In biblical contexts, the term "horde" is often used to describe a large, disorganized group of people, typically with connotations of invasion or overwhelming force. While the specific term "horde" is not frequently found in most English translations of the Bible, the concept is present in various narratives, particularly in the context of military invasions and large gatherings of people.

Old Testament Context

The Old Testament frequently describes large groups of people, often in the context of military campaigns or migrations. For example, the Israelites themselves are sometimes depicted as a vast multitude during their exodus from Egypt and their subsequent wanderings in the wilderness. In Exodus 12:37, the Berean Standard Bible notes, "The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Succoth, about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children." This vast number of people could be likened to a horde in terms of size and movement.

The term is more directly applicable in the context of invading armies. The Midianites, for instance, are described in Judges 6:5 as coming "like swarms of locusts; it was impossible to count them or their camels. They invaded the land to ravage it." This imagery conveys the overwhelming and destructive nature of their presence, akin to a horde.

Similarly, the Assyrian and Babylonian invasions of Israel and Judah are depicted as overwhelming forces. In 2 Kings 18:13 , the Assyrian king Sennacherib invades Judah with a vast army, capturing fortified cities. The sheer size and power of these invading forces often led to fear and despair among the Israelites.

Prophetic Literature

The prophetic books also contain references to large, invading forces. In Joel 2:2 , a day of darkness and gloom is described, "like the dawn spreading across the mountains; a great and mighty army comes, such as never was of old nor ever will be in ages to come." This passage uses the imagery of a horde to convey the impending judgment and destruction.

New Testament Context

While the New Testament does not frequently use the concept of a horde in the same military sense as the Old Testament, it does describe large gatherings of people. For example, in the Gospels, Jesus often attracts large crowds, as seen in Matthew 14:14 : "When He stepped ashore and saw a large crowd, He had compassion on them and healed their sick." Although these crowds are not hostile, the sheer number of people can be reminiscent of a horde in terms of size.

Theological Implications

From a theological perspective, the concept of a horde can symbolize both the power of God to gather His people and the threat of judgment through overwhelming forces. The vast numbers of Israelites in the wilderness demonstrate God's faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to Abraham to make his descendants as numerous as the stars (Genesis 15:5). Conversely, the invading hordes of foreign nations serve as instruments of divine judgment against Israel's unfaithfulness, as seen in the prophetic warnings throughout the Old Testament.

In summary, while the specific term "horde" may not be prevalent in biblical texts, the concept is integral to understanding the dynamics of large groups, both as a sign of God's blessing and as a tool of His judgment.(n.) A large group; crowd; swarm; mob; a wandering troop or gang; especially, a clan or tribe of a nomadic people migrating from place to place for the sake of pasturage, plunder, etc.; a predatory multitude.4041. megammah -- perhaps assembling
... 4040, 4041. megammah. 4042 . perhaps assembling. Transliteration: megammah
Phonetic Spelling: (meg-am-maw') Short Definition: horde. ...
/hebrew/4041.htm - 6k

1995. hamon -- a sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance
... Word Origin from hamah Definition a sound, murmur, roar, crowd, abundance NASB Word
Usage abundance (4), commotion (2), great quantity (1), horde (2), hordes ...
/hebrew/1995.htm - 6k

6951. qahal -- assembly, convocation, congregation
... word Definition assembly, convocation, congregation NASB Word Usage army* (1), assembly
(95), companies (1), company (15), congregation (8), crowd (1), horde (2 ...
/hebrew/6951.htm - 6k

Gideon's Brave Band
... thousand men. Gideon went up by the caravan road and surprised the horde as
it was encamped with no fear of being attacked. He divided ...
//christianbookshelf.org/sherman/the childrens bible/gideons brave band.htm

The Fulfilment
... For the time for favor to Zion is here; yea, the set time is come!". After
this poured a gaunt horde numbering tens of thousands. ...
/.../miller/the city of delight/chapter xxiii the fulfilment.htm

The Review of the Troops at Doriscus.
... There was one savage-looking horde that had caps made of the skin of the upper part
of a horse's head, in its natural form, with the ears standing up erect at ...
//christianbookshelf.org/abbott/xerxes/chapter vi the review of.htm

Women who Witnessed the Fall of Rome
... national religion. But there was also a great horde of free, poor plebeians,
who were the perpetual paupers of the government. These ...
/.../brittain/women of early christianity/vii women who witnessed the.htm

The Nations of the North-East
... plains. Horde after horde descended from the northern mountains, capturing
the Aramaean cities and setting up kingdoms in their midst. ...
/.../sayce/early israel and the surrounding nations/chapter iv the nations of.htm

Book iii. --Of the Harmony of the Fathers of the Old and New ...
... And following misdeed, (while raves on earth. The horde of robber-renegades, [1467] )
to flee. 25 The giants'sacrilegious cruel race; Faithful in all himself. ...
/.../fathers of the third century tertullian appendix/book iii of the harmony of.htm

Introductory Remarks on the Importance of Orthodoxy
... poisons would be used as medicines; doctors would be called in when people were
well; the Royal Humane Society would be rooted out like a horde of assassins. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/chesterton/heretics/i introductory remarks on the.htm

Hymn for the Lighting of the Lamps
... But, mad with baffled rage, the dusky horde Of Egypt, by their impious despot led,
Athirst the hated Hebrews' blood to shed Pursued, all reckless of the o'er ...
/.../prudentius/the hymns of prudentius/v hymn for the lighting.htm

The Coming of the Pharaoh
... When the Rebu horde descended upon Egypt, Meneptah had sent his generals out to
meet the invader, but he, himself, had remained under cover in Memphis because ...
//christianbookshelf.org/miller/the yoke/chapter xiii the coming of.htm

Now I have Only Taken the Test Case of Female Suffrage Because it ...
... If there be something against nature in the idea of a horde of wild women governing,
there is something truly intolerable in the idea of a herd of tame women ...
/.../chesterton/whats wrong with the world/chapter 27 now i have.htm

Horde (8 Occurrences)
... of pasturage, plunder, etc.; a predatory multitude. Multi-Version Concordance
Horde (8 Occurrences). Numbers 22:4 Moab said to the ...
/h/horde.htm - 9k

Hordes (24 Occurrences)

/h/hordes.htm - 14k

Gomer (7 Occurrences)
... They were a barbaric horde of Aryans who in the 7th century BC left their abode
in what is now Southern Russia and poured through the Caucasus into Western Asia ...
/g/gomer.htm - 11k

Gog (12 Occurrences)
... They are represented as a vast mixed horde from the far-off parts of the North,
the limits of the horizon, completely armed and equipped for war. ...
/g/gog.htm - 14k

Fortification (5 Occurrences)
... But to a people who were as yet little better than a horde of fugitives accustomed
to the simple camp life of the wilderness and unacquainted with appliances ...
/f/fortification.htm - 40k

Fortress (75 Occurrences)
... But to a people who were as yet little better than a horde of fugitives accustomed
to the simple camp life of the wilderness and unacquainted with appliances ...
/f/fortress.htm - 60k

Fortified (79 Occurrences)
... But to a people who were as yet little better than a horde of fugitives accustomed
to the simple camp life of the wilderness and unacquainted with appliances ...
/f/fortified.htm - 63k

Fort (8 Occurrences)
... But to a people who were as yet little better than a horde of fugitives accustomed
to the simple camp life of the wilderness and unacquainted with appliances ...
/f/fort.htm - 41k

Midian (60 Occurrences)
... the produce of the earth. Overwhelming disaster befell this horde at the
onset of Gideon's chosen men. In the battle and pursuit ...
/m/midian.htm - 32k

Midianites (30 Occurrences)
... the produce of the earth. Overwhelming disaster befell this horde at the
onset of Gideon's chosen men. In the battle and pursuit ...
/m/midianites.htm - 21k

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Horde: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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