Strong's Lexicon laos: People, nation, populace Original Word: λαός Word Origin: Derived from the root word λᾶς (las), meaning "stone" or "rock," metaphorically referring to a group of people as a solid, unified entity. Corresponding Greek / Hebrew Entries: - עַם (am): Often used in the Old Testament to refer to the people of Israel or a nation. - לְאֹם (leom): Refers to a people or nation, emphasizing ethnic or national identity. Usage: In the New Testament, "laos" primarily refers to a group of people, often the people of God, Israel, or the general populace. It is used to denote a collective group bound by common identity, purpose, or faith. The term emphasizes the communal aspect of individuals as part of a larger body, often in a religious or national context. Cultural and Historical Background: In the Greco-Roman world, "laos" was commonly used to describe the citizenry or the general population of a city-state. In the Jewish context, it often referred to the people of Israel, God's chosen nation. The New Testament expands this concept to include the Church, the new people of God, composed of both Jews and Gentiles united in Christ. HELPS Word-studies 2992 laós (the root of the English term, "laity") – a people, particularly used of "the people of the Lord" (= Heb ʽam). 2992 (laos) is the usual term for "the people of God" and thus typically used in the LXX (OT) and the Gospels, for believing Israel (Jews). Example: Heb 4:9: "So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people (2992 /laós) of God" (NASU). NAS Exhaustive Concordance Word Origina prim. word Definition the people NASB Translation people (134), peoples (8). Thayer's Greek Lexicon STRONGS NT 2992: λαόςλαός, λαοῦ, ὁ ((cf. Curtius, § 535)); the Sept. more than fifteen hundred times for עַם; rarely for גּוי and לְאֹם; (from Homer down); people; 1. a people, tribe, nation, all those who are of the same stock and language: universally, of any people; joined with γλῶσσα, φυλή, ἔθνος, Revelation 5:9; Revelation 7:9; Revelation 10:11; Revelation 11:9; Revelation 13:7 (Rec. omits); 2. indefinitely, of a great part of the population gathered together anywhere: Matthew 27:25; Luke 1:21; Luke 3:15; Luke 7:1, 29; Luke 8:47; Luke 9:13; Luke 18:43, etc.; τό πλῆθος τοῦ λαοῦ, Luke 1:10. (The Gospels of Mark and John use the word but three times each. Synonym: see δῆμος, at the end) Apparently a primary word; a people (in general; thus differing from demos, which denotes one's own populace) -- people. see GREEK demos Englishman's Concordance Matthew 1:21 N-AMSGRK: σώσει τὸν λαὸν αὐτοῦ ἀπὸ NAS: for He will save His people from their sins. KJV: shall save his people from their INT: will save the people of him from Matthew 2:4 N-GMS Matthew 2:6 N-AMS Matthew 4:16 N-NMS Matthew 4:23 N-DMS Matthew 13:15 N-GMS Matthew 15:8 N-NMS Matthew 21:23 N-GMS Matthew 26:3 N-GMS Matthew 26:5 N-DMS Matthew 26:47 N-GMS Matthew 27:1 N-GMS Matthew 27:25 N-NMS Matthew 27:64 N-DMS Mark 7:6 N-NMS Mark 14:2 N-GMS Luke 1:10 N-GMS Luke 1:17 N-AMS Luke 1:21 N-NMS Luke 1:68 N-DMS Luke 1:77 N-DMS Luke 2:10 N-DMS Luke 2:31 N-GMP Luke 2:32 N-GMS Luke 3:15 N-GMS Strong's Greek 2992 |