Lexicon
laos: People, nation, populace
Original Word: λαός
Part of Speech: Noun, Masculine
Transliteration: laos
Pronunciation: lah-OS
Phonetic Spelling: (lah-os')
Definition: People, nation, populace
Meaning: (a) a people, characteristically of God's chosen people, first the Jews, then the Christians, (b) sometimes, but rarely, the people, the crowd.
Strong's Exhaustive Concordance
people.
Apparently a primary word; a people (in general; thus differing from demos, which denotes one's own populace) -- people.
see GREEK demos
HELPS Word-studies
2992 laós (the root of the English term, "laity") – a people, particularly used of "the people of the Lord" (= Heb ʽam).
2992 (laos) is the usual term for "the people of God" and thus typically used in the LXX (OT) and the Gospels, for believing Israel (Jews).
Example: Heb 4:9: "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people (2992 /laós) of God" (NASU).
NAS Exhaustive Concordance
Word Origina prim. word
Definitionthe people
NASB Translationpeople (134), peoples (8).
Thayer's Greek Lexicon
STRONGS NT 2992: λαόςλαός,
λαοῦ,
ὁ ((cf.
Curtius, § 535)); the
Sept. more than fifteen hundred times for
עַם; rarely for
גּוי and
לְאֹם; (from
Homer down);
people;
1. a people, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language: universally, of any people; joined with γλῶσσα, φυλή, ἔθνος, Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 10:11; Revelation 11:9; Revelation 13:7 (Rec. omits); (see γλῶσσα, 2); πάντες οἱ λαοί. 2:31; Romans 15:11; especially of the people of Israel: Matthew 4:23; Matthew 13:15; Mark 7:6; Luke 2:10; John 11:50 (where it alternates with ἔθνος); ; Acts 3:23; Hebrews 2:17; Hebrews 7:11, etc.; with Ἰσραήλ added, Acts 4:10; distinguished from τοῖς ἔθνεσιν, Acts 26:17, 23; Romans 15:10; the plural λαοί Ἰσραήλ (R. V. the peoples of Isa.) seems to be used of the tribes of the people (like עַמִּים, Genesis 49:10; Deuteronomy 32:8; Isaiah 3:13, etc.) in Acts 4:27 (where the plural was apparently occasioned by Psalm 2:1 in its reference to Christ, cf. Acts 4:25); οἱ πρεσβύτεροι τοῦ λαοῦ, Matthew 21:23; Matthew 26:3, 47; Matthew 27:1; οἱ γραμματεῖς τοῦ λαοῦ, Matthew 2:4; οἱ πρῶτοι τοῦ λαοῦ, Luke 19:47; τό πρεσβυτέριον τοῦ λαοῦ, Luke 22:66; ἄρχοντες τοῦ λαοῦ, Acts 4:8. with a genitive of the possessor, τοῦ Θεοῦ, αὐτοῦ, μου (i. e. τοῦ Θεοῦ, Hebrew יְהוָה עַם, הָאֱלֹהִים עַם), the people whom God has chosen for himself, selected as peculiarly his own: Hebrews 11:25; Matthew 2:6; Luke 1:68; Luke 7:16; without the article Jude 1:5 (Sir. 46:7; Wis. 18:13); cf. Winer's Grammar, § 19, 1; the name is transferred to the community of Christians, as that which by the blessing of Christ has come to take the place of the theocratic people of Israel, Hebrews 4:9; Revelation 18:4; particularly to a church of Christians gathered from among the Gentiles, Acts 15:14; Romans 9:25ff; 1 Peter 2:10; with εἰς περιποίησιν added, 1 Peter 2:9; περιούσιος, Titus 2:14, cf. Acts 18:10; Luke 1:17. ὁ λαός the people (of Israel) is distinguished from its princes and rulers ((1 Esdr. 1:10 1 Esdr. 5:45; Judith 8:9, 11; etc.)), Matthew 26:5; Mark 11:32 (here WH Tr marginal reading read ὄχλος); Mark 14:2; Luke 20:19; Luke 22:2; Luke 23:5; Acts 5:26, etc.; from the priests, Hebrews 5:3; Hebrews 7:5, 27. 2. indefinitely, of a great part of the population gathered together anywhere: Matthew 27:25; Luke 1:21; Luke 3:15; Luke 7:1, 29; Luke 8:47; Luke 9:13; Luke 18:43, etc.; τό πλῆθος τοῦ λαοῦ, Luke 1:10. (The Gospels of Mark and John use the word but three times each. Synonym: see δῆμος, at the end)
Topical Lexicon
Word Origin: Derived from the root word λᾶς (las), meaning "stone" or "rock," which metaphorically extends to a collective group or mass of people.Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H5971 עַם (ʿam): This Hebrew term is often translated as "people" and is used similarly to "λαός" in the Old Testament to denote the nation of Israel or a group of individuals.
• H3816 לְאֹם (lᵉ'ôm): Another Hebrew word for "people" or "nation," used to describe various ethnic or national groups in the Old Testament.
These entries provide a comprehensive understanding of "λαός" within the biblical narrative, highlighting its significance in both the Old and New Testaments as a term that conveys the collective identity of God's people.
Usage: In the New Testament, "λαός" is frequently used to describe the people of Israel, the followers of Christ, or humanity in general. It emphasizes the collective identity and unity of a group, often in a religious or covenantal context.
Context: The Greek term "λαός" appears numerous times in the New Testament, underscoring its significance in biblical theology. It is often used to describe the covenant people of God, particularly the Israelites, as seen in passages like Luke 1:68: "Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel, because He has visited and redeemed His people." Here, "λαός" signifies the chosen people whom God has set apart for His purposes.
In the New Testament, "λαός" also extends to the followers of Jesus Christ, representing the new covenant community. For instance, in 1 Peter 2:9, believers are described as "a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession." This usage highlights the continuity and expansion of God's people from Israel to include Gentiles who are grafted into the faith through Christ.
The term is also used in a broader sense to refer to humanity or the masses, as seen in Matthew 4:16: "The people living in darkness have seen a great light." Here, "λαός" encompasses all who are in need of the salvation and revelation brought by Jesus.
Theologically, "λαός" emphasizes the communal aspect of faith, where individuals are part of a larger body united by shared beliefs and divine purpose. It reflects the biblical theme of God's desire to gather a people for Himself, who will worship Him and live according to His statutes.
Forms and Transliterations
λαοι λαοί λαοὶ λαοις λαοίς λαοῖς λαον λαόν λαὸν λαος λαός λαὸς λαου λαού λαοῦ λαόυ λαούς λαω λαώ λαῷ λαων λαών λαῶν lao laō laoi laoí laoì laôi laō̂i laois laoîs laon laón laòn laôn laōn laō̂n laos laós laòs laou laoûLinks
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