul. The Hebrew hamah emphasizes noise and commotion, while the Greek sustrophe conveys the idea of a turbulent gathering. Related imagery appears in Judith 10:18 in the Apocrypha.
Theological Significance
The concourse in Proverbs reveals that God's wisdom is not hidden or exclusive but publicly proclaimed where people gather. This accessibility of divine truth places responsibility on the listener to respond. The contrast between Wisdom's orderly call and the riotous concourse in Ephesus illustrates the difference between gatherings oriented toward truth and those driven by self-interest. Scripture consistently warns that crowds can be swayed toward either wisdom or folly.
Historical Background
City gates in the ancient Near East served as centers of civic life, where legal cases were heard, commerce was conducted, and community decisions were made. The gate areas were the busiest and noisiest parts of any city. In Greco-Roman cities like Ephesus, the theater served a similar function as a gathering place. The theater at Ephesus, where the riot of Acts 19 took place, could hold approximately 25,000 people. Roman law was suspicious of unauthorized assemblies, which is why the city clerk warned about the legal consequences of the riot.