ὁμιλία
homilía
G3657 noun
SILEX Entry
Definition
Association, social interaction, or communication with others, particularly in the context of conversation, discourse, or interpersonal engagement. In its primary sense, the word refers to the act of being in company or participating in social exchange; in later contexts, it can also denote a discourse or talk, especially one given for instruction but always focusing on the aspect of communal presence or exchange.
Semantic Range
company, association, social intercourse, conversation, communion, discourse; in later contexts, an address or talk
Root / Etymology
Derived from ὅμιλος (homilos), meaning 'crowd', 'company', or 'assembly', with the abstract noun suffix -ία indicating the state or quality of being in a group or company. Thus, ὁμιλία fundamentally refers to the act or condition of associating with a group or engaging in company.
Historical & Contextual Notes
In classical Greek, ὁμιλία primarily denotes social interaction, association, or being with a group, highlighting fellowship or conversational exchange (e.g., Plato, Xenophon). The term maintains this general sense throughout the Hellenistic and Koine periods, including in the Septuagint and New Testament, where the emphasis is typically on companionship, social intercourse, or conversation rather than formal speech. The English term 'homily' arises later, influenced by ecclesiastical usage, but such a specialized sense (meaning 'sermon' or 'religious discourse') is not present in the earliest Koine instances. Standard translations like 'communication' or 'companionship' may narrow the semantic range; the core reference is the interactive, social aspect, not merely verbal exchange or moral instruction.
Original Strong's Gloss (1890)
from ὅμιλος; companionship ("homily"), i.e. (by implication) intercourse:--communication.
Root Family
ὅμιλ- (homilía) — to associate, to be in company, to converse
Word Forms
1 distinct form
| SIDANCE | Surface | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 | Occurrences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3657-01 |
ὁμιλίαι | omiliai | N NOM F PL |
communications | associations | associations | 1 |
Occurrences in Scripture
1 occurrence
| SIDANCE | Reference | Word | Transliteration | Morphology | Common | SIBI-P1 | SIBI-P2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G3657-01 |
1 Corinthians 15:33 | ὁμιλίαι | omiliai | N NOM F PL |
communications | associations | associations |