Dictionaries :: Multitude

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words

Multitude:

is used frequently in the four Gospels and the Acts; elsewhere only in Rev 7:9; 17:15; 19:1, 6; it denotes

(a) "a crowd or multitude of persons, a throng," e.g., Mat 14:14, 15; 15:33; often in the plural, e.g., Mat 4:25; 5:1; with polus, "much" or "great," it signifies "a great multitude," e.g., Mat 20:29, or "the common people," Mar 12:37, perhaps preferably "the mass of the people." Field supports the meaning in the text, but either rendering is suitable. The mass of the people was attracted to Him (for the statement "heard Him gladly" cp. what is said in Mar 6:20 of Herod Antipas concerning John the Baptist); in Jhn 12:9, "the common people," RV, stands in contrast with their leaders (ver. 10); Act 24:12, RV, "crowd;"

(b) "the populace, an unorganized multitude," in contrast to demos, "the people as a body politic," e.g., Mat 14:5; 21:26; Jhn 7:12 (2nd part);

(c) in a more general sense, "a multitude or company," e.g., Luk 6:17, RV, "a (great) multitude (of His disciples)," AV, "the company;" Act 1:15, "a multitude (of persons)," RV, AV, "the number (of names);" Act 24:18, RV, "crowd" (AV, "multitude").
See COMPANY, No. 1, NUMBER.

Multitude:

lit., "a fullness," hence, "a large company, a multitude," is used

(a) of things: of fish, Luk 5:6; Jhn 21:6; of sticks ("bundle"), Act 28:3; of stars and of sand, Hbr 11:12; of sins, Jam 5:20; 1Pe 4:8;

(b) of persons,

(1) a "multitude:" of people, e.g., Mar 3:7, 8; Luk 6:17; Jhn 5:3; Act 14:1; of angels, Luk 2:13;

(2) with the article, the whole number, the "multitude," the populace, e.g., Luk 1:10; 8:37; Act 5:16; 19:9; 23:7; a particular company, e.g., of disciples, Luk 19:37; Act 4:32; 6:2, 5; 15:30; of elders, priests, and scribes, Act 23:7; of the Apostles and the elders of the Church in Jerusalem, Act 15:12.
See ASSEMBLY, No. 3, BUNDLE, No. 2, COMPANY, No. 5.

Note: In Luk 12:1, AV, the phrase, lit., "the myriads of the multitude" is translated "an innumerable multitude of people" (where "people" translates No. 1, above), RV, "the many thousands of the multitude" (where "multitude" translates No. 1).