Lexical Summary laos: People, nation, populace Original Word: λαός 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 Definition the people NASB Translation people (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); 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) Laos appears 142 times in the Greek New Testament, almost always denoting a collective people bound together by covenant, promise, and destiny. While ethnos highlights nationality and ochlos stresses a gathered crowd, laos points to the community that belongs to God, whether Old-Covenant Israel or the multiethnic church of Jesus Christ. Old-Covenant Roots In the Septuagint laos translates the Hebrew ʿam, the people God redeemed from Egypt (Exodus 3:7, LXX). This background shapes New Testament usage: • Prophetic citations: “And you, Bethlehem … a ruler will come out of you who will shepherd My people Israel” (Matthew 2:6). Jesus and the People 1. Teaching and Healing “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people” (Matthew 4:23). His miracles authenticated messianic identity before the covenant community (Luke 7:16). 2. Passion Week Conflict Religious leaders feared the popular verdict: “They said, ‘Not during the feast, lest there be a riot among the people’ ” (Matthew 26:5). The same laos that hailed Him later heard Pilate’s verdict (Luke 23:14). 3. Substitutionary Death Caiaphas unwittingly prophesied: “It is better for you that one man die for the people” (John 11:50). Jesus “suffered outside the gate to sanctify the people by His own blood” (Hebrews 13:12). Apostolic Proclamation Acts places laos at the center of gospel advance: • Pentecost praise: “Praising God and finding favor with all the people” (Acts 2:47). The People of God Re-defined 1. Prophetic Fulfillment Paul applies Hosea to the ingathering of Gentiles: “I will call them ‘My people’ who are not My people” (Romans 9:25-26). Peter echoes the same promise to mixed congregations in Asia Minor: “Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people” (1 Peter 2:10). 2. Priestly Identity “You are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation” (1 Peter 2:9). The church inherits Israel’s vocation—to display God’s glory among the nations. 3. Purity and Zeal Christ “gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people who are His own, zealous for good works” (Titus 2:14). Eschatological Consummation The vision culminates in a multiethnic laos: • “After this I looked and saw a multitude too large to count, from every nation, tribe, people, and tongue” (Revelation 7:9). Warnings and Judgments Laos also stands under scrutiny: • False teachers: “There will be false teachers among you, who will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing swift destruction on themselves” (2 Peter 2:1). Historical and Social Backdrop First-century Jews called themselves laos in contrast to both Roman occupiers and surrounding ethnē. Roman governors spoke of placating “the people” to prevent unrest (Acts 12:4; 19:40). Early Christians, viewed as a sect within Israel, addressed laos to claim prophetic continuity while extending covenant privilege to Gentile believers. Ministry Significance 1. Evangelism: The gospel is addressed to the covenant community first, then to the nations (Romans 1:16; Acts 13:46). Practical Application • Embrace corporate identity—Christian faith is inherently communal. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:21 N-AMSGRK: σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ NAS: for He will save His people from their sins. KJV: shall save his people from their INT: will save the people of him from Matthew 2:4 N-GMS Matthew 2:6 N-AMS Matthew 4:16 N-NMS Matthew 4:23 N-DMS Matthew 13:15 N-GMS Matthew 15:8 N-NMS Matthew 21:23 N-GMS Matthew 26:3 N-GMS Matthew 26:5 N-DMS Matthew 26:47 N-GMS Matthew 27:1 N-GMS Matthew 27:25 N-NMS Matthew 27:64 N-DMS Mark 7:6 N-NMS Mark 14:2 N-GMS Luke 1:10 N-GMS Luke 1:17 N-AMS Luke 1:21 N-NMS Luke 1:68 N-DMS Luke 1:77 N-DMS Luke 2:10 N-DMS Luke 2:31 N-GMP Luke 2:32 N-GMS Luke 3:15 N-GMS Strong's Greek 2992 |
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