KJV

KJV

Click to Change

Return to Top

Return to Top

Printer Icon

Print

Cite Print
The Blue Letter Bible

Dictionaries :: People

Choose a new font size and typeface
International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia

People:

pe'-p'-l: In English Versions of the Bible represents something over a dozen Hebrew and Greek words. Of these, in the Old Testament, ‘am, is overwhelmingly the most common (about 2,000 times), with le'om, and goy, next in order; but the various Hebrew words are used with very little or no difference in force (e.g. Pr 14:28; but, on the other hand, in Ps 44 contrast verses 12 and 14). Of the changes introduced by the Revised Version (British and American) the only one of significance (cited explicitly in the Preface to the English Revised Version) is the frequent use of the plural "peoples" (strangely avoided in the King James Version except Re 10:11; 17:15), where other nations than Israel are in question. So, for instance, in Ps 67:4; Isa 55:4; 60:2, with the contrast marked in Ps 33:10 and 12; Ps 77:14 and 15, etc. In the New Testament, laos, is the most common word, with ochlos, used almost as often in the King James Version. But in the Revised Version (British and American) the latter word is almost always rendered "multitude," "people" being retained only in Lu 7:12; Ac 11:24,26; 19:26, and in the fixed phrase "the common people" (ho polus ochlos) in Mr 12:37; Joh 12:9,12 margin (the retention of "people" would have been better in Joh 11:42, also), with "crowd" (Mt 9:23,25; Ac 21:35). The only special use of "people" that calls for attention is the phrase "people of the land." This may mean simply "inhabitants," as Eze 12:19; 33:2; 39:13; but in 2Ki 11:14, etc., and the parallel in 2 Chronicles, it means the people as contrasted with the king, while in Jer 1:18, etc., and in Eze 7:27; 22:29; 46:3,9, it means the common people as distinguished from the priests and the aristocracy. A different usage is that for the heathen (Ge 23:7,12,13; Nu 14:9) or half-heathen (Ezr 9:1,2; 10:2,11; Ne 10:28-31) inhabitants of Palestine. From this last use, the phrase came to be applied by some rabbis to even pure-blooded Jews, if they neglected the observance of the rabbinic traditions (compare Joh 7:49 the King James Version).

Written by Burton Scott Easton

See CHILDREN OF THE EAST

Vine's Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words
1 Strong's Number: g2992 Greek: laos

People:

is used of

(a) "the people at large," especially of people assembled, e.g., Mat 27:25; Luk 1:21; 3:15; Act 4:27;

(b) "a people of the same race and language," e.g., Rev 5:9; in the plural, e.g., Luk 2:31; Rom 15:11; Rev 7:9; 11:9; especially of Israel, e.g., Mat 2:6; 4:23; Jhn 11:50; Act 4:8; Hbr 2:17; in distinction from their rulers and priests, e.g., Mat 26:5; Luk 20:19; Hbr 5:3; in distinction from Gentiles, e.g., Act 26:17, 23; Rom 15:10;

(c) of Christians as the people of God, e.g., Act 15:14; Tts 2:14; Hbr 4:9; 1Pe 2:9.

2 Strong's Number: g3793 Greek: ochlos

People:

"a crowd, throng:" see CROWD, MULTITUDE.

3 Strong's Number: g1218 Greek: demos

People:

"the common people, the people generally" (Eng., "demagogue," "democracy," etc.), especially the mass of the "people " assembled in a public place, Act 12:22; 17:5; 19:30, 33.

4 Strong's Number: g1484 Greek: ethnos

People:

denotes

(a) "a nation," e.g., Mat 24:7; Act 10:35; "the Jewish people," e.g., Luk 7:5; Act 10:22; 28:19;

(b) in the plural, "the rest of mankind" in distinction from Israel or the Jews, e.g., Mat 4:15; Act 28:28;

(c) "the people of a city," Act 8:9;

(d) Gentile Christians, e.g., Rom 10:19; 11:13; 15:27; Gal 2:14.
See GENTILES, NATION.

5 Strong's Number: g444 Greek: anthropos

People:

"man," without distinction of sex (cp. aner, "a male"), is translated "people" in Jhn 6:10, RV (AV, "men").

BLB Searches
Search the Bible
KJV
 [?]

Advanced Options

Other Searches

Multi-Verse Retrieval
x
KJV

Daily Devotionals
x

Blue Letter Bible offers several daily devotional readings in order to help you refocus on Christ and the Gospel of His peace and righteousness.

Daily Bible Reading Plans
x

Recognizing the value of consistent reflection upon the Word of God in order to refocus one's mind and heart upon Christ and His Gospel of peace, we provide several reading plans designed to cover the entire Bible in a year.

One-Year Plans

Two-Year Plan

CONTENT DISCLAIMER:

The Blue Letter Bible ministry and the BLB Institute hold to the historical, conservative Christian faith, which includes a firm belief in the inerrancy of Scripture. Since the text and audio content provided by BLB represent a range of evangelical traditions, all of the ideas and principles conveyed in the resource materials are not necessarily affirmed, in total, by this ministry.