Topical Bible: Companies

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Topical Encyclopedia

In biblical terms, the concept of "companies" often refers to groups or assemblies of people gathered for a specific purpose, whether for travel, warfare, worship, or other communal activities. The term is used in various contexts throughout the Scriptures, illustrating the importance of collective action and community in the biblical narrative.

Old Testament Usage

1. Military Companies: In the Old Testament, the term "company" frequently describes military units or groups of soldiers. For example, in Genesis 32:1-2, Jacob encounters the angels of God and names the place Mahanaim, meaning "two camps" or "two companies," reflecting a military-like formation. Similarly, in 1 Samuel 13:17, the Philistines send out raiding companies from their camp, indicating organized military detachments.

2. Traveling Companies: The Israelites often traveled in companies during their wilderness journey. In Exodus 12:51, the children of Israel are described as leaving Egypt "by their divisions," which can be understood as organized groups or companies. This orderly arrangement was crucial for maintaining structure and discipline during their long journey.

3. Prophetic Companies: The Old Testament also mentions companies of prophets. In 1 Samuel 10:5, Saul encounters a company of prophets coming down from the high place, prophesying with musical instruments. These groups were often associated with schools or guilds of prophets, indicating a communal aspect to their ministry and training.

New Testament Usage

1. Communal Gatherings: In the New Testament, the concept of companies can be seen in the gatherings of believers. Acts 1:15 describes a company of about 120 believers gathered in the upper room, united in prayer and waiting for the Holy Spirit. This reflects the early Christian emphasis on community and shared faith.

2. Travel and Missionary Work: The apostle Paul often traveled with companions, forming small companies for missionary journeys. In Acts 20:4, several men are listed as accompanying Paul, illustrating the importance of teamwork and support in spreading the Gospel.

Theological Implications

The biblical use of "companies" underscores the value of community and collective effort in fulfilling God's purposes. Whether in battle, worship, or mission, the Scriptures highlight the strength and support found in numbers. Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 speaks to this principle: "Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor. For if one falls, the other will lift up his companion."

Spiritual Lessons

1. Unity and Cooperation: The formation of companies in the Bible teaches the importance of unity and cooperation among God's people. As seen in the early church, believers are called to work together, supporting one another in faith and mission.

2. Preparedness and Order: The organized nature of companies, especially in military contexts, emphasizes the need for preparedness and order in spiritual warfare. Ephesians 6:10-18 encourages believers to put on the full armor of God, suggesting a disciplined and collective approach to spiritual battles.

3. Community and Fellowship: The gatherings of believers in the New Testament highlight the significance of community and fellowship in the Christian life. Hebrews 10:24-25 exhorts believers not to forsake assembling together, recognizing the strength and encouragement found in communal worship and support.

In summary, the concept of "companies" in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of community, cooperation, and collective action in fulfilling God's purposes and advancing His kingdom.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary

(n.) Plural of Company.

Strong's Hebrew

7218. rosh -- head
... 11), beheaded* (1), best (1), best things (1), bodyguard* (1), captains (3), census
(7), chief (35), chief men (6), chiefs (3), companies (7), company (5 ...
/hebrew/7218.htm - 6k

4264. machaneh -- an encampment, camp
... Word Origin from chanah Definition an encampment, camp NASB Word Usage armies (6),
army (27), army camp (1), camp (158), camps (12), companies (3), company (5 ...
/hebrew/4264.htm - 6k

6951. qahal -- assembly, convocation, congregation
... Word Origin from an unused word Definition assembly, convocation, congregation NASB
Word Usage army* (1), assembly (95), companies (1), company (15 ...
/hebrew/6951.htm - 6k

Library

The Exposition of Details Continued. The Sitting Down on the Grass ...
... Book XI. 3. The Exposition of Details Continued. The Sitting Down on the
Grass. The Division into Companies. We have spoken these ...
/.../origens commentary on the gospel of matthew/3 the exposition of details.htm

Verse 1. What Will Ye See in the Shulamite, but the Companies of ...
... CHAPTER VII. VERSE 1. What will ye see in the Shulamite, but the companies of camps?
How beautiful are thy feet with shoes, O prince's daughter! ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/guyon/song of songs of solomon/verse 1 what will ye.htm

The Christian Army
... Armies, as you know, are divided into regiments, and regiments into companies. ... Now,
in the Christian army there are also regiments and companies. ...
/.../chidley/fifty-two story talks to boys and girls/the christian army.htm

The Sunday School or Church School
... adolescent boy. Now, every regiment, in peace or war, is properly organized
with battalions, companies, and squads. Everything is ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/iv the sunday school or.htm

The Secondary Division or Teen Age Boys' Crusade
... NOTE."Once this information is gathered it can be kept up-to-date by arrangement
with the moving companies and the water, gas and electric light companies. ...
/.../alexander/the boy and the sunday school/xiv the secondary division or.htm

One Way to Help Boys
... Then on Sunday almost all the companies have Bible class, with the same
punctuality, interest and attention as during the week day. ...
/.../stones rolled away and other addresses to young men/iii one way to help.htm

The Crowning of Abimelech
... occasion. And Abimelech rose up, and all the people that were with him, by
night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies. ...
/.../select masterpieces of biblical literature/iii the crowning of abimelech.htm

The World's Bread
... go and see. And when they knew, they say, Five, and two fishes.39. And he commanded
them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.40. ...
/.../maclaren/expositions of holy scripture d/the worlds bread.htm

Eighth Commandment
... shrink from taking what belongs to another person, thinks nothing of stealing from
the government or from large public corporations, such as streetcar companies ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/eighth commandment.htm

I Fear, I Say, Greatly for Thee, Lest...
... With those sayings there companies fear which hath torment, which perfect charity
casteth forth; but with these sayings there companies chaste fear of the Lord ...
//christianbookshelf.org/augustine/of holy virginity /section 39 i fear i.htm

Thesaurus

Companies (38 Occurrences)
... Multi-Version Concordance Companies (38 Occurrences). Mark 6:39 And he commanded
them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass. ...
/c/companies.htm - 18k

Revised
... These criticisms of the American Companies were duly considered by the English
Companies during the second revision and the decisions were again sent to ...
/r/revised.htm - 12k

American
... These criticisms of the American Companies were duly considered by the English
Companies during the second revision and the decisions were again sent to ...
/a/american.htm - 13k

Company (287 Occurrences)
... eg: (1) Caravan, (a) migratory (Isaiah 21:13 the King James Version); (b) commercial
(Genesis 37:25 the King James Version); Job 6:19, "The companies of Sheba ...
/c/company.htm - 40k

Version
... These criticisms of the American Companies were duly considered by the English
Companies during the second revision and the decisions were again sent to ...
/v/version.htm - 37k

Quaternion
... of quadrinomial form. 5. (vt) To divide into quaternions, files, or companies.
Int. Standard Bible Encyclopedia. QUATERNION. kwa-tur ...
/q/quaternion.htm - 8k

Jars (28 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 And he divided the three hundred men into three companies, and put trumpets
into the hands of all of them and empty jars, with torches inside the ...
/j/jars.htm - 14k

Torches (18 Occurrences)
... Judges 7:16 He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into
the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within ...
/t/torches.htm - 12k

Recline (14 Occurrences)
... (DBY YLT). Mark 6:39 And he commanded them to make all recline in companies upon
the green grass, (YLT). Luke 9:14 for they were about five thousand men. ...
/r/recline.htm - 10k

Rushed (24 Occurrences)
... Judges 9:44 Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and
stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on ...
/r/rushed.htm - 14k

Resources

Should Christians boycott companies that support anti-Christian policies? | GotQuestions.org

Is it wrong for a Christian family to use hospice? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible say about competition? | GotQuestions.org

Companies: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

Bible Concordance • Bible Dictionary • Bible Encyclopedia • Topical Bible • Bible Thesuarus

Concordance

Companies (38 Occurrences)

Mark 6:39
And he commanded them to make all sit down by companies upon the green grass.
(KJV WEY ASV DBY WBS YLT RSV)

Luke 9:14
For they were about five thousand men. And he said unto his disciples, Make them sit down in companies, about fifty each.
(ASV DBY YLT RSV)

Genesis 32:7
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Genesis 32:10
I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.
(WEB ASV NAS RSV)

Numbers 1:52
The children of Israel shall pitch their tents, every man by his own camp, and every man by his own standard, according to their divisions.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:3
Those who encamp on the east side toward the sunrise shall be of the standard of the camp of Judah, according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Judah shall be Nahshon the son of Amminadab.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:9
All who were numbered of the camp of Judah were one hundred eighty-six thousand four hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out first.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:10
"On the south side shall be the standard of the camp of Reuben according to their divisions. The prince of the children of Reuben shall be Elizur the son of Shedeur.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:16
"All who were numbered of the camp of Reuben were one hundred fifty-one thousand four hundred fifty, according to their armies. They shall set out second.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:18
"On the west side shall be the standard of the camp of Ephraim according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Ephraim shall be Elishama the son of Ammihud.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:24
"All who were numbered of the camp of Ephraim were one hundred eight thousand one hundred, according to their divisions. They shall set out third.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:25
"On the north side shall be the standard of the camp of Dan according to their divisions: and the prince of the children of Dan shall be Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai.
(See RSV)

Numbers 2:32
These are those who were numbered of the children of Israel by their fathers' houses. All who were numbered of the camps according to their armies were six hundred three thousand five hundred fifty.
(See RSV)

Numbers 10:14
First, the standard of the camp of the children of Judah went forward according to their armies. Nahshon the son of Amminadab was over his army.
(See RSV)

Numbers 10:18
The standard of the camp of Reuben went forward according to their armies. Elizur the son of Shedeur was over his army.
(See RSV)

Numbers 10:22
The standard of the camp of the children of Ephraim set forward according to their armies. Elishama the son of Ammihud was over his army.
(See RSV)

Numbers 10:25
The standard of the camp of the children of Dan, which was the rearward of all the camps, set forward according to their armies. Ahiezer the son of Ammishaddai was over his army.
(See RSV)

Judges 7:16
He divided the three hundred men into three companies, and he put into the hands of all of them trumpets, and empty pitchers, with torches within the pitchers.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 7:20
The three companies blew the trumpets, and broke the pitchers, and held the torches in their left hands, and the trumpets in their right hands with which to blow; and they shouted, "The sword of Yahweh and of Gideon!"
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 9:34
Abimelech rose up, and all the people who were with him, by night, and they laid wait against Shechem in four companies.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 9:43
He took the people, and divided them into three companies, and laid wait in the field; and he looked, and behold, the people came forth out of the city; He rose up against them, and struck them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

Judges 9:44
Abimelech, and the companies that were with him, rushed forward, and stood in the entrance of the gate of the city: and the two companies rushed on all who were in the field, and struck them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV NIV)

1 Samuel 11:11
It was so on the next day, that Saul put the people in three companies; and they came into the midst of the camp in the morning watch, and struck the Ammonites until the heat of the day: and it happened, that those who remained were scattered, so that no two of them were left together.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

1 Samuel 13:17
The spoilers came out of the camp of the Philistines in three companies: one company turned to the way that leads to Ophrah, to the land of Shual;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS NAS RSV)

2 Kings 5:2
And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman's wife.
(KJV WBS)

2 Kings 11:5
And he commanded them, saying: 'This is the thing that ye shall do: a third part of you, that come in on the sabbath, and that keep the watch of the king's house--
(See NIV)

2 Kings 11:7
The two companies of you, even all who go out on the Sabbath, shall keep the watch of the house of Yahweh around the king.
(WEB ASV NIV)

1 Chronicles 9:18
Who hitherto waited in the king's gate eastward: they were porters in the companies of the children of Levi.
(KJV WBS YLT)

1 Chronicles 28:1
David assembled all the princes of Israel, the princes of the tribes, and the captains of the companies who served the king by division, and the captains of thousands, and the captains of hundreds, and the rulers over all the substance and possessions of the king and of his sons, with the officers, and the mighty men, even all the mighty men of valor, to Jerusalem.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS)

Nehemiah 12:31
Then I brought up the princes of Judah on the wall, and appointed two great companies who gave thanks and went in procession. One went on the right hand on the wall toward the dung gate;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Nehemiah 12:40
So stood the two companies of those who gave thanks in the house of God, and I, and the half of the rulers with me;
(WEB KJV JPS ASV WBS YLT RSV)

Job 1:17
While this 'one' is speaking another also hath come and saith, 'Chaldeans made three heads, and rush on the camels, and take them, and the young men they have smitten by the mouth of the sword, and I am escaped -- only I alone -- to declare 'it' to thee.'
(See RSV)

Job 6:19
The caravans of Tema looked. The companies of Sheba waited for them.
(WEB KJV JPS ASV DBY WBS)

Psalms 122:4
For thither have tribes gone up, Tribes of Jah, companies of Israel, To give thanks to the name of Jehovah.
(YLT)

Song of Songs 6:13
Return, return, O Shulammite; Return, return, that we may look upon thee. Why will ye look upon the Shulammite, As upon the dance of Mahanaim?
(See JPS NAS)

Isaiah 21:13
The burden upon Arabia. In the forest in Arabia shall ye lodge, O ye travelling companies of Dedanim.
(KJV WBS)

Ezekiel 26:7
For thus saith the Lord GOD; Behold, I will bring upon Tyrus Nebuchadrezzar king of Babylon, a king of kings, from the north, with horses, and with chariots, and with horsemen, and companies, and much people.
(KJV WBS)

Ezekiel 38:7
Be prepared, yes, prepare yourself, you, and all your companies who are assembled to you, and be a guard to them.
(WEB ASV NAS)

Subtopics

Companies

Related Terms

Companion's (1 Occurrence)

Fellow (166 Occurrences)

Company (287 Occurrences)

Familiar (35 Occurrences)

Companions (58 Occurrences)

Evangelist (2 Occurrences)

Guide (89 Occurrences)

Friendship (13 Occurrences)