4172. polis

Lexicon

polis: City

Original Word: πόλις
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: polis
Pronunciation: POH-lis
Phonetic Spelling: (pol'-is)
Definition: City
Meaning: a city, the inhabitants of a city.

Strong's Exhaustive Concordance

city.

Probably from the same as polemos, or perhaps from polus; a town (properly, with walls, of greater or less size) -- city.

see GREEK polus

see GREEK polemos

NAS Exhaustive Concordance

Word Origin
a prim. word
Definition
a city
NASB Translation
cities (20), city (142).

Thayer's Greek Lexicon

STRONGS NT 4172: πόλις

πόλις, πολισεως, ἡ (πέλομαι, to dwell (or rather denoting originally 'fullness,' 'throng'; allied with Latinpleo, plebs, etc.; cf. Curtius, p. 79 and § 374; Vanicek, p. 499; (otherwise Fick 1:138))) (from Homer down), the Sept. chiefly for עִיר, besides for קִרְיָה, שַׁעַר (gate), etc., a city;

a. universally, Matthew 2:23; Mark 1:45; Luke 4:29; John 11:54; Acts 5:16, and very often in the historical books of the N. T.; κατά τήν πόλιν, through the city (A. V. in; see κατά, II. 1 a.), Acts 24:12; κατά πόλιν, κατά πόλεις, see κατά, II. 3a. α., p. 328a; opposed to κῶμαι, Matthew 9:35; Matthew 10:11; Luke 8:1; Luke 13:22; to κῶμαι καί ἀγροί, Mark 6:56; ἡ ἰδίᾳ πόλις, see ἴδιος, 1b., p. 297a; πόλις with the genitive of a person one's native city, Luke 2:4, 11; John 1:44(45); or the city in which one lives, Matthew 22:7; Luke 4:29; Luke 10:11; Acts 16:20; Revelation 16:19; Jerusalem is called, on account of the temple erected there, πόλις τοῦ μεγάλου βασιλέως, i. e. in which the great King of Israel, Jehovah, has his abode, Matthew 5:35; Psalm 47:2 (), cf. Tobit 13:15; also ἅγια πόλις (see ἅγιος, 1 a., p. 7a) and ἡ ἠγαπημένη, the beloved of God, Revelation 20:9. with the genitive of a gentile noun: Δαμασκηνῶν, 2 Corinthians 11:32; Ἐφεσίων, Acts 19:35; τῶν Ἰουδαίων, Luke 23:51; τοῦ Ἰσραήλ, Matthew 10:23; Σαμαρειτῶν, Matthew 10:5; with the genitive of a region: τῆς Γαλιλαίας, Luke 1:26; Luke 4:31; Ιουδα, of the tribe of Judah, Luke 1:39; Λυκαονίας, Acts 14:6; Κιλικίας, Acts 21:39; τῆς Σαμαρείας, John 4:5; Acts 8:5. As in classical Greek the proper name of the city is added — either in the nominative case, as πόλις Ἰόππη, Acts 11:5; or in the genitive, as πόλις Σοδομων, Γομορρας, 2 Peter 2:6; Θυατείρων, Acts 16:14.

b. used of the heavenly Jerusalem (see Ἱεροσόλυμα, 2), i. e. α. the abode of the blessed, in heaven: Hebrews 11:10, 16; with Θεοῦ ζῶντος added, Hebrews 12:22; ἡ μελλουσα πόλις, Hebrews 13:14. β. in the visions of the Apocalypse it is used of the visible capital of the heavenly kingdom, to come down to earth after the renovation of the world: Revelation 3:12; Revelation 21:14ff; 22:14; ἡ πόλις ἡ ἅγια, Revelation 22:19; with Ἱερουσαλήμ καινή added, Revelation 21:2.

c. πόλις by metonymy, for the inhabitants: Matthew 8:34; Acts 14:21; πᾶσα ἡ πόλις, Matthew 21:10; Acts 13:44; ἡ πόλις ὅλῃ, Mark 1:33; Acts 21:30; πόλις μερισθεῖσα καθ' ἑαυτῆς, Matthew 12:25.

Topical Lexicon

Word Origin: Derived from the base of πωλέω (poleo), meaning "to sell," which is related to the concept of a marketplace or a central place of commerce and governance.

Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: • H5892 עִיר (ir): A city or town, often used in the Old Testament to describe fortified cities or significant urban centers.
• H7151 קִרְיָה (qiryah): A city or town, emphasizing the built-up area or community aspect.

These Hebrew terms share a similar semantic range with πόλις, highlighting the continuity of the concept of cities as central places of human habitation and divine interaction throughout the biblical narrative.

Usage: The term πόλις is used throughout the New Testament to refer to cities or towns, often highlighting their significance as centers of population, culture, and authority. It appears in various contexts, from literal cities to metaphorical uses, such as the "city of God."

Context: The Greek term πόλις (polis) is a significant word in the New Testament, appearing numerous times to denote cities or towns. In the ancient world, a πόλις was more than just a collection of buildings; it was a hub of social, economic, and political life. Cities were often fortified and served as centers of trade, governance, and culture.

In the New Testament, πόλις is used in both literal and figurative senses. For example, in Matthew 5:14, Jesus refers to His followers as "a city on a hill," using the metaphor of a πόλις to illustrate the visibility and influence of a community of believers. In Revelation, the term is used to describe the New Jerusalem, the ultimate city of God, symbolizing divine order and eternal fellowship with God.

Cities mentioned in the New Testament, such as Jerusalem, Capernaum, and Corinth, were significant locations for Jesus' ministry and the early church's activities. These cities were often the backdrop for key events and teachings, emphasizing their role as centers of influence and interaction.

The concept of a πόλις also extends to the idea of citizenship and belonging. Philippians 3:20 states, "But our citizenship is in heaven," drawing a parallel between earthly cities and the heavenly city where believers hold their true citizenship.

Forms and Transliterations

πολει πόλει πολεις πόλεις πόλεσι πόλεσί πολεσιν πόλεσιν πολεων πόλεων πόλεών πολεως πόλεως πόλεώς πολιν πόλιν πολις πόλις πολις΄ polei pólei poleis póleis poleon poleōn póleon póleōn poleos poleōs póleos póleōs polesin pólesin polin pólin polis pólis

Englishman's Concordance

Matthew 2:23 N-AFS
GRK: κατῴκησεν εἰς πόλιν λεγομένην Ναζαρέτ
NAS: and lived in a city called
KJV: and dwelt in a city called Nazareth:
INT: he dwelt in a city called Nazareth

Matthew 4:5 N-AFS
GRK: τὴν ἁγίαν πόλιν καὶ ἔστησεν
NAS: Him into the holy city and had Him stand
KJV: into the holy city, and setteth
INT: the holy city and sets

Matthew 5:14 N-NFS
GRK: οὐ δύναται πόλις κρυβῆναι ἐπάνω
NAS: of the world. A city set
KJV: of the world. A city that is set
INT: not is able A city to be hidden on

Matthew 5:35 N-NFS
GRK: Ἰεροσόλυμα ὅτι πόλις ἐστὶν τοῦ
NAS: by Jerusalem, for it is THE CITY OF THE GREAT
KJV: for it is the city of the great King.
INT: Jerusalem because [the] city it is of the

Matthew 8:33 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἀπήγγειλαν πάντα
NAS: and went to the city and reported
KJV: into the city, and told
INT: into the city related everything

Matthew 8:34 N-NFS
GRK: πᾶσα ἡ πόλις ἐξῆλθεν εἰς
NAS: the whole city came
KJV: behold, the whole city came out to
INT: all the city went out to

Matthew 9:1 N-AFS
GRK: τὴν ἰδίαν πόλιν
NAS: [the sea] and came to His own city.
KJV: into his own city.
INT: [his] own city

Matthew 9:35 N-AFP
GRK: Ἰησοῦς τὰς πόλεις πάσας καὶ
NAS: all the cities and villages,
KJV: all the cities and
INT: Jesus the cities all and

Matthew 10:5 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ εἰς πόλιν Σαμαριτῶν μὴ
NAS: and do not enter [any] city of the Samaritans;
KJV: into [any] city of the Samaritans
INT: and into a city of [the] Samaritians not

Matthew 10:11 N-AFS
GRK: δ' ἂν πόλιν ἢ κώμην
NAS: And whatever city or village
KJV: into whatsoever city or town
INT: moreover anyhow city or village

Matthew 10:14 N-GFS
GRK: ἢ τῆς πόλεως ἐκείνης ἐκτινάξατε
NAS: or that city, shake
KJV: house or city, shake off the dust
INT: or the city that shake off

Matthew 10:15 N-DFS
GRK: ἢ τῇ πόλει ἐκείνῃ
NAS: of judgment than for that city.
KJV: than for that city.
INT: than the city for that

Matthew 10:23 N-DFS
GRK: ἐν τῇ πόλει ταύτῃ φεύγετε
NAS: you in one city, flee
KJV: in this city, flee ye into
INT: in the city one flee

Matthew 10:23 N-AFP
GRK: τελέσητε τὰς πόλεις τοῦ Ἰσραὴλ
NAS: to you, you will not finish [going through] the cities of Israel
KJV: have gone over the cities of Israel,
INT: will you have completed the cities of Israel

Matthew 11:1 N-DFP
GRK: ἐν ταῖς πόλεσιν αὐτῶν
NAS: to teach and preach in their cities.
KJV: in their cities.
INT: in the cities of them

Matthew 11:20 N-AFP
GRK: ὀνειδίζειν τὰς πόλεις ἐν αἷς
NAS: to denounce the cities in which
KJV: to upbraid the cities wherein
INT: to insult the cities in which

Matthew 12:25 N-NFS
GRK: καὶ πᾶσα πόλις ἢ οἰκία
NAS: is laid waste; and any city or house
KJV: and every city or house
INT: and every city or house

Matthew 14:13 N-GFP
GRK: ἀπὸ τῶν πόλεων
NAS: Him on foot from the cities.
KJV: on foot out of the cities.
INT: from the towns

Matthew 21:10 N-NFS
GRK: πᾶσα ἡ πόλις λέγουσα Τίς
NAS: all the city was stirred,
KJV: all the city was moved,
INT: all the city saying Who

Matthew 21:17 N-GFS
GRK: ἔξω τῆς πόλεως εἰς Βηθανίαν
NAS: them and went out of the city to Bethany,
KJV: and went out of the city into Bethany;
INT: out of the city to Bethany

Matthew 21:18 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν πόλιν ἐπείνασεν
NAS: when He was returning to the city, He became hungry.
KJV: into the city, he hungered.
INT: into the city he hungered

Matthew 22:7 N-AFS
GRK: καὶ τὴν πόλιν αὐτῶν ἐνέπρησεν
NAS: murderers and set their city on fire.
KJV: burned up their city.
INT: and the city of them he burnt

Matthew 23:34 N-GFS
GRK: διώξετε ἀπὸ πόλεως εἰς πόλιν
NAS: and persecute from city to city,
KJV: persecute [them] from city to city:
INT: will persecute from town to town

Matthew 23:34 N-AFS
GRK: πόλεως εἰς πόλιν
NAS: and persecute from city to city,
KJV: city to city:
INT: town to town

Matthew 26:18 N-AFS
GRK: εἰς τὴν πόλιν πρὸς τὸν
NAS: Go into the city to a certain man,
KJV: Go into the city to such a man,
INT: into the city unto a

Strong's Greek 4172
165 Occurrences

πόλει — 23 Occ.
πόλεις — 12 Occ.
πόλεων — 6 Occ.
πόλεως — 36 Occ.
πόλεσιν — 2 Occ.
πόλιν — 64 Occ.
πόλις — 22 Occ.