from δέω; the public (as bound together socially):--people.
Transliteration:dēmos
Pronunciation:day'-mos
Detailed Word Study
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### Core Meaning & Semantic Range
The Greek word δῆμος (G1218), transliterated as *dēmos*, denotes the "people" in the specific sense of the general populace, the citizenry, or the public assembly of a city. Its etymological root is linked to δέω (*deō*), meaning "to bind," suggesting a core concept of individuals "bound together" socially or politically into a cohesive unit. Thus, *dēmos* refers to the collective body of inhabitants, distinct from individual persons (`{{G444}}` ἄνθρωπος) or a specific ethnic or national group (`{{G2992}}` λαός). It carries a strong civic or political connotation, referring to those who comprise the public sphere, often capable of collective action or decision-making.
### Biblical Occurrences & Contextual Analysis
The term δῆμος appears six times in the New Testament, exclusively within the Book of Acts, reflecting the early church's interactions with various urban populations and their civic structures.
* **[[Acts 12:22]]**: "And on a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat on his throne, and made an oration unto them. And the **people** gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man." Here, δῆμος refers to the assembled populace of Caesarea, demonstrating their collective, albeit misguided, adulation of Herod.
* **[[Acts 17:5]]**: "But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the **people**." In Thessalonica, δῆμος signifies the general public or assembly to whom Paul and Silas were to be presented, likely for public accusation or judgment, highlighting the public nature of the opposition.
* **[[Acts 19:30]]**: "And when Paul would have entered in unto the **people**, the disciples suffered him not." In Ephesus, δῆμος refers to the agitated public assembly (likely the formal *ekklēsia* or general populace) gathered in the theater, stirred up by Demetrius. Paul's desire to address them underscores their collective significance.
* **[[Acts 19:33]]**: "And they drew Alexander out of the multitude, the Jews putting him forward. And Alexander beckoned with the hand, and would have made his defence unto the **people**." Again in Ephesus, Alexander attempts to address the δῆμος, the assembled populace, indicating their role as a public audience or arbiter.
* **[[Acts 21:30]]**: "And all the city was moved, and the **people** ran together: and they took Paul, and drew him out of the temple: and forthwith the doors were shut." In Jerusalem, δῆμος describes the entire populace of the city, who collectively respond to the commotion and seize Paul, demonstrating their capacity for widespread, spontaneous action.
* **[[Acts 21:34]]**: "And some cried one thing, some another, among the multitude: and when he could not know the certainty for the tumult, he commanded him to be carried into the castle. And when he came upon the stairs, it came to pass, that the violence of the **people** was so great that he was borne of the soldiers." Here, the δῆμος is depicted as a violent, unruly mob in Jerusalem, illustrating the collective power and potential volatility of the populace when incited.
Across these contexts, δῆμος consistently denotes the collective body of citizens or inhabitants of a given city, often in a public or civic setting, and frequently portrayed as capable of unified action, whether in praise, protest, or assembly.
### Related Words & Concepts
Understanding δῆμος is enhanced by distinguishing it from other related terms:
* `{{G2992}}` λαός (laos): While also meaning "people," *laos* typically refers to a specific nation, an ethnic group, or, significantly, the chosen people of God (e.g., the people of Israel). δῆμος is more civic and urban, whereas *laos* is often ethno-religious or national.
* `{{G3793}}` ὄχλος (ochlos): This word denotes a "crowd" or "multitude," emphasizing a large, often undifferentiated and potentially unruly mass of people. While the δῆμος can become an *ochlos* (as seen in [[Acts 21:34]]), δῆμος carries a stronger connotation of the *citizenry* or *public body*, even when agitated.
* `{{G444}}` ἄνθρωπος (anthrōpos): This is a generic term for "human being" or "man," referring to an individual or humanity in general, not a collective body.
* `{{G1577}}` ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia): This term can refer to a civic assembly (as in [[Acts 19:32, 39, 41]]) or, preeminently, the Christian church. The δῆμος represents the broader public, from which a formal civic *ekklēsia* might be convened, or from which the Christian *ekklēsia* is called out.
* **Democracy**: The English word "democracy" is directly derived from δῆμος (people) and κράτος (power/rule), signifying "rule by the people." This etymological link underscores the inherent civic and political dimension of δῆμος, a concept central to ancient Greek city-states and reflected in the New Testament's portrayal of urban life.
### Theological Significance
While δῆμος primarily functions as a descriptive term for the general populace in a civic context, its occurrences in Acts offer several theological insights:
* **The Mission Field of the Gospel**: The δῆμος represents the broader urban public to whom the apostles proclaimed the gospel. It highlights the challenging yet vital task of engaging diverse, often unchurched, city populations. The gospel was not confined to a specific religious or ethnic group (`{{G2992}}` λαός) but was intended for all people, including the *dēmos* of various cities, demonstrating its universal scope.
* **Human Volatility and Need for Redemption**: The portrayal of the δῆμος in Acts often reveals its susceptibility to manipulation, mob mentality, and sudden shifts in sentiment ([[Acts 12:22]], [[Acts 17:5]], [[Acts 19:30-34]], [[Acts 21:30-34]]). This illustrates the fallen nature of humanity and the profound need for divine transformation of hearts. It also vividly depicts the unpredictable and sometimes hostile societal environment in which the early church operated.
* **Divine Sovereignty Amidst Human Chaos**: Despite the turbulence and opposition generated by the δῆμος, the narrative of Acts consistently demonstrates God's sovereign hand guiding the spread of the gospel. The very opposition of the δῆμος often inadvertently served to further the divine plan, pushing the apostles to new territories or providing opportunities for witness (e.g., Paul's appeal to Caesar).
* **Distinction of the People of God**: The δῆμος stands in contrast to the emerging "people of God" (the church, the new `{{G2992}}` λαός of God) who are called out from the world. While the church ministers *to* the δῆμος, its identity is distinct, bound together by faith in Christ rather than by civic association or shared ethnicity.
### Summary
δῆμος (G1218) refers to the "people" as the general populace or citizenry of a city, emphasizing their collective and civic identity. Rooted in the idea of being "bound together," it describes the public body, often capable of unified action, whether in adulation, assembly, or riot. In the New Testament, found exclusively in Acts, δῆμος consistently depicts the urban public, such as the crowds in Caesarea [[Acts 12:22]], Thessalonica [[Acts 17:5]], Ephesus [[Acts 19:30, 33]], and Jerusalem [[Acts 21:30, 34]]. Theologically, δῆμος underscores the universal scope of the gospel, presenting the urban public as the primary arena for evangelism. It highlights the inherent volatility and need for redemption within unredeemed humanity, while simultaneously affirming God's sovereign guidance amidst societal unrest. The term implicitly contrasts with the distinct identity of believers, who form God's new `{{G2992}}` λαός, called out from the broader δῆμος to be a people set apart.
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