Lexical Summary hormaó: To rush, to set in motion, to start, to make an attempt Original Word: ὁρμάω Strong's Exhaustive Concordance run violently, rush. From horme; to start, spur or urge on, i.e. (reflexively) to dash or plunge -- run (violently), rush. see GREEK horme NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Originfrom hormé Definition to set in motion, to hasten on NASB Translation rushed (5). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 3729: ὁρμάωὁρμάω, ό῾ρμω: 1 aorist ὥρμησα; (from ὁρμή); 1. transitive, to set in rapid motion, stir up, incite, urge on; so from Homer down. 2. intransitive, to start forward impetuously, to rush (so from Homer down): εἰς τί, Matthew 8:32; Mark 5:13; Luke 8:33; Acts 19:29; ἐπί τινα, Acts 7:57. Strong’s 3729 (hōrmē) paints the picture of an impetuous surge—whether of animals driven by unseen powers or of crowds swept up by passion. It conveys sudden collective motion that seems irresistible, almost violent, as though an unseen hand were pressing the throng forward. Scripture employs this vivid term only five times, reserving it for moments when sinful impulse, demonic influence, or unreasoning mob emotion bursts past restraint. Occurrences in the New Testament • Matthew 8:32; Mark 5:13; Luke 8:33 – the possessed swine “rushed down the steep bank into the sea”. Synoptic Portraits: The Demoniac and the Herd All three Synoptic Evangelists describe the same exorcism. Jesus’ single authoritative command—“Go!”—is enough to expel a legion of demons. Their entry into the swine triggers a stampede. The verb underscores two truths: 1. Evil accelerates toward self-destruction when permitted free rein. The animals’ headlong plunge mirrors the final destiny of the demonic host. Acts: Human Crowds under Unholy Impulse Luke, author of Acts, twice applies the verb to mobs. At Stephen’s martyrdom a council that claimed to uphold God’s Law instead acts like the stampeding herd—proof that religious veneer cannot tame hearts resistant to the Spirit. In Ephesus, craftsmen jealous for Artemis likewise surge without reason. Both scenes display how quickly collective emotion turns violent when truth threatens entrenched interests. Historical and Cultural Backdrop Greco-Roman theaters, such as the one in Ephesus, seated up to twenty-five thousand. A shouting, compacted multitude rushing inward would have been terrifying. Luke’s choice of wording evokes eyewitness force, lending historical credibility to his narrative. The same realism marks the Gospel accounts: steep limestone bluffs line the eastern shore of the Sea of Galilee, perfectly suiting the description of a herd plunging en masse. Theological Implications 1. The heart untethered from God is vulnerable to sweeping, irrational drives—whether demonic or merely human. Intertextual Echoes Though the specific Greek term is New-Testament-only, the concept recalls Old Testament scenes: Pharaoh’s chariots hurtling into the Red Sea, or the nations raging in Psalm 2. In each, rebellion races toward judgment under God’s sovereign eye. Practical Ministry Insights • Preaching: contrast the calm authority of Jesus with the frenzy of evil to highlight the gospel’s stabilizing power. Discipleship Application Believers are called to “be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (James 1:19). The five uses of hōrmē furnish a negative mirror: whenever a person or group moves too fast to weigh God’s Word, destruction looms. Walking in the Spirit produces the opposite fruit—self-control, peace, and sober-minded obedience. Christological Reflection Each occurrence, directly or indirectly, magnifies Jesus. In the Gospels, His command exposes the impotence of demonic frenzy. In Acts, the risen Lord’s witnesses face raging crowds, yet the gospel advances. Thus, whether demons hurl pigs or mobs assail saints, the narrative arc bends toward Christ’s triumph. Eschatological Glimpse Revelation foresees nations again “gathered together” against the Lamb (Revelation 19:19). The stampede motif previews that final surge, and likewise its outcome: those who rush against God’s Anointed will meet sudden, decisive judgment. Summary Strong’s 3729 spotlights moments when ungodly momentum breaks loose—be it spiritual, psychological, or social—and contrasts them with divine stability. For the church today, these texts are both warning and comfort: warning against being swept up in fleshly impulse, comfort that no chaotic rush can overrun the kingdom of God. Englishman's Concordance Matthew 8:32 V-AIA-3SGRK: καὶ ἰδοὺ ὥρμησεν πᾶσα ἡ NAS: herd rushed down KJV: of swine ran violently down INT: and behold rushed all the Mark 5:13 V-AIA-3S Luke 8:33 V-AIA-3S Acts 7:57 V-AIA-3P Acts 19:29 V-AIA-3P Strong's Greek 3729 |
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