ἐκκλησία (G1577) — Greek Lexicon

ἐκκλησία

ekklēsía

G1577 noun

SILEX Entry

Definition

Assembly called together for a specific purpose; an official gathering or meeting of citizens or members. In various contexts, refers to (1) a civic assembly (especially in Greek city-states); (2) a community or congregation of people gathered for a shared purpose; (3) in post-biblical and New Testament usage, frequently denotes an assembly of those associated with belief in Jesus, but originally without exclusive religious connotation; (4) in the Septuagint, often used to render the Hebrew term for the assembled people of Israel.

Semantic Range

assembly, gathering, congregation, civic assembly, community called together, convocation; in LXX (Septuagint), the assembled Israelite people; in NT, local community of Jesus-followers; by extension, collective body of such communities

Root / Etymology

From the preposition ἐκ ('out of') and the verb καλέω ('to call'), literally 'those called out.' The term does not inherently imply a religious meaning, but denotes any assembly summoned for a purpose. Related to the root καλ- (to call, summon).

Historical & Contextual Notes

In classical Greek, ἐκκλησία referred specifically to the official assembly of citizens in the democratic city-states, such as Athens, meeting to deliberate public matters. In Hellenistic and Second Temple Jewish contexts (especially in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible), it is the standard translation for קָהָל (qāhāl), meaning the gathered people of Israel, thus sometimes carrying a sacred nuance. In the New Testament and early Christian writings, ἐκκλησία comes to designate both local gatherings of followers of Jesus (local assemblies) and the broader community of such groups (sometimes with a universal sense). Standard English translations often render ἐκκλησία as 'church,' but this can be misleading: the original term referred to an assembly or congregation, not a building or institutional structure. The modern ecclesiastical sense developed later. In some contexts, particularly in Acts or the Septuagint, the term does not have an exclusively Christian reference, and can describe any assembly — including non-religious or Israelite gatherings.

Translation Consistency

primary "assembly" 79 occurrences

"Assembly" is the most neutral and frequent English equivalent in the SILEX range, covering civic gatherings, congregations, and the LXX/NT senses without the specifically ecclesiastical connotations of "church." It fits typical usage and preserves consistency across civic and religious contexts.

Alternatives (35 occurrences):

"assemblies" (21x) "called-out assemblies" (7x) "called assemblies" (7x)

Original Strong's Gloss (1890)

from a compound of ἐκ and a derivative of καλέω; a calling out, i.e. (concretely) a popular meeting, especially a religious congregation (Jewish synagogue, or Christian community of members on earth or saints in heaven or both):--assembly, church.

Root Family

ἐκκλησία (ekklēsia) — call out, summon, assembly, gathering, convocation

Root κλη- to call, to summon, to invite

Word Forms

6 distinct forms

SIDANCE	Surface	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2	Occurrences
`G1577-01`	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly	33
`G1577-05`	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly	29
`G1577-04`	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together	20
`G1577-03`	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies	18
`G1577-06`	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies	7
`G1577-02`	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies	7

Occurrences in Scripture

114 occurrences

Filter by SIDANCE:

SIDANCE	Reference	Word	Transliteration	Morphology	Common	SIBI-P1	SIBI-P2
`G1577-04`	Matthew 16:18	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-01`	Matthew 18:17	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Matthew 18:17	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	Acts 5:11	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-01`	Acts 7:38	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	assembly	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	Acts 8:1	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-04`	Acts 8:3	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-01`	Acts 9:31	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Acts 11:22	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Acts 11:26	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Acts 12:1	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Acts 12:5	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	Acts 13:1	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-04`	Acts 14:23	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-04`	Acts 14:27	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-05`	Acts 15:3	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Acts 15:4	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Acts 15:22	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Acts 15:41	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N ACC F PL`	churches	of the called-out assembly	assemblies
`G1577-02`	Acts 16:5	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies
`G1577-04`	Acts 18:22	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-01`	Acts 19:32	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	assembly	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Acts 19:39	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	assembly	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	Acts 19:41	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	assembly	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-05`	Acts 20:17	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	Acts 20:28	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-05`	Romans 16:1	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-02`	Romans 16:4	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies
`G1577-04`	Romans 16:5	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-02`	Romans 16:16	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies
`G1577-05`	Romans 16:23	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 1:2	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 4:17	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 6:4	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	1 Corinthians 7:17	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 10:32	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-02`	1 Corinthians 11:16	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 11:18	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	1 Corinthians 11:22	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 12:28	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	1 Corinthians 14:4	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 14:5	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	1 Corinthians 14:12	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	of the church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 14:19	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	the church	to the called-out assembly	in the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 14:23	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 14:28	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	the church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	1 Corinthians 14:33	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-03`	1 Corinthians 14:34	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 14:35	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	1 Corinthians 15:9	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-03`	1 Corinthians 16:1	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-02`	1 Corinthians 16:19	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies
`G1577-01`	1 Corinthians 16:19	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	2 Corinthians 1:1	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	2 Corinthians 8:1	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-06`	2 Corinthians 8:18	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies
`G1577-06`	2 Corinthians 8:19	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies
`G1577-06`	2 Corinthians 8:23	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	of churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies
`G1577-06`	2 Corinthians 8:24	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies
`G1577-05`	2 Corinthians 11:8	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N ACC F PL`	churches	of the called-out assembly	assemblies
`G1577-06`	2 Corinthians 11:28	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies
`G1577-05`	2 Corinthians 12:13	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N ACC F PL`	churches	of the called-out assembly	assemblies
`G1577-03`	Galatians 1:2	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-04`	Galatians 1:13	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-03`	Galatians 1:22	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-01`	Ephesians 1:22	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Ephesians 3:10	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Ephesians 3:21	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Ephesians 5:23	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Ephesians 5:24	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	Ephesians 5:25	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-04`	Ephesians 5:27	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-04`	Ephesians 5:29	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-04`	Ephesians 5:32	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-04`	Philippians 3:6	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-01`	Philippians 4:15	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Colossians 1:18	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Colossians 1:24	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-04`	Colossians 4:15	ἐκκλησίαν	ekklesian	`N ACC F SG`	church	assembly called together	assembly called together
`G1577-01`	Colossians 4:16	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Thessalonians 1:1	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-06`	1 Thessalonians 2:14	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies
`G1577-01`	2 Thessalonians 1:1	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	2 Thessalonians 1:4	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-05`	1 Timothy 3:5	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Timothy 3:15	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	1 Timothy 5:16	ἐκκλησία	ekklesia	`N NOM F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Philemon 1:2	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	Hebrews 2:12	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	of the congregation	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	Hebrews 12:23	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	James 5:14	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	3 John 1:6	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-01`	3 John 1:9	ἐκκλησίᾳ	ekklesia	`N DAT F SG`	church	to the called-out assembly	to the called-out assembly
`G1577-05`	3 John 1:10	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	Revelation 1:4	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-03`	Revelation 1:11	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-06`	Revelation 1:20	ἐκκλησιῶν	ekklesion	`N GEN F PL`	churches	of called assemblies	of called assemblies
`G1577-02`	Revelation 1:20	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies
`G1577-05`	Revelation 2:1	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	Revelation 2:7	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-05`	Revelation 2:8	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	Revelation 2:11	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-05`	Revelation 2:12	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	Revelation 2:17	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-05`	Revelation 2:18	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-02`	Revelation 2:23	ἐκκλησίαι	ekklesiai	`N NOM F PL`	churches	called-out assemblies	called-out assemblies
`G1577-03`	Revelation 2:29	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-05`	Revelation 3:1	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	Revelation 3:6	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-05`	Revelation 3:7	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	Revelation 3:13	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-05`	Revelation 3:14	ἐκκλησίας	ekklesias	`N GEN F SG`	church	of the called-out assembly	of the called-out assembly
`G1577-03`	Revelation 3:22	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies
`G1577-03`	Revelation 22:16	ἐκκλησίαις	ekklesiais	`N DAT F PL`	churches	to the assemblies	assemblies

← G1576 Greek Lexicon G1578 →