Lexical Summary thorubeo: To disturb, to make an uproar, to trouble Original Word: θορυβέω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance make ado, agitateFrom thorubos; to be in tumult, i.e. Disturb, clamor -- make ado (a noise), trouble self, set on an uproar. see GREEK thorubos HELPS Word-studies Cognate: 2350 thorybéō (from 2351 /thórybos, "tumult") – make a noisy upheaval, tumult. See 2351 (thorybos). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2350: θορυβέωθορυβέω, θορυβω: imperfect ἐθορύβουν; present passive θορυβοῦμαι; (θόρυβος); from Herodotus down; 1. to make a noise or uproar, be turbulent. 2. transitive, to disturb, throw into confusion: τήν πόλιν, to set the city on an uproar, Acts 17:5; passive to be troubled in mind, Acts 20:10 (others here adhere to the outward sense); to wail tumultuously, Matthew 9:23; Mark 5:39. Strong’s Greek 2350 captures moments of emotional agitation, public uproar, and inward unrest. Each of its five New Testament occurrences is set against the calm assurance of God’s redemptive activity, highlighting a contrast between human commotion and divine composure. Occurrences in the New Testament 1. Matthew 9:23 – a wailing funeral crowd surrounding Jairus’s daughter. Synoptic Miracle Narratives: The Commotion of Unbelief In both Matthew 9:23 and Mark 5:39 the word describes a house already surrendered to grief. “When Jesus entered…the noisy crowd” (Matthew 9:23) and “Why all this commotion and weeping?” (Mark 5:39). Christ’s declaration that the child “is not dead but asleep” becomes a decisive call from turmoil to trust. The term therefore frames the miracles as confrontations between natural despair and supernatural hope. Pastoral Insight: Martha’s Distracted Service Luke 10:41 records, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things.” The agitation here is private rather than public, revealing that the same inner clamor that fuels riots can also infiltrate personal ministry. The episode warns that service divorced from attentive fellowship with Christ easily drifts into fretful activism. Urban Opposition to the Gospel In Acts 17:5 the jealousy of certain Jews “set the city in an uproar.” The disturbance is orchestrated—“rounding up a mob”—and aims to intimidate believers. The narrative exposes a recurring missionary challenge: proclamation of truth can trigger organized social unrest. Yet even while the church is accused of disturbing the peace (Acts 17:6), the real uproar is spawned by resistance to the gospel. Apostolic Crisis Management Acts 20:10 shows Paul diffusing panic after Eutychus falls: “Paul went down, bent over him, and embraced him. ‘Do not be alarmed,’ he said, ‘for his life is in him.’” The verb measures the congregation’s fear and Paul’s Spirit-born calm. Apostolic leadership proves able to transform anxious assembly into grateful worship (Acts 20:12). Theological Emphasis: Christ the Peace-Bringer Across the spectrum—from grieving households to riotous streets—Scripture consistently counters human agitation with divine reassurance. Jesus stills the din of mourners, redirects Martha’s attention, and empowers His servants to silence uproars. The pattern anticipates the eschatological promise that all disorder will finally yield to the “peace of God, which surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7). Practical Ministry Applications • Funeral ministry should move mourners from despairing noise to resurrection hope. Historical and Cultural Notes First-century mourning customs involved professional wailers and flute players, explaining the immediate uproar in Jairus’s home. City mobs (Acts 17) often formed around marketplaces where idle men were readily available. Understanding these settings illuminates how the early church’s proclamation pierced entrenched societal rhythms. Christological Significance Every occurrence ultimately magnifies Christ. Whether He is personally present (the Galilean miracles, Martha’s house) or represented through His apostle (Paul), the Son of God remains the definitive answer to clamor. His authority over death, His call to undistracted devotion, and His victory in the face of persecution together testify that the Prince of Peace reigns amid every disturbance. Conclusion Strong’s Greek 2350 serves as a textual bell that rings whenever human agitation surfaces in the gospel story. Its limited yet strategic appearances remind disciples that turmoil—whether inward, domestic, or civic—cannot withstand the steady voice of the Lord who says, “Do not be alarmed,” and proves Himself faithful in every storm. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 9:23 V-PPM/P-AMSGRK: τὸν ὄχλον θορυβούμενον NAS: and the crowd in noisy disorder, KJV: and the people making a noise, INT: the crowd making a commotion Mark 5:39 V-PIM/P-2P Luke 10:41 V-PIM/P-2S Acts 17:5 V-IIA-3P Acts 20:10 V-PMM/P-2P Strong's Greek 2350 |
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