Topical Encyclopedia
In biblical terms, a "throng" refers to a large, densely packed crowd of people. The concept of a throng is often associated with significant events in the Bible, where large groups gather, either in anticipation of witnessing a miracle, hearing a teaching, or participating in a communal event. The presence of a throng can indicate the popularity or notoriety of a figure or event, as well as the fervor and urgency of the people involved.
Old Testament ReferencesWhile the specific term "throng" is not frequently used in the Old Testament, the idea of large gatherings is prevalent. For example, during the festivals and feasts prescribed by the Law of Moses, throngs of Israelites would gather in Jerusalem to worship and offer sacrifices. These gatherings were not only religious obligations but also opportunities for communal unity and celebration.
New Testament ReferencesIn the New Testament, the term "throng" is more explicitly used to describe the crowds that followed Jesus during His ministry. The Gospels frequently depict scenes where Jesus is surrounded by throngs of people, eager to hear His teachings, witness His miracles, or seek healing.
One notable instance is found in the Gospel of Mark, where a woman with a bleeding condition seeks to touch Jesus amidst a pressing throng.
Mark 5:24-27 states, "So Jesus went with him, and a large crowd followed and pressed around Him. And a woman was there who had suffered from bleeding for twelve years. She had borne much agony under the care of many physicians and had spent all she had, but to no avail. Instead, her condition had only grown worse. When the woman heard about Jesus, she came up through the crowd behind Him and touched His cloak."
This passage highlights the desperation and faith of individuals within the throng, as well as the challenges faced by those seeking personal encounters with Jesus amidst the masses.
Theological ImplicationsThe presence of throngs in the biblical narrative often underscores the widespread impact of Jesus' ministry and the deep spiritual hunger of the people. The throngs that followed Jesus were composed of individuals from various backgrounds, illustrating the inclusive nature of His message and the universal need for salvation.
Moreover, the throngs serve as a backdrop for many of Jesus' teachings and miracles, emphasizing His compassion and authority. Despite the overwhelming numbers, Jesus often took time to address individual needs, demonstrating that while He ministered to the masses, He also cared deeply for each person within the crowd.
Symbolic SignificanceIn a symbolic sense, throngs can represent the collective human response to divine intervention. They reflect both the curiosity and the genuine spiritual longing that draw people to God. The throngs in the Gospels are a testament to the transformative power of Jesus' presence and the hope that He brought to a weary world.
ConclusionThe concept of a throng in the Bible serves as a powerful reminder of the communal and individual aspects of faith. It highlights the dynamic interaction between Jesus and the people, showcasing His ability to touch lives on both a large and personal scale. Through the lens of the throng, believers are encouraged to seek Jesus with the same fervor and faith as those who pressed through the crowds to encounter Him.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
1. (
imp.) of Thring.
2. (n.) A multitude of persons or of living beings pressing or pressed into a close body or assemblage; a crowd.
3. (n.) A great multitude; as, the heavenly throng.
4. (v. i.) To crowd together; to press together into a close body, as a multitude of persons; to gather or move in multitudes.
5. (v. t.) To crowd, or press, as persons; to oppress or annoy with a crowd of living beings.
6. (v. t.) To crowd into; to fill closely by crowding or pressing into, as a hall or a street.
7. (a.) Thronged; crowded; also, much occupied; busy.
Greek
3793. ochlos -- a crowd, multitude, the common people... the common people. 3793 -- a crowd (
throng). The ("") is used about three
times more frequently than the (""). The singular and
...4128. plethos -- a great number
... bundle (1), congregation (4), crowd (3), great number (1), multitude (7), multitudes
(1), number (1), number of people (2), people (6), quantity (1),throng (1...
4846. sumpnigo -- to choke
... choke,throng. From sun and pnigo; to strangle completely, ie (literally) to drown,
or (figuratively) to crowd -- choke,throng. see GREEK sun. see GREEK pnigo....
4918. sunthlibo -- to press together
...throng. From sun and thlibo; to compress, ie Crowd on all sides --throng. see
GREEK sun. see GREEK thlibo. (sunethlibon) -- 1 Occurrence....
4912. sunecho -- to hold together, to hold fast, pass. to be...
... figuratively, to compel, perplex, afflict, preoccupy -- constrain, hold, keep in,
press, lie sick of, stop, be in a strait, straiten, be taken with,throng....
2346. thlibo -- to press, afflict
... afflict, suffer tribulation, trouble. Akin to the base of tribos; to crowd (literally
or figuratively) -- afflict, narrow,throng, suffer tribulation, trouble....
4871. sunalizo -- to assemble with
... assemble From sun and halizo (tothrong); to accumulate, ie Convene -- assemble
together. see GREEK sun. (sunalizomenos) -- 1 Occurrence. 4870, 4871....
3656. homileo -- to consort with, hence to converse with
... Word Origin from homilos (a crowd,throng) Definition to consort with, hence to
converse with NASB Word Usage converse (1), talked (1), talking (2)....
4519. sabaoth -- Sabaoth, ie armies
... armies. 4519 (the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew term, , OT 6635) --
host(s), an innumerablethrong (limitless company). 4519...
Strong's Hebrew
7285a. regesh -- athrong... regesh. 7285b . a
throng. Transliteration: regesh Short Definition:
throng. Word
Origin from ragash Definition a
throng NASB Word Usage
throng (1).
...5519. sak -- athrong
... athrong. Transliteration: sak Phonetic Spelling: (sawk) Short Definition:throng.
Word Origin from sakak Definition athrong NASB Word Usagethrong (1)....
7285b. rigshah -- athrong
... rigshah. 7286 . athrong. Transliteration: rigshah Short Definition: tumult. Word
Origin from ragash Definition athrong NASB Word Usage tumult (1)....
7285. regesh -- athrong
... 7284, 7285. regesh. 7285a . athrong. Transliteration: regesh Phonetic Spelling:
(reh'-ghesh) Short Definition: company. company, insurrection...
7277. rigmah -- a heap (of stones), crowd (of people)
... 7276, 7277. rigmah. 7278 . a heap (of stones), crowd (of people). Transliteration:
rigmah Phonetic Spelling: (rig-maw') Short Definition:throng....
1980. halak -- to go, come, walk
... set* (1), spent (1), spread (1), sprout (1), stalks (1), steadily (2), steps (1),
strut (1), surely go (2), swept (1), take (6), taking (2),throng (1), took (1...
6899. qibbuts -- assemblage
... Word Origin from qabats Definition assemblage NASB Word Usage collection (1). company.
From qabats; athrong -- company. see HEBREW qabats. 6898, 6899....
527. amon -- multitude
... Word Origin the same as amon, qv. multitude A variation for hamown; athrong of
people -- multitude. see HEBREW hamown. 526, 527. amon. 528 . Strong's Numbers
5971a. am -- people
... 3), force (1), men (1), nation (1), nations (4), own people (1), people (1614),
people's (4), people* (1), peoples (187), public* (1),throng (1), together (1...
Library
Lord of a CountlessThrong,
... PENITENCE AND LOVE Lord of a countlessthrong,. tr., John Brownlie 6,6,8,6,6,
6. I. Lord of a countlessthrong,. Fair as the stars of night,....
Jesus Drives Out the Money-Changers.
... At last, in the midst of the jubilantthrong, Jesus appeared, clad in a
long garment of gray, over which was cast a flowing robe....
Holy violence
... WHEN JOHN THE BAPTIST preached in the wilderness of Judea, thethrong of people
who pressed around him became extremely violent to get near enough to hear his...
The Controversy Ended.
... In that vastthrong are multitudes of the long-lived race that existed before the
flood; men of lofty stature and giant intellect, who, yielding to the control...
The Controversy Ended
... In that vastthrong are multitudes of the long-lived race that existed before the
Flood; men of lofty stature and giant intellect, who, yielding to the control...
In his Temple
... He had not yet publicly announced His mission, and He mingled unnoticed with the
throng.... The temple courts were filled with a promiscuousthrong....
No one ever Afterwards Quite Knew How the Crowd in the Church...
... Angela as a shield and defence from the crowd; but before he had time to consider
how he should best pilot her through the pushing and scramblingthrong, a way...
In Rome
... As they make their way through the crowds thatthrong the great thoroughfare, the
gray-haired old man, chained with a group of hardened-looking criminals...
The City that Hath Foundations
... The chariot of Elijah,. The shining angelthrong. Shall bear her through the Heavens,....
Through Heaven's high palace hall. Thethrong that none can number,....
In Sanctuary
... new Patrician and Consul was never seen in public except when he paced to the Theatre
or Circus between his lictors, or in the centre of athrong of soldiers...
Thesaurus
Throng (21 Occurrences)... 3. (n.) A great multitude; as, the heavenly
throng.
... 7. (a.) Thronged; crowded; also,
much occupied; busy. Multi-Version Concordance
Throng (21 Occurrences).
...Rout (6 Occurrences)
... 4. (vi) To search or root in the ground, as a swine. 5. (n.) A troop; athrong;
a company; an assembly; especially, a traveling company orthrong....
Press (57 Occurrences)
... 14. (vi) To move on with urging and crowding; to make one's way with violence or
effort; to bear onward forcibly; to crowd; tothrong; to encroach. 15....
Crowd (166 Occurrences)
... 5. (vi) To press together or collect in numbers; to swarm; tothrong. 6. (vi) To
urge or press forward; to force one's self; as, a man crowds into a room....
Shoal (2 Occurrences)
... Noah Webster's Dictionary 1. (n.) A great multitude assembled; a crowd;
athrong; -- said especially of fish; as, a shoal of bass....
Swarm (26 Occurrences)
... 6. (vi) To appear or collect in a crowd; tothrong together; to congregate in a
multitude.... 10. (vt) To crowd orthrong. Multi-Version Concordance...
Thrones (19 Occurrences)
Zacchaeus (3 Occurrences)
... Yet his mind was not entirely engrossed by material considerations, for he joined
thethrong which gathered to see Jesus on His entrance into the city....
Lest (282 Occurrences)
... Mark 3:9 And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because
of the multitude, lest they shouldthrong him. (KJV ASV WBS RSV)....
Group (32 Occurrences)
... 1. (n.) A cluster, crowd, orthrong; an assemblage, either of persons or things,
collected without any regular form or arrangement; as, a group of men or of...
Resources
Should a Christian use a credit card? | GotQuestions.orgHow can I overcome the pain of betrayal? | GotQuestions.orgHow many angels are there? | GotQuestions.orgThrong: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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