Topical Encyclopedia
In the biblical context, the concept of being "crowded" often relates to physical spaces filled with people, as well as metaphorical ideas of spiritual or emotional congestion. The Bible provides several instances where crowds play a significant role in the narrative, illustrating both the challenges and opportunities that arise in such settings.
Old Testament ReferencesWhile the Old Testament does not frequently use the term "crowded," the idea is present in various narratives. For example, during the festivals in Jerusalem, the city would become crowded with worshippers from all over Israel. This influx of people is implied in passages describing the feasts, such as in
Deuteronomy 16:16, where all males are commanded to appear before the Lord three times a year.
New Testament ReferencesThe New Testament provides more explicit examples of crowded situations, particularly in the Gospels, where Jesus often finds Himself surrounded by large groups of people. These crowds are drawn by His teachings, miracles, and the hope of healing.
1.
Jesus and the Crowds: One of the most notable instances is found in
Mark 2:1-2 , where Jesus returns to Capernaum, and "so many gathered that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and He preached the word to them." This scene illustrates the intense interest in Jesus' ministry and the physical limitations of space when large numbers of people sought His presence.
2.
Feeding of the Five Thousand: Another significant event is the feeding of the five thousand, recorded in all four Gospels. In
Mark 6:34 , Jesus sees a large crowd and has compassion on them, "because they were like sheep without a shepherd." This miracle demonstrates Jesus' ability to provide for the needs of a large, crowded group, both spiritually and physically.
3.
The Triumphal Entry: During the Triumphal Entry, as described in
Matthew 21:8-9 , a "very large crowd" spreads their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowd's acclamations of "Hosanna" highlight the messianic expectations and the fervor surrounding Jesus' entry into Jerusalem.
4.
Paul and the Crowds: The Apostle Paul also encountered crowded situations during his missionary journeys. In
Acts 19:29 , a riot in Ephesus is described, where "the city was filled with confusion, and they rushed together into the theater, dragging with them Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians who were Paul's companions in travel." This incident underscores the potential volatility of crowds and the challenges faced by early Christians in spreading the Gospel.
Spiritual ImplicationsCrowded settings in the Bible often serve as a backdrop for significant teaching moments and divine interventions. They highlight the human need for spiritual guidance and the longing for connection with the divine. Jesus' interactions with crowds reveal His compassion and His ability to address both individual and collective needs. The presence of crowds also emphasizes the widespread impact of His ministry and the urgency of His message.
In a broader spiritual sense, the concept of being "crowded" can also refer to the distractions and pressures of life that can impede one's relationship with God. Believers are encouraged to seek solitude and quietness in prayer, as Jesus often did, to maintain a clear and focused spiritual life amidst the busyness of the world.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
imp. & p. p.) of Crowd.
Greek
4505. rhume -- the rush (of a moving body), hence a (crowded)...... the rush (of a moving body), hence a (
crowded) street. Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Transliteration: rhume Phonetic Spelling: (hroo'-may) Short Definition: a
...Library
ACrowded Coach
... Chapter 9. Wesley's Marriage; Dealings with Cornwall Smugglers; His Illness
and Recovery ACrowded Coach. I went to prayers at three...
TheCrowded Life
... XLVIII THECROWDED LIFE. Matthew xiii.1-9.... There is not room for the harvest. The
influences of God are simplycrowded out. And of what is life thus so full?...
Where Cross theCrowded Ways of Life
... V. THE CHURCH Brotherhood and Service 494. Where cross thecrowded ways of life.
LM... Frank Mason North, 1905. Where cross thecrowded ways of life,....
God on a Wooing Errand.
... And this other is the crowding message of his book. Its thought crowds
in upon you till every other iscrowded into second place....
Farewell
... Near the sea on the one side the harbor of Piraeus, on the other that designated
Phalerum, withcrowded arsenals, their busy workmen and their gallant ships....
A Sermon to Open Neglecters and Nominal Followers of Religion
... THE SIGHT OF THIS VAST ARENA, and of thiscrowded assembly, reminds me of other
spectacles which, in days happily long past, were seen in the amphitheatres of...
Our God of the Impossible
... wrecked on the same rock. Three evenings later the tent was socrowded that
I found difficulty in getting a seat. Just as the meeting...
I Look Upon all the Four Gospels as Thoroughly Genuine...
... If we will allow our praying to becrowded out, it will always be done.... Then it is
crowded into a corner and depends on the fragments of time for its exercise....
Passion.
... in the words of Mr. Tyerman:""While Whitefield partook of an early supper, the people
assembled at the front of the parsonage, and evencrowded into its hall...
The Healing Hand of Jesus.
... The people knew and loved him, and the place wascrowded to hear Him speak. He
sat there through the singing, and the prayers, and the reading....
Thesaurus
Crowded (10 Occurrences)...Crowded (10 Occurrences). Matthew 13:2 when a vast multitude of people
crowded round
Him.
... And as He went, the dense throng
crowded on Him. (WEY).
...Frequent (10 Occurrences)
... 2. (n.) Addicted to any course of conduct; inclined to indulge in any practice;
habitual; persistent. 3. (n.) Full;crowded; thronged....
Dense (11 Occurrences)
... 1. (a.) Having the constituent parts massed orcrowded together; close; compact;
thick; containing much matter in a small space; heavy; opaque; as, a dense...
Fever (13 Occurrences)
... Typhoid is common in somecrowded towns and villages, and considering how little
protected the wells are from contamination, the wonder is that it is not much...
Tyre (59 Occurrences)
... Both Tyre and Sidon "werecrowded with glass-shops, dyeing and weaving establishments;
and among their cunning workmen not the least important class were those...
Olives (30 Occurrences)
... breezes and among the thick foliage, Jesus, the country-bred Galilean, must gladly
have taken Himself from the noise and closeness of the over-crowded city....
Crowding (9 Occurrences)
Malchiel (3 Occurrences)
... breezes and among the thick foliage, Jesus, the country-bred Galilean, must gladly
have taken Himself from the noise and closeness of the over-crowded city....
Crowd (166 Occurrences)
... desiring to speak to Him. (WEY DBY NAS NIV). Matthew 13:2 when a vast multitude
of peoplecrowded round Him. He therefore went on board...
Vast (54 Occurrences)
... (WEY). Matthew 13:2 when a vast multitude of peoplecrowded round Him. He therefore
went on board a boat and sat there, while all the people stood on the shore....
Resources
What is the meaning of hosanna in the highest? | GotQuestions.orgWhat does the Bible say about loneliness? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is moralism? | GotQuestions.orgCrowded: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
Bible Dictionary •
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